Subaru Mirror Cover Replacement: Impreza and Forester Guide
By Duber, The Car Mirror Man · Car Mirrors Australia · Updated October 2026 · 16 min read
Short answer: a Subaru mirror cover replacement is a $150 to $300 job, because the cover is a separate part that comes off on its own. You do not have to buy a whole Impreza or Forester mirror when only the outer shell is cracked, scuffed or missing. Mirror glass alone is from $135. If the whole mirror has been knocked off the door, the price follows the car, so we quote it per vehicle once we have seen a photo. We come to you.
Anywhere in our five cities: we can replace a Subaru mirror cover at your home or work — see our mobile mirror service.
Search for a Subaru mirror cover and the results tend to be a wrecker’s listing, a parts catalogue with no price and a forum thread from 2013. That is a shame, because it is one of the easiest mirror jobs there is. The cover, sometimes called the cup or the shell, is the outer plastic part you see from the driver’s seat. It takes the knocks, the car park scrapes and the sun, and it is built to be replaced on its own. This guide explains what the cover is, how the Impreza and Forester generations differ, what a replacement costs, and how to tell whether you need a cover, a piece of glass or a whole mirror.
The four parts, and what each one costs
A side mirror is a handful of separate components. Which one broke is what decides the price, not the badge on the car. A whole mirror is the last resort, not the starting point.
What a Subaru mirror cover is, and what sits behind it
A side mirror is a small stack of parts. The glass is the part you look into. Behind it sits the mechanism that tilts it, and on many cars a heating element and a motor for the folding arm. All of that is held on a base that bolts to the door. The cover is the outer shell that wraps the back of the mirror head. It is what you see when you stand beside the car, and it is usually painted to match the body.
Some newer cars also carry a blind-spot warning light in the side mirror. The sensors that trigger it watch the side of the car, and the light shows in or near the mirror [1] [2]. A cover swap does not touch the sensors, but tell us if your mirror has a warning light so we can check it still works before we leave.
Because the cover is a shell and not a mechanism, a damaged one rarely means the rest of the mirror is damaged. A cover can crack, split or come off entirely and leave the glass, the mechanism and the motor perfectly intact. That is the case where replacing only the cover saves the most money.
Impreza and Forester generations, and why your year matters
Subaru has changed the shape of its mirrors over the years, so a cover that fits one generation will not fit another. The generation is the first thing we ask for. Both the Impreza and the Forester have been through several generations, and a cover made for one of them often does not fit the next, even when the two cars look much the same from across the street.
That is why we never order a cover from the model name alone. An older Impreza or Forester and a recent one can look alike in a car park and still carry different mirror shells, and the same is true between the Impreza sedan and wagon of an earlier generation. The build year and a clear photo settle it.
| What we ask for | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Model and build year | Mirror shape changes between generations, so the year picks the part. |
| A photo of the mirror from outside | Shows the shape of the cover and exactly what is damaged. |
| A photo from the driver’s seat | Shows whether the glass and the fold are affected as well. |
| The body colour, or its code if you have it | The new cover is finished to match your paint. |
If you are searching for a cover for an older Impreza, the build year decides which part fits. If you are not sure which generation you own, send us a photo of the mirror and the car and we will identify it before we order anything.
Why Subaru mirror covers crack, fade and peel
Most cover damage comes from one of three things. The first is contact: a gate post, a car park pillar, a bin or another car’s door. The second is a knock on a narrow street, where the cover takes the hit and the mirror is pushed on its mount. The third is time. Plastics weather when they sit in sun and weather for years. Ultraviolet light from the sun is what drives the photo-degradation of plastics, and the effects run from loss of colour to cracking of the surface and brittleness [3].
Older Imprezas and Foresters tend to show the third kind. A cover that has been on a car for fifteen or twenty years can look dull, peel its paint or crack at the edge from a very light touch. If yours looks like that, a replacement cover is usually a better answer than trying to keep an old part going.
