Side Mirror Replacement Cost
Whether you damaged or broke off your vehicle’s side mirror, it’s essential you get it repaired/replaced as soon as possible before an accident occurs.
Being one of the most commonly damaged parts, the costs to replace a side view mirror will vary on a few factors.
The average side view mirror replacement costs
The costs of replacing a side view mirror will greatly depend on the make/model of your vehicle, the electronics involved, the professional you use (if you choose to hire one) and your geographical region. From our research, the costs reported by collision shops and customers were inside the $175 to $350 range for a manual mirror with no electronics involved, with car dealerships often charging the highest price. If any of the vehicle’s body around the mirror needs to be painted, this can increase the costs.
As for a side view mirror with electronics involved, such as a camera, the costs can be much higher, with estimates as high as $700 to $1,300. USA Today, for instance, said mirrors nowadays often include electronic blind-spot warning features and cameras to name a few, and if your mirror has this sort of technology, then the costs for the mirror could be about $250 to replace and another $341 to replace the camera inside.
For those who want to do the job on their own, the costs of the side view mirror will range anywhere from $17 to $50, depending on your make and model. On Amazon.com, for instance, a Toyota Corolla mirror would cost about $20 to $45, all depending on the model you purchase.
We sampled a few popular makes/models and included the estimates we found in our table below:
| Model | Price Estimate |
|---|---|
| Acura RDX | $325-$425 |
| Audi A6 | $325-$425 |
| Chevrolet Silverado | $165-$275 |
| Ford Explorer | $325-$425 |
| Ford F-150 | $150-$250 |
| Ford Focus | $140-$250 |
| Ford Fusion | $140-$250 |
| GMC Sierra | $225-$350 |
| Honda Accord | $150-$300 |
| Honda Civic | $150-$300 |
| Honda CR-V | $150-$300 |
| Honda Fit | $175-$300 |
| Honda Odyssey | $250-$325 |
| Kia Sorento | $200-$275 |
| Nissan Altima | $125-$250 |
| Toyota Camry | $175-$275 |
| Toyota Corolla | $175-$275 |
On this MetaFilter.com forum thread, one member noted he took his girlfriend’s car into the shop and was quoted $175 for the entire repair — about $75 for labor and another $100 for the parts. As for the replies, some said $100 sounded cheap for an OEM part while another said it was much cheaper than a quote he received, claiming his local dealer charged $300 for both parts and labor for an OEM part.
The process of replacing the side view mirror
Replacing a side mirror is fairly straightforward as long as no electronic components are involved, and the process is almost the same for all makes and models.
First, the old mirror will be removed by using either a socket wrench or a screwdriver. Depending on the setup of the vehicle, a portion of the door may need to be removed in order to access the entire side mirror to install it correctly.
If the side of the door needs to be removed, it’s most often due to the power components that connect to the mirror itself as manual mirrors are often a simple swap. When removing the door panel, the mechanic will locate the hidden fasteners, often located behind vanity caps, and will remove these in order to pull the panel back. As all vehicles are different, there is no set pattern, and you will often have to feel around the area for each fastener until the panel is able to come loose.
Once the door panel is removed, the mounting screws and the cable will be connected that’s holding the mirror to the car. Once these are removed, the new mirror will be attached and installed in reverse order.
For most parts, the entire process, from start to finish, will take about one hour to complete.
How to save money
In case the mirror was just knocked off its bracket, there may be cases where the mirror doesn’t even need to be removed and can simply be bolted back on. If it was scratched and damage was shown, then the new mirror will be repainted to match the vehicle’s original color.
If you’re doing the repair on your own, an aftermarket part will always be cheaper than an OEM part. If you’re purchasing online, always refer to the reviews and the warranty information to ensure you’re making the right choice. For instance, on Amazon, the costs of a third-party mirror with great ratings was often less than $30, whereas the OEM parts from most major car manufacturers were about double this price. If you really want to save money, consider checking out a local junkyard to see if they have a mirror that’s able to fit.
The Family Handyman notes that this job is often easier than you think and will only require a few tools. If you’re able to do the job on your own, you should be able to save at least $100 to $200.
If the glass needs to be replaced, there’s no need to replace the entire mirror. Instead, the old glass can be swapped out with a new piece for as little as $10.
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