--- title: "Can you legally drive with a broken rear window in California?" url: "https://maviautoglass.com/blog/can-you-legally-drive-with-a-broken-rear-window-in-california/" description: "When a broken or covered rear window is legal in California, how Vehicle Code 26710, 26708 and 26709 apply and what to do until it is replaced" content_signal: ai-train=yes, search=yes, ai-input=yes --- # Can you legally drive with a broken rear window in California? When a broken or covered rear window is legal in California, how Vehicle Code 26710, 26708 and 26709 apply and what to do until it is replaced You can drive in California with a broken or covered rear window only when it does not impair your view to the rear and your outside mirrors cover what the back window no longer shows. Vehicle Code section 26710 makes it unlawful to drive when the windshield or rear window is so defective that it impairs the driver’s vision to the front or rear. Section 26708(b)(8) separately allows the rear window to be obstructed when the vehicle has outside mirrors on both the left and right sides, each giving the driver a view of the highway at least 200 feet to the rear. The mirror exception does not cancel the defect rule, so treat a broken back window as a short-term situation. Most pages on this question quote only section 26710 and stop there, which makes every broken rear window sound illegal. This guide is written by Mavi Auto Glass, a locally owned mobile auto glass company based in Roseville that replaces back glass across Sacramento, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove and the rest of Greater Sacramento. It puts the three Vehicle Code sections that apply side by side, explains what each one asks of the driver and covers what to do until the glass is replaced. It is general information, not legal advice. ## Which California laws apply to a broken rear window? Three sections of the Vehicle Code work together, and each answers a different part of the question. - **Section 26710:** it is unlawful to drive when the windshield or rear window is so defective that it impairs the driver’s vision to the front or rear. An officer who finds a violation directs the driver to fix it within 48 hours. - **Section 26708(b)(8):** the general ban on material placed on the windows does not apply to the rear window when the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides, each showing the highway at least 200 feet to the rear. - **Section 26709:** every motor vehicle registered in California, except a motorcycle, must have at least two mirrors, including one on the left side. The full texts are on California Legislative Information ([26710](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH§ionNum=26710), [26708](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH§ionNum=26708), [26709](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH§ionNum=26709)). ## Is a cracked or shattered back window illegal in California? It is illegal when the damage impairs your view to the rear. Section 26710 does not set a size limit, so the question is how the damage affects what you can see. A small crack in a corner is different from a rear window shattered into a web of pieces, and different again from an opening with no glass at all. The table shows how the three sections line up for the situations drivers usually face. It is a reading of the statutes, not a prediction of what an officer will decide. Rear window conditionSection that matters mostWhat it means for the driverSmall crack that does not affect the view26710The test is whether vision is impaired, and the crack can still spreadShattered glass still in the frame26710Broken tempered glass can block the view and fall out, so replacement is the fixOpening covered with plastic26708(b)(8) and 26709Both outside mirrors must show the road at least 200 feet behindNo glass at all26710 and 26709Rely on both side mirrors and replace the glass soon ## What happens if you get stopped with a broken rear window? The officer can direct you to fix it within 48 hours. Section 26710(c) says the officer making the inspection directs the driver to make the windshield and rear window conform within 48 hours, and may also give a notice to appear and require proof in court that the glass was fixed. In practice that is handled as a correctable violation, often called a fix-it ticket, with a proof of correction signed by a law enforcement agency. ## How should you drive until the back glass is replaced? Drive as little as possible, and only with both side mirrors set to show the road behind you. These steps make the time until the appointment safer, in 5 steps. - **Clear loose glass:** remove pieces still hanging in the frame so they do not fall while you drive. - **Cover the opening:** tape clear, heavy plastic over the frame to keep out rain and dust. - **Adjust both side mirrors:** set the left and right mirrors so each shows the lane behind you. - **Keep trips short:** avoid highway speeds, where a temporary cover is more likely to come loose. - **Schedule the replacement:** broken tempered glass cannot be repaired, so plan the new back glass right away. ## Can a broken back window be repaired instead of replaced? No. Most rear windows are tempered glass, which is built to break into many small pieces instead of large sharp shards, and tempered glass that has cracked or shattered cannot be patched the way a small chip in a laminated windshield can. A [back glass replacement](/service/back-glass-replacement/) installs a new rear window that matches your vehicle and, when applicable, reconnects the rear defroster and antenna terminals and checks that they work. Mavi Auto Glass replaces back glass on sedans, hatchbacks and pickups at your home, workplace or another suitable location in most cases, and cleans up the broken glass as part of the job. Qualifying auto glass installations carry a lifetime workmanship warranty against installation-related leaks and wind noise. ## Before you drive with a damaged rear window Check that both outside mirrors work and show the road at least 200 feet behind you, clear any loose glass and cover the opening against rain. Take photos of the damage, and file a police report first if the window was broken in a break-in. Then send the year, make, model and VIN of the vehicle, and the cab type for a pickup, when you ask for a replacement estimate.