What Subaru mirror cover replacement costs
A cover is priced as a part, not as a whole mirror. These are the bands we use. The cover row is the one that applies to the job in this guide.
| What is replaced | Cost | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| Mirror glass only | From $135 | The glass is cracked or missing and the housing is fine. |
| Mirror cover (the cup) | $150 – $300 | The outer shell is cracked, scuffed, peeling or missing. |
| Whole mirror, plain | $200 – $350 | The whole assembly needs replacing. On a Subaru we quote this per vehicle. |
| Powered mirror | $350 – $500 | Electric adjust, power fold or an indicator is part of the job. |
| Blind-spot or camera mirror | $450 – $600+ | Sensors or a camera sit inside the mirror. |
How to read the table: start at the top and stop at the first row that matches what is wrong with your car. If the cover is the only damaged part, the answer is the second row and the others do not apply. Subaru is not on our per-vehicle price list, so a whole-mirror job is quoted for the exact car once we have seen a photo.
Painted covers and colour matching
On a lot of Subarus the cover is painted in the body colour. That is a finishing job as well as a fitting job, because a cover that is a shade off looks worse than one that is scuffed. We source the correct part for your generation and finish it to match your colour. Our guide to side mirror paint matching and colour codes explains how the code on your car identifies the paint.
Some covers are black or a contrast finish rather than body colour. If yours is one of those, say so when you send the photo. Our painted mirror covers page has more on how that service works.
Cover, glass or whole mirror: how to choose
A cover, a piece of glass and a whole mirror are three different repairs, and they are priced three different ways. The mistake we see most is paying for the third when the first would do.
Our longer guide on replacing just the glass or the whole unit walks through the same decision.
Four checks before you order a cover
If the glass is cracked as well, the glass is a separate small job. We can do both on one visit.
If it folds and returns normally, the mechanism is probably fine. If it grinds or hangs, the cover may not be the only problem.
A head that moves on its base points to the mount, not the cover.
Note whether the cover is body-coloured or black, and send the colour code if you know it.
A photo of the mirror from outside, a photo from the driver’s seat and one of the car answers most of this before we visit.
Fitting a Subaru mirror cover at your home or work
The mirror, the damage and the car. Tell us the year and the model.
We confirm which part is damaged and quote that part, with the visit included.
Home, work or a car park. We bring the glass and the common parts in the van.
We fit the cover, check the glass and the mechanism behind it, and test the fold if the mirror folds.
There is no separate call-out fee. If you are outside the five cities we serve, we cannot visit, but we can ship the correct part to you.
Genuine or aftermarket covers
A replacement cover may be a genuine part or an aftermarket one. For whole mirrors and parts we supply genuine quality parts unless you ask for something else. Whichever you choose, you should get a quote that sets out the repair and the cost of both parts and labour [4], and an itemised account of the work done and how the costs were calculated [5].
Where both options exist, we tell you the difference and let you choose. Our guide to aftermarket versus genuine side mirrors covers the trade-offs.
Pay yourself or claim on insurance
A cover or glass job is usually well below a typical excess, so paying directly is common. How excess, cover types and claims work is set out on the Moneysmart site [6].
| Job | Example excess | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Glass only (from $135) | $500 – $800 | Pay directly. It is far below the excess. |
| Cover ($150 – $300) | $500 – $800 | Pay directly. It is below the excess. |
| Powered mirror ($350 – $500) | $500 – $800 | Break-even. Get a quote first. |
| Blind-spot or camera mirror ($450 – $600+) | $500 – $800 | A claim may make sense. Check your policy. |
What age does to an older Impreza or Forester mirror
Many of the Imprezas and Foresters we are asked about are not new. A second-generation Impreza from 2000 to 2007 is now well past its twentieth birthday, and the same is true of the first two Forester generations [1] [2]. A cover that has lived in the sun for that long has had a hard life. The shell may look chalky or peeled, the clips that hold it may be brittle, and a cover that was only lightly marked can crack when it is touched.
That has two practical effects. The first is that a cover replacement on an older car is often the right call even when the damage looks minor, because the old shell is unlikely to survive being removed. The second is that the part has to be checked against your exact year before it is ordered. We would rather confirm the generation from your photo than send you the wrong shell.
What to put in your photo
A good photo saves a visit. We ask for three, and none of them takes more than a minute to take.
Stand beside the door and photograph the whole mirror head, so the cover, the glass and the arm are all in the frame.
This shows the glass and whether the head is sitting level on its base.
The whole car from the side, so we can see the model, the generation and the paint colour.
Anything that looks different from the other side: a crack, a missing clip, a gap where the cover should meet the glass.
If you know the year and the model, tell us. If you also know the colour code, tell us that too. It is printed on the car and our guide on colour codes explains where to find it.
Mistakes that turn a cover job into a bigger one
A cover replacement is a small job, and it stays small when it is done properly. Four habits turn it into a bigger one.
