Extend Your Rear View With These Blind-Spot Mirrors
The best blind spot mirrors for improving your visibility and driving safety.
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A blind spot mirror is a helpful gadget installed on the side mirrors of a car to show the driver parts of the road that are hidden from their vision. It essentially lets you keep track of the car lurking behind you, and you can also change lanes without compromising your safety. Our guide below shows some of the best automotive blind spot mirrors that could help you stay safe on the road.
A blind-spot mirror can be a helpful gadget fitted onto your car’s side mirrors, enabling you to see parts of the road that are hidden from your vision. It essentially lets you keep track of the car lurking behind you, and you could also change lanes without compromising your safety. But because this little automotive accessory is fairly inexpensive to manufacture, there are loads of them out there. How do you choose? Our table below shows some of the best automotive blind-spot mirrors that could help you stay safe on the road.
Essential Contraptions Rear View Blind-Spot Mirror
- Resistant to rust, corrosion, and dust buildup
- Can be used on both vehicles and motorcycles
- Non-adjustable, therefore limiting vision
- Four-pack not practical
- Small profile
Ampper Square Blind-Spot Mirror
- Inexpensive
- Convex shape maximizes the view
- Universal fit for all vehicles
- 3M adhesive for easy installation
- Waterproof and rust-resistant glass
- No protective frame cover
- Cannot be used on motorcycles
- Comes in a small profile
- Hard to use if not correctly angled
- Swivel could break over time
Utopicar Semi Oval Blind Spot
- Fully adjustable or fixed installation
- Strong 3M adhesive
- Frameless design looks good on the car
- Lightweight
- Expensive
- Mirror seems a bit large
- Adhesive tape is not waterproof
Our Methodology
Blind-spot mirrors are often a one-size-fits-most accessory. So, in order to choose the products we’ve highlighted here, we looked for solutions that would suit most drivers and most vehicles. We considered and compared mirror accessories that could easily attach to existing side mirrors, expanding your line of sight and giving access to more angles of visibility. But the products we picked as our top options were also those that were highly rated and reviewed by those who’ve put them to use, and they offered good longevity once placed on an existing mirror.
Why Trust Us
Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.
Learn moreBest Blind-Spot Mirror Reviews & Recommendations
Specs
- Material: Aluminum, glass, plastic
- Shape: Round
- Curvature:Convex
Pros
- Durable
- Universal fit
- Four mirrors in one set
- Rust-resistant housing
Cons
- Not adjustable
- Small profile
Specs
- Material: Glass, ABS
- Shape: Rectangular
- Curvature:Convex
Pros
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The Ampper blind-spot mirror is our best value option since it helps you save a little money. It’s designed as a high-definition convex blind-spot mirror that gives you a clear view when driving and changing lanes. The unit comes as a two-pack to fit both side mirrors and attaches via a strong 3M adhesive for pressure-sensitive tape installation.
The Ampper mirror entails a square-shaped, frameless, and ultra-thin design. It features a 360-degree rotation, coupled with an adjustable sway to give you a wide viewing angle. The HD glass is haze-resistant, rust-resistant, and waterproof. The mirror also features an adjustable swivel-mounting bracket for easy attachment.
The mirror’s small profile can, however, be frustrating for people with poor eyesight. Finally, the mirror has a frameless design and could chip around the edges.
