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Why on Earth Do People Put a Ziplock Bag on Their Car Mirrors?

  • Safety Tips
  • Renee Martin
  • 5 minutes

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Why indeed? Of all the car-related questions we’ve come across, this one sure was a curve ball. But we’ve seen some folks driving around with Ziplock bags and plastic bags on their car mirrors. Why are they doing that? We find out. 

It was sometime at the end of 2020 that online advertisements started appearing with the picture of a Ziplock bag on a car’s side mirror. The ad hailed the benefits of putting a Ziplock bag over car side mirrors, especially when traveling alone!  

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People who clicked on this were redirected to all sorts of random websites. It was essentially clickbait, and readers were taken to long slideshow articles. Regrettably, it was all for naught. None of the sites actually explained why a Ziploc bag should be attached to a car’s rearview mirror. 

So should you put a Ziplock bag on your car mirror while traveling alone? 

An emphatic- No! Not unless you want to go ahead and let everyone and their aunt know you’re traveling alone. There are practical and sensible reasons to cover your mirrors with plastic bags. Announcing to the world that you are all alone is most definitely not one of them.  

No one seems to know the origin of this urban legend, but it is definitely not something you should undertake if you are on a solo trip. Unless, of course, you are camping in the winter and want to keep your mirrors in pristine condition. 

To be very, very clear, putting a plastic or Ziploc bag over your mirrors will not prevent any break-ins, mugging, or other criminal intent, period.  

We will give you some of the explanations why some folks who think this a “life hack” do so. But, remember, this is only to illustrate the sheer absurdity of such thinking. 

  1. To prevent the leakage of glass cleaner and other cleaning solutions when traveling!
  2. A burglar may use the mirror to determine whether you have valuables in your car and then break in to steal them.
  3. Reduces glare from the headlights of cars behind you.
  4. When parking to take a nap, it blocks incoming light from light poles or other sources.
  5. Conceals objects that may fall into your vehicle while you are driving. (What even?)
  6. Avoid reflecting the sun’s rays and getting sunburned 
  7. Keeps dirt and debris from collecting on your mirrors
  8. Keep the sunshine out.

Websites recommending “putting a plastic bag on car mirror while traveling alone” rarely provide convincing reasons why this is a good idea. 

Those headlines are nothing more than clickbait to entice you to visit their sites to view adverts. There’s no logical reason to cover your mirrors with a Ziploc bag when you’re by yourself. 

 There are legit reasons for covering your mirror because of weather conditions, but be cautious when doing so.  

But remember that covering your mirrors with plastic bags while driving is against the law in most jurisdictions since you are required by law to have a clear field of vision. 

Are they any situations where having a Ziplock bag on your mirror is useful? 

Keeping snow and ice off your side mirrors is the only real benefit of this technique. You’ll appreciate the significance of this tip if you came of age before the advent of heated side mirrors in the average car. It will save you some effort and keep the mirror from freezing and cracking in the winter. 

car side mirror ice snow

However, this is not a problem if you are the driver. Both snow and ice have a poor ability to cling to moving surfaces. And no, covering your side mirrors with a bag won’t prevent thieves from peering in to check whether you’ve hidden any cash or valuables inside your vehicle.  

If someone really wanted to peek in your side mirror, they could just use one of the other six windows on your car, which are all much larger.  

When parked, some RV users take this precaution so that birds won’t land on their mirrors and mistakenly identify themselves as threats.  Birds have a habit of picking at themselves in the mirror. Their beaks are so keen that they could shatter a mirror. You can avoid this by placing a bag over the mirror. It’s important to note that this is only done while the RV or automobile is parked and not in motion. 

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TL: DR 

You must be aware of state regulations and rules of the road before getting behind the wheel. You must also make sure that your side mirror is spotless. This helps you clearly see what’s happening in the car’s immediate vicinity. You can adjust the side mirrors, so they don’t reflect any light, eliminating the glare but not compromising your field of view. It is okay to put a Ziplock bag on your side mirror only if you are parked and want to keep snow and ice off your mirror. Having a Ziplock or plastic cover on your mirror while driving alone makes no sense other than letting everyone know you’re alone and vulnerable.   


Here’s more info on top-rated airport parkingthe best parking spots in your city, the most affordable auto insurance for your car, and top-rated car washes near you.


 

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