None of this needs special skill to avoid. The simple rule is to get the damaged part replaced once, with the right part, rather than patching it twice.
Does a damaged cover change what you see?
In most cases the cover does not affect your view, because the glass is what shows the road behind. That is why a cracked cover can sit unnoticed for a long time. It can, though, affect how firmly the glass is held in position. If the head has loosened with the cover damage, the mirror may drift out of adjustment as you drive.
The national design rule for rear vision mirrors is about the view the driver gets of the road behind [6]. If the mirror still shows a clear view, the cover is a cosmetic and protective repair. If it does not, fix it before you drive any distance. A cover job is quick, and it keeps the mechanism behind it protected.
What our customers tell us
Most people expect a mirror job to be a hassle. The feedback we hear is the opposite.
Every review quoted on this site is a real, verified customer review. We do not write them and we do not edit them.
Warranty, standards and your rights
Every fit carries a written warranty on the part and the workmanship, and the terms are on our warranty page. Mirror glass we cut is made to the national design rule for rear vision mirrors [7]. Under Australian consumer law a service must also be carried out with due care and skill [8].
Every band above comes from our national price guide, which is the single source of truth for what we charge. If you want the full breakdown by part and by vehicle, read our side mirror replacement cost guide.
We come to you in five cities
Every job is mobile. We drive to your home, your work or the car park the car is sitting in, and the mirror is fitted and tested before we leave.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Subaru mirror cover replacement cost?
A cover is $150 to $300 fitted. Glass alone is from $135. A whole Subaru mirror is quoted per vehicle after we have seen a photo.
Can I replace just the cover on an Impreza or Forester?
Yes. The cover is a separate outer shell. If the glass and the mechanism behind it are fine, you do not need a whole mirror.
Does my Impreza or Forester year matter?
Yes. Mirror shape differs between generations, so the cover for one will not fit another. Send us a photo and the year and we identify the generation before ordering.
Will the new cover match my paint?
Where the original is body-coloured, we finish the new cover to match your colour. Send the colour code if you have it, and say if your cover is black or a contrast colour.
My cover has come off completely. Is the mirror safe to drive?
The mirror may still show a clear view, but the mechanism behind the cover is exposed to weather and knocks. Have it covered quickly, and make sure you can see clearly to the rear.
Do you charge a call-out fee?
No. The visit is part of the price.
Should I claim on insurance?
For a cover or glass job paying directly is usually cheaper than the excess. We do not bill insurers directly, and we give you an itemised invoice.
Do you fit genuine parts?
We supply genuine quality parts unless you ask for something else, and we tell you the difference if an aftermarket option exists.
Do you replace the interior rear-view mirror?
No. We replace exterior side mirrors only.
More on mirrors
Related guides and services.
Sources
- Blind spot warning — sensors detect vehicles beside the car, and warning lights can sit in the side-view mirror, Transport Canada — tc.canada.ca/en/road-transportation/driver-assistance-technologies/colli
- Blind Spot Warning — the visual warning appears in the side view mirror or the windscreen frame, Transport Accident Commission (Victoria), How Safe Is Your Car? — howsafeisyourcar.com.au/safety-features/blind-spot-warning
- Photodegradation of plastics (section 4.11) — UV from sunlight causes discolouration, surface crazing and embrittlement, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations — www.fao.org/4/X5018e/x5018E0I.HTM
- Get your car repaired — a quote should outline the repairs and the cost of both parts and labour, Queensland Government — www.qld.gov.au/community/fair-trading/consumer-rights-complaints-and-sca
- Car services and repairs — written estimates, and an itemised account of the work and how the costs were calculated, Consumer Affairs Victoria — www.consumer.vic.gov.au/consumers-and-businesses/cars/maintenance-and-re
- Car insurance — excess, cover types and claims, Moneysmart (ASIC) — moneysmart.gov.au/car-insurance
- Australian Design Rule 14/02 — Rear Vision Mirrors, Federal Register of Legislation — www.legislation.gov.au/F2006L02663/latest/text
- Competition and Consumer Act 2010, Schedule 2 (Australian Consumer Law) — consumer guarantees for services — www.legislation.gov.au/C2010A00068/latest/text
Prices and information in this article are indicative only and reflect real quoted jobs at the time of publication. Costs vary with vehicle, part availability and features. Send a photo for an exact fixed price.
