Driving on hot, bright summer days is annoying due to the harsh solar glare hitting your eyes, preventing you from looking straight ahead as the bright light can almost blind you. Driving is not safe or recommended with blurred and obstructed vision, especially when you are on the highway with all the other vehicles moving at high speeds.
The constant fear of accidents and collisions will continue to linger in the air as you’ll remain unable to appropriately look in other directions for cars. This is why installing one of the leading car sun visors in 2023 is a good idea. The visors act as a protective shield for your eyes as they can block the light from directly hitting your eyes. Seeing how effective they are for every driver or the front passenger, we have reviewed some of the finest visors currently available.
You cannot deem any random car sun visor to be the finest if it doesn’t block the sun rays from hitting your eyes, or doesn’t obstruct your line of vision. Deciding the appropriateness of a product can't be done in haste because that may end up doing more harm than good. If the visor fails to meet all the expected features such as protection, unobstructed vision, and high durability, there is no point in investing in the product. So keeping all this in mind, we have made a complete buying guide to help you decide which car sun visor can help you drive the car safely and comfortably.
What Is Better for Driving on a Sunny Day — Car Sun Visors or Sunglasses?
Many people wear sunglasses while driving on a hot summer day when the sun glares harshly from above. Unfortunately, even though sunglasses provide relief from the solar glare, they aren't as efficient as car sun visors. To explain this statement further, we have listed some of the differences between them in the section below.
- Using a car sun visor is much better as it can protect your eyes from all angles. With sunglasses, your concentration will still get disturbed since they won't be able to block the sun rays from the sides.
- A car sun visor can help provide clearer vision since drivers have their eyes shielded without having to deal with the dark tint of sunglasses.
- With a car sun visor, you won't have to worry about getting into an accident while driving, which is a big concern for people wearing shades.
Key Factors To Consider
Size
As car sun visors come in different sizes, you must choose the right size for your car. Imagine how you’ll feel if the extended visor blocks 20% of your view from the top. You won't be able to concentrate on driving, and the risk of an accident will increase as a result. So, trying to size up your visor is out of the question. Similarly, when you install a smaller visor, it won't be able to offer complete coverage to your eyes from solar rays and glare. Other than the safety risks, this will also further jeopardize you as your eyes may start hurting, and you might end up with a gruesome headache. Because of these reasons, it’s always recommended to choose a car sun visor that’s the right size to protect your eyes without obstructing your view.
Protection
The protection ability of car sun visors varies from one product to the other. For example, most products that act as a replacement for the old, worn-out visors will sit right above the eyes and completely block out sunlight. On the contrary, if you choose over-the-eye visors that have an extendable and transparent screen placed right in your line of vision, it can filter the bright light and UVA and UVB radiations. Both the product types will protect your eyes in different ways.
Clarity
While looking through the over-the-eyes car sun visor options, the clarity they provide cannot be overlooked. The chosen visor must come with a clean and transparent screen that can block out harmful rays without putting any strain on your eyes. It must not blur or obstruct your vision, as that will prevent you from driving safely.
Material
Most car sun visors are made from plastic and cotton or reinforced ABS plastic as these materials are light and can last a long time. You won't see scratches or tears forming on the top plastic cover of the visors easily, which displays the effectiveness of this material. With some products that have a transparent visor screen, acrylic is used as it won't block your vision. On top of this, it is shattered and impact resistant for extra durability and safety.
Shaft
You must ensure that the chosen car sun visor has a strong shaft that can fit the car's existing visor slot easily. A well-built shaft will keep the visor in place and won't allow any sudden displacement from the original position due to vibration or impact.
Cosmetic mirror
Some car sun visors come with
a cosmetic mirror so you can check yourself before stepping out of the car. It's usually a small, rectangular mirror sitting at one end of the visor. A flap or sliding cover is also added to ensure that the glass surface won't suffer any scratch marks or spots.
Vanity light
Having a car sun visor with a vanity
LED light is great to have if you’re regularly fumbling to find things in the dark. The lights turn on once you open the mirror's flap cover and turn off when it is closed, saving you from having to operate the light manually.
Velcro straps
You can find a Velcro strap attached to the body in some car sun visors, which helps keep the product in place post-installation and prevents the visor from opening up suddenly and hitting your forehead or face.
How Much Does a Car Sun Visor Cost on Average?
The average cost of car sun visors varies from $23.88 to $39.99, depending on many factors. Choosing a product suitable for multiple vehicle models will cost you more, and similarly, sun visors that have a vanity light installed are costlier than the regular ones. Lastly, if you choose a product with a polarized screen, its price will automatically increase.
Mistakes To Avoid When Installing a Car Sun Visor
When installing the car sun visor, you must refrain from making these mistakes:
- Installing the visor too high or low on the car's ceiling.
- Improper attachment of the fastener screws will make the entire assembly unstable.
- Not checking the rotational functionality of the visor after installation may cause problems.
