Types Of Car Mirrors

1 Side View Mirrors

Side view mirrors are placed on the door or the A-pillar of vehicles. In older vehicles, they were placed further forward on the front wing or fender, hence also known as wing mirrors. These mirrors can be adjusted manually or via a button inside the cabin that offers remote adjustment. Side view mirrors have convex mirrors that are designed to offer a wide field of vision and the vehicles appear smaller and further away than they usually are. These mirrors often come with an etched or printed warning – objects in the mirror are closer than they appear. In Canada, this warning is often repeated on a transparent decal on the passenger side window with the same warning in French. Refer here to understand what the warning label “objects in the mirror are closer than they appear” means.

2 Rear View Mirrors

A rearview mirror is a flat mirror that allows the driver to see towards the back of the vehicle through the rear windshield. It is fixed inside the cabin at the top of the windshield on a double-swivel mount for easy adjustment. The rearview mirror along with the side view mirrors offer a comprehensive view of the back of your vehicle. They are also designed with an anti-glare design, which comes with a prismatic mirror that can be tilted to reduce the brightness and glare of the lights, mostly caused by high beams from the vehicle behind you. Such types of rearview mirrors are very common in vehicles today and they can be tilted manually to switch between day and night positions simply by a flick of a tab attached to the mirror. However, modern cars are also equipped with automatic dimming rearview mirrors that feature photosensors mounted in the rear-view mirror to detect the light and dim the mirror. Some vehicles also use rear-view video cameras that offer a better road view behind the vehicle, which is very important in SUVs and large vehicles.

3 Towing Mirror

The side mirrors on your truck or car are good for offering a clear view of the sides of your vehicle, but they cannot offer a wide view if you are towing a trailer or another vehicle hitched behind. Therefore, you need longer mirrors that can offer complete visibility of the sides of your trailer and what is happening behind it. Towing mirrors augment the existing side-view mirrors and come with adjustable extensions that help you achieve a better view of the trailer attached to the back. Furthermore, towing mirrors can be powered so you can adjust them easily with just a button. Some towing mirrors also come with LED lights that are wired with your braking and turn signals for added safety. A built-in heating system is another feature of towing mirrors that help in cold conditions to remove snow, ice, or haze on the glass. Few types of towing mirrors are as follows.

3.1 Clip-on Towing Mirrors 

These are the simplest towing mirrors that can be mounted on your existing factory mirrors. If you are towing things occasionally, clip-on towing mirrors are the perfect option, as they can be installed and removed quickly using clamps that hold onto your side mirrors. They extend moreA3 than your factory side mirrors and give you a wider field of view of your rear.

3.2 Telescopic Towing Mirrors

Telescopic towing mirrors are a popular choice amongst drivers with large vehicles or trailers, as they can be extended to offer a better rearview and, when not in use, they can be retracted to their standard position.

4 Heated and Non-heated Mirrors

Some vehicles have external side mirrors with an electrical heating system incorporated into them. The heating system prevents fogging and removes any moisture or ice from the mirrors for clear visibility. The heated mirrors comprise a resistive wire, which acts as the heating element mounted at the back of the mirror. Heated mirrors often have a ‘heat’ symbol on the glass and they cannot be used interchangeably with non-heated motors. They can be physically mounted on the car, but the wiring won’t match the original one.

5 Powered Mirrors

Powered mirrors are very common in vehicles today, and they offer easy adjustment to the driver. The left and right side mirrors can be controlled using a single knob that has a neutral position to prevent an accidental change in their adjustment. The position of the mirror can be controlled by a joystick or a four-way knob. Some mirrors also have a ‘memory’ feature that allows these mirrors to adjust to their last known setting as soon as you hop into the car.

6 Blind Spot Mirrors

A blind spot is an area around the vehicle that cannot be seen in your mirrors. These blind spots are caused because of the obstruction by the bodywork of your car when you look in your side-view mirrors. A blind spot mirror is a helpful gadget installed on the side of the mirrors. The size of these mirrors is very crucial and it should not be large enough to block the view of the side mirror and must offer a clear viewing angle. Most blind spot mirrors are made of plastic, however, some manufacturers today use aluminum, which makes these mirrors durable and resistant to rust and corrosion. These mirrors are installed at the bottom corner of the side mirrors and are usually round, oval, rectangular, or square in shape. These blind spot mirrors can be attached using an adhesive or a suction cup. If you want to know how to adjust car mirrors properly to eliminate blind spots, you can check our article here.

7 Other Car Mirrors

Sometimes the car mirrors are identified with unfamiliar terms and lingos. Few terms related to car mirrors are:

• Dual Swing Mirrors: These side-view mirrors can fold forward and backward, which prevent them from breaking if someone bumps into them or if you are trying to make a tight turn in a narrow lane. 
• Swing Lock Mirrors: These mirrors are typically found on Ford, Ranger, and Bronco trucks and feature a stainless steel bar mounted on the door with a mirror perched at the top.
• Sail Mount Mirror: Sail mount is located at the corner of your front door glass. The sail mount is usually made from hard plastic and acts as the mounting plate for the side mirrors.
• Manual Folding Mirrors: These mirrors can be folded manually or using a joystick in the cabin.
• Power Folding Mirrors: These mirrors are electronically operated and can be folded by actuating a switch. Some power-folding mirrors also fold automatically whenever you lock the car.
• PTM (Paint-to-Match): Paint to match means that the side mirrors are primed but have to be painted separately to match your car or the desired color.

When it comes to car mirrors, there are plenty of options. Now that you are aware of the different types of mirrors used in a vehicle, the next step is to identify its operation and select the same option as the original factory mirror. You can also upgrade your factory mirrors with electrical ones with custom electrical work. We are here to help you get the correct mirror for your car, truck, or SUV. Browse for our large collection of mirrors and shop right here on PartsAvatar.