- Affordably priced
- Two mirrors per set
- Clear, crisp view
- Adjustable and rotatable
Cons
- Can’t be used on motorcycle mirrors
- Easy to chip at edges
Specs
- Material: Glass
- Shape: Oval
- Curvature:Convex
Pros
- Can be fixed or adjustable once installed
- Frameless for seamless blending
- Wide-angle and elongated
- Simple stick-on installation
Cons
- Larger and takes up more mirror space
- Adhesive isn’t waterproof
Specs
- Material: Glass
- Shape: Oval
- Curvature:Convex
Pros
- Wide-angle view
- URust- and fog-resistant
- Waterproof adhesive
- Pivoting, adjustable base
Cons
- Easy to break
- Depth is challenging to judge
Specs
- Material: Glass
- Shape: Round
- Curvature:Convex
Pros
- High-quality glass construction
- Can adjust the wide-angle view
- Weather-, bump-, and impact-resistant
- Easy to install
Cons
- Very small
- Can stick out on normal side mirrors
Specs
- Material: Glass
- Shape: Round
- Curvature:Convex
Pros
- Easy to install
- Adjustable and swivels
- Waterproof and rust-resistant
- Works on cars, trucks, and RVs
Cons
- Glass is fragile and easy to break
- Adhesive isn’t very strong
Specs
- Material: Glass
- Shape: Round
- Curvature:Convex
Pros
- Fits corner edges of existing mirrors easily
- Wide-angle view
- Heavy-duty construction
- Ultra-thin profile
Cons
- Adhesive is weak
- Installation instructions aren’t great
Specs
- Material: Glass
- Shape: Rectangle
- Curvature:Convex
Pros
- Rotates and adjusts side to side
- Waterproof and haze-resistant
- Two mirrors per set
- Work on all different vehicles
Cons
- Not the sleekest or most attractive
Our Verdict on Blind-Spot Mirrors
Our pick for the best blind-spot mirror is the Essential Contraptions Rear View Blind-Spot Mirror. It has an aluminum housing that’s resistant to rust, corrosion, and damage. It also features real glass to give you the clearest view. If you are shopping around for something more affordable, consider the Ampper Square Blind-Spot Mirror. Do you like the products we recommended for you? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
What to Consider When Buying Blind-Spot Mirrors
Adjust Your Mirrors Correctly
While you can absolutely purchase the above blind-spot mirrors, the three mirrors that your car is already equipped with — the two side mirrors and rearview mirror, of course — are perfectly adept at eliminating blind spots. The issue is that most drivers don’t properly angle their mirrors when behind the wheel. In fact, an awful lot of people set their mirrors so they can see their car’s exterior, not potential hazards or other vehicles on the road.
You can easily tweak your current mirror setup to get rid of the blind spots that have long plagued you. Here’s how to do it.
- Set your driver’s side mirror: Sit behind the wheel and lean to the left until you’re touching the window. Adjust your mirror outward until you can see the lane (or what would be the lane) next to you. You should also be able to see a small bit of your car’s own rear end.
- Set your passenger’s side mirror: Mirror your moves for the driver’s side mirror, but without leaving the driver’s seat. Lean to the right, until your head is at the midpoint of your center console. Then, adjust your mirror outwards until you can just barely see the side of your own vehicle.
- Set your rearview mirror: Center your mirror so you’re looking directly out the rear window. Instead of being able to see your backseat or passengers’ heads, your POV should be all window, from side to side.
For more information, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) shared its recommended (and scientifically-tested) angles, if you want to get extra precise.
Pricing
You can find blind-spot mirrors for less than $10, though they typically feature a frame-free design and a universal fit for most vehicles. For $11 to $20, you’ll find a mix of custom-fit and universal-fit choices. And if you spend $25 or more, blind-spot mirrors can be custom made and tailored to your specific needs or vehicle.
FAQs
You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.
Q: Where should a blind-spot mirror be placed?
A: It should be placed at either the top or bottom outside corner of the side view mirror. Typically, a blind-spot mirror doesn’t cover the entire side mirror, so you should still be able to use the latter to view cars and pedestrians behind you. Remember to clean and dry the side mirror before you attach it.
Q: How do you remove blind-spot mirrors?
A: If your blind-spot mirror is cracked, hazy, or rusty, you can easily remove it with dental floss or an embroidery thread. Squeeze the thread through the place where both mirrors are attached and work it through by moving the thread side to side. Soon enough, it will come off.
