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Is a Wing Mirror Delete Legal in the UK?

Not legal

Deleting your wing mirrors for a smooth "shaved" look is not road-legal in the UK. A car has to have a driver's-side mirror plus enough additional mirrors to give an adequate view of the road behind, and the MOT checks for them.

Why?

The law requires every car to give the driver an adequate view to the rear. In practice that means an exterior mirror on the offside (the driver's side) and, in addition, either an interior mirror or a nearside exterior mirror, so the driver can see following and overtaking traffic.

A "mirror delete" that removes the door mirrors to clean up the bodywork takes away that required view. Even swapping to tiny show mirrors that do not give a usable rear image runs into the same problem: the test is whether the view is adequate, not whether something mirror-shaped is bolted on.

Mirrors are also a specific MOT item, so a missing or inadequate required mirror is a straight failure, on top of being a roadside offence. Small-arm aftermarket or towing mirrors are fine as long as the required mirrors still give a clear, adequate view; deleting them outright is not.

What decides if it's legal

  • A car must have an offside (driver’s side) exterior mirror.
  • It must also have an interior mirror or a nearside exterior mirror giving an adequate rear view.
  • Mirrors must give a clear, adequate view to the rear.
  • Removing mirrors for the look leaves the required rear view missing - an MOT failure.

Does it depend on your car?

The requirement is the same for every car: a driver's-side mirror plus an interior or nearside mirror giving an adequate rear view. Removing them is what fails, regardless of the vehicle.

Related guides

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Sources

This page is general guidance, not legal advice, on the rules in the UK for wing mirror delete. The detail varies by exact vehicle and changes over time - confirm with your insurer and the latest DVSA and GOV.UK guidance before modifying.