IF you get in the car without a working wing mirror you may cause a serious incident.
This is what you need to know about driving with a broken wing mirror.
Is it illegal to have a broken or missing wing mirror?
According to the Construction and Use Regulations Act, vehicles must have at least two mirrors.
That means if the interior rear-view mirror is damaged, obscured, or missing, both of the wing mirrors must be intact.
But it is illegal to drive without a mirror on the driver's side and police could stop motorists if they are caught without one.
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While it is not illegal to have a broken wing mirror, it could cause other serious issues and be costly to motorists.
Can I be fined for having a broken wing mirror?
While cracked mirrors might seem minor, because they don't affect how the car runs, damage to glass on your car can actually be a serious problem on the road.
Driving with a broken wing mirror breaches the Road Traffic Act 1988, which says that a driver can be fined if "the condition of a motor vehicle is such that its use involves a danger of injury to any person".
If pulled over by police, motorists could be faced with hefty fines and points on their licenses.
Whether its a small crack in the glass, or a completely smashed wing mirror, you could be looking at three points on your license and a hefty £2,500 fine.
Meanwhile, a cracked windscreen could land you with an on-the-spot £50 Fixed Penalty Notice.
Small cracks can easily spread across the entire windscreen at the slightest bump in the road, leaving you open to much larger fees.
Could a broken wing mirror fail an MOT?
You could be faced with a large fine if you car has a broken wing mirror, but that depends on if you can get it on the road first.
Turning up to an MOT with cracked or broken glass on your car will mean it is unlikely to be passed as roadworthy.
A failed test will keep your car off the road until the issues are fixed - you could also be forced to fork out for a second test, to get your car back on the road.
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How much does it cost to fix a broken wing mirror?
The good news is, a new wing mirror is a relatively affordable part for most vehicles.
If the glass is the only thing broken, it could cost as little as £15 to replace it.
Motorists who purchase their cars through finance, however, could be looking at larger fees if they return the car with a broken mirror.
Some broken wing mirror damage could be replaced through your insurance company, so it's worth checking with them if you notice a break.
RAC road safety spokesperson Simon Williams said: “Broken wing mirrors are sadly far too common a sight on our roads.
"It’s illegal to do so for very good reason: not being able to see a vehicle, motorcyclist or cyclist approaching from behind you could have tragic consequences.
"With the Highway Code due to change in 2022 to give cyclists travelling straight ahead priority over drivers turning at junctions, it will be more important than ever to have undamaged wing mirrors."
