Tesla Mirror Covers and Chrome Delete: Which Caps Fit and How to Black Out Chrome Trim
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Black mirror caps and blacked-out window trim are two of the simplest ways to change how a Tesla looks, and neither needs tools. This guide covers the mirror cover styles we list, which one fits your car, what Tesla's manuals say about folding mirrors, how to fit a cover so it stays on, and how to do a chrome delete with vinyl tape. Product claims are the sellers', and the Tesla facts come from Tesla's manuals, linked at the end.
1. Mirror cover styles
A mirror cover is a thin shell that fits over the painted cap on the front of the mirror. Every cover we list goes over the original cap rather than replacing it, so the original cap stays underneath.
- Smooth covers follow the shape of the original cap. Ours come in gloss black, matte black and a gloss or matte carbon look.
- Horned covers add a sporty fin along the top of the mirror. Ours are gloss black.
- Real carbon fiber covers are listed for the Model Y Juniper, in a gloss or matte finish, according to the seller. All the other covers are ABS plastic, and a carbon look is a pattern on that plastic.
2. Which cover fits your car
Each cover is made for one mirror shape and listed for specific cars and years, so check yours against the listing. Not sure which version you have? Our Highland and Juniper guides explain the difference.
| Product | Options, as the seller lists them | Fit |
|---|---|---|
| Mirror covers | ||
| Mirror covers | Gloss black, matte black, or a gloss or matte carbon look. ABS plastic, about 0.4 kg for the pair. No need to remove the original caps. | Model 3 Highland (2024 and later). |
| Stick-on mirror caps | Adhesive-backed ABS caps in gloss black, matte black, or a gloss or matte carbon look. | Model 3 2017–2026, including the Highland. One reviewer says they don't fit the 2026 Model 3 Performance. |
| Horned mirror caps | Gloss black ABS, 1 pair, with double-sided tape. Reviewers recommend adding your own 3M tape. | Model 3 2021–2024. The seller asks you to compare your mirror with the photos first. |
| Horned mirror covers | Gloss black ABS, as a Model 3 or a Model Y set. Reviewers say the included tape is weak. | Model 3 2017–2023 and Model Y 2020–2023. Not for the Highland or the Juniper. |
| Real carbon fiber covers | Real carbon fiber, according to the seller, with a gloss or matte finish. The seller says they don't affect folding. | Model Y Juniper (2025 and later). |
| Chrome delete | ||
| Gloss black vinyl tape | PVC vinyl with an adhesive backing, 3, 5, 7 or 10 cm wide and 3 to 10 m long. Waterproof, according to the seller. | Universal. |
| Matte black vinyl tape | PVC vinyl with air-release channels in the adhesive, 3, 5, 7 or 10 cm wide and 3, 5 or 10 m long. | Universal. |
We don't list mirror covers for the Model Y L, the Model Y Standard, the Model S or the Model X.
3. Covers and folding mirrors
Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y manuals describe a few automatic mirror features, and a cover has to work with all of them:
- Mirror Auto Fold: with this setting on, the mirrors fold when you exit and lock the car, and unfold when you unlock it. You can also save a location where they fold automatically.
- Speed: you can't fold a mirror when driving over 31 mph (50 km/h).
- Mirror Auto Tilt: the mirrors can tilt down when you shift into Reverse, and tilt back when you shift out.
- Heaters: the mirrors have heaters (if equipped) that turn on and off with the rear window defroster.
- Ice: ice can stop the mirrors from folding or unfolding, so Tesla says to turn off Mirror Auto Fold if you expect ice while the car is parked.
A cover adds a layer to the outside of the mirror, so after fitting one, fold and unfold the mirrors a few times, and shift into Reverse to check the tilt. The cover shouldn't touch the door, the window or the mirror glass at any point. The seller of the Juniper covers says they don't affect folding.
Covers don't get in the way of the cameras, either. Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y manuals list a camera on each front fender and one in each door pillar, not in the mirrors. Our exterior accessories guide covers the cameras in more detail.
4. Fitting a mirror cover
- Check the box. Make sure you have a left and a right cover. One buyer received two covers for the same side.
- Compare the shape. Hold each cover against the mirror before you peel the tape. The seller of the 2021–2024 horned caps asks you to compare your mirror with the photos before ordering.
- Clean and dry the cap. Wash off dirt and wax and let it dry. For its own tape-on rear spoiler, Tesla's service manual says to clean the surface with isopropyl alcohol (IPA) wipes and let it dry, and to fit it at 15–43 °C (60–110 °F). Keep the alcohol off the rubber door seals: Tesla's manual says to avoid alcohol wipes on them.
- Use good tape. On the two horned sets, reviewers recommend adding your own 3M tape because the included tape is weak.
- Press it on firmly, edge by edge, then fold and unfold the mirror as described above.
5. Chrome delete with vinyl tape
A chrome delete covers chrome window trim with black vinyl, so the trim matches black mirror caps and wheels. If the window trim on your car is already black, there's nothing to delete. We list two vinyl tapes, in gloss black and matte black. Pick the one that matches the rest of the black trim on your car.
- Measure the trim. Pick a tape a little wider than the trim, so it can wrap over the edges. Ours come 3, 5, 7 or 10 cm wide.
- Clean the trim and let it dry. Tesla's manual says to avoid alcohol wipes and chemical products that can deteriorate the coating on the door seals, so keep cleaners off the rubber seals next to the trim.
- Warm the vinyl. Reviewers say it stretches more easily when warmed, for example with a hair dryer.
- Press it down along the trim with a squeegee, working from the middle out to push the air out. The matte tape has air-release channels in the adhesive, according to the seller.
- Wrap the edges around the trim and trim the excess with a sharp blade, cutting on the trim, not on the paint or the rubber seal. Warm the edges again to help them stay down.
6. Care
From the Cleaning section of Tesla's Model Y manual:
- Car washes: use touchless car washes only.
- Pressure washers: keep the nozzle at least 30 cm (12 in) from the car and keep it moving. Don't aim it at the edges of the vinyl or a cover.
- Polish: Tesla says not to use chrome polish or other abrasive cleaners, and warns that some car shampoos can damage or discolor plastic trim.
Our guide on how to wash a Tesla has the rest of Tesla's advice.
How we pick what we list
The products in this guide are from third-party sellers on AliExpress, not made by Tesla. We look for stores with high positive feedback and read buyer reviews for fit and quality problems. Product claims on our pages are the seller's, and facts about the car come from Tesla's manuals. When you buy through the button on a product page, we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Do mirror covers block any cameras?
No. Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y manuals list the side cameras on the front fenders and in the door pillars, not in the mirrors.
Will a cover stop my mirrors folding?
A cover made for your mirror shouldn't. After fitting, fold and unfold the mirrors a few times and check the cover doesn't touch the door or the window.
Do Model 3 mirror covers fit the Highland?
Only if they're listed for it. Our stick-on caps are listed for the Model 3 2017–2026, including the Highland, and our smooth covers are made for the Highland. The horned covers for 2017–2023 cars are not for the Highland.
Are carbon look covers real carbon fiber?
No. Carbon look covers are ABS plastic with a carbon pattern. Only the Juniper covers are listed as real carbon fiber, according to the seller.
Can I take the vinyl off later?
Yes. Warm it and peel it back slowly. Avoid harsh solvents on the paint and trim, which Tesla's manual warns against.
Next steps
Browse our mirror covers and chrome delete collection, finish the look with a front lip or diffuser, or read our guides to body kits, spoilers and paint protection film.
Sources
The Tesla facts in this guide come from these pages of Tesla's manuals: