How Much Does It Cost to Install Towing Mirrors?

Whether you need to tow regularly for work, you need to tow an RV, or you feel that the original side mirrors are too small and want to expand your field of vision, a high-quality towing mirror is an essential upgrade. For any pickup truck or SUV owner, these mirrors can enhance visibility and allow the driver to better see behind the vehicle while monitoring blind spots, making them a worthwhile investment.

However, not all car owners have a clear idea of ​​the price of towing mirrors and don't know how much they should spend on them. In this article, we have collected the prices of the most common types of towing mirrors on the market and the additional installation costs. We hope this guide can help everyone.

How Much Do Towing Mirrors Cost?

The cheapest towing mirrors on the market may cost less than $100, while the most expensive ones may even cost more than $1,000. Generally speaking, the price of a towing mirror ranges from $50 to $500. Why is there such a big difference? This is mainly determined by the type of mirror, the type of vehicle it is suitable for, and the additional functions. We don't need to choose the most expensive mirrors, the most important thing is to find the one that suits us. Let's take a look at the factors that affect the price.

Add-on Mirror Vs. Full Replacement Mirror

Two main types of towing mirrors are most common: add-on and full-replacement.

An add-on towing mirror is an extension that mounts directly onto your existing vehicle's mirrors. It attaches to the outside of the original mirrors with a clip or strap. After each towing session, remove the clip or strap and store it away until the next time you need it! This type of towing mirror does not require the removal and replacement of the vehicle's original mirrors. They are usually less expensive, generally between $20 and $100.

Full-replacement towing mirrors are towing mirrors that completely replace the vehicle's original mirrors. They are designed specifically for towing and are usually larger, longer, and offer more features than standard mirrors. Full-replacement towing mirrors are usually much more expensive than add-ons, ranging from $150 to $500 or more.

Manual vs. Power Mirrors

Manual towing mirrors are side mirrors that need to be adjusted manually. These mirrors rely on the owner to adjust the angle of the mirror by hand. They have no electronic components and do not need to be connected to wires or the vehicle's electrical system. Therefore, they tend to be cheaper, with a general price of $50 to $150.

Power towing mirrors need to be connected to the vehicle's electrical system. It can adjust the angle of the mirror through a button inside the car. The owner can precisely control the angle of the mirror to ensure the best view. These mirrors usually come with additional features such as turn signals and puddle lights. Therefore, the price is more expensive, usually between $150 and $500.

Heated and Non-Heated Mirrors

Non-heated towing mirrors do not offer any additional features to clear fog or ice and may be prone to fogging or ice formation in cold weather conditions. Heated towing mirrors have integrated heating features and are equipped with heating elements inside to clear condensation or ice, keeping the mirrors clear in cold climates. Heating requires a connection to the vehicle's electrical system and consumes electricity, so it usually costs $50 to $200 more than non-heated models.

Extendable vs. Fixed Mirrors

Retractable towing mirrors can be extended manually or electronically, allowing owners to extend the mirrors to increase their field of vision when towing large trailers. This feature tends to increase the price of the mirrors, ranging from $150 to $400 per pair. Usually, these mirrors are also equipped with electric adjustment, heating, integrated turn signals, etc. Fixed towing mirrors are fixed and cannot be adjusted in length or telescopic. They are installed on the outside of the vehicle and always maintain a fixed field of vision angle and position. The inability to move makes them a more affordable option, priced at about $50 to $150.

Custom vs. Universal Fit

Custom towing mirrors are designed for certain vehicle brands and models. Perfectly match the appearance and installation position of the original vehicle. This kind of mirror not only seamlessly integrates with the original design, but also often has the same or more functions as the original vehicle side mirror, such as electric adjustment, heating, anti-glare, folding, turn signal, etc. Due to their tailor-made design, they tend to be more expensive than universal towing mirrors. The price of custom towing mirrors usually ranges from $200 to $500.

Universal towing mirrors are designed to fit a variety of vehicles. This is an economical and flexible towing mirror. They only have basic vision functions, so the price is low, only costing $20 to $150. You can always remove it when you don't need it.

How Much Does It Cost to Install Towing Mirrors?

Now you know the price of most towing mirrors on the market, but the price of towing mirrors is only part of the cost of installing your mirrors. For most car owners, it is not easy to completely replace the towing mirrors. This will involve the removal of some door interior panels and the connection of some wiring. Often at this time, you may need a professional to help you replace it, which will incur labor costs. Let's take a look at the difference between self-installation and professional installation.

Do-It-Yourself Installation

If this is not your first time replacing a towing mirror or you know your car very well, installing a towing mirror can be a very fun DIY project. In addition, you can save a lot of labor costs.

When you buy a towing mirror, you can find an installation manual in the package, and some stores will also provide installation videos, which can help you DIY to complete the installation of the towing mirror. You only need to spend about 1-2 hours to complete it easily.

DIY installation can save labor costs, but it may require additional costs, such as purchasing special tools or kits, and the expected cost is about 20 to 50 dollars.

Professional Installation

If you don't know how to install a towing mirror, especially a full replacement mirror, or you don't like DIY, then we can leave it to the professionals and just pay them a fee.

This fee is what we call labor cost. It usually varies depending on the type of towing mirror and the complexity of the installation.

For example, a manual towing mirror has no wires and does not require complex connections. The labor cost is usually between $50 and $100, and it takes about 1 hour to complete the installation. If you install an electric towing mirror, it involves connecting electrical components and needs to be connected to the vehicle's electrical system. Since this process is more complicated, the labor cost will be higher, which may cost $100 to $150 per hour, and the work time will take about 2-3 hours. The total installation cost is about $200 to $450.

In some cases, if your vehicle is not equipped with electric side mirrors, you may need to install additional wiring, switches, or relays. This may increase the overall installation cost by $100 to $200.

Note: Labor rates vary by location. In most areas, professional installation costs can be expected to be between $100 and $200.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the cost of installing a towing mirror is mainly determined by the product type and labor costs. Generally speaking, the price of replacing a pair of towing mirrors is between $150 and $1,000. If you want an affordable and high-quality towing mirror, you can find the product you need at MOSTPLUS. Simply filter the year, make, and model of the vehicle on the page, and you will get the towing mirrors you want.