While side windows are not part of the "front windscreen" rules regarding chips and cracks, they are still vital for safety.
You can legally drive if the breakage happened en route, provided you drive carefully and minimise risk. This is a common law defence – “reasonable excuse.”
Driving with a broken side window is not inherently illegal , but it becomes illegal the moment it creates a danger to persons, obscures your vision, or leaves sharp edges. In practice, police treat a missing driver’s side window as illegal in all but perfect conditions. is it illegal to drive with a broken side window uk
A broken side window presents several dangers:
Whether your specific situation is illegal depends on the nature of the "break": Legal Status Likely Legal While side windows are not part of the
| Scenario | Legal Status | Risk of Police Action | |----------|--------------|------------------------| | – crack < 10mm, not in line of sight to mirror | Technically legal but grey area | Low, unless MOT tester or police deem it obstructive | | Shattered driver’s side window – glass still in place but opaque | Illegal (obscured vision) | High – vehicle prohibited | | Missing driver’s side window – no glass at all | Legal if no sharp edges & driver can see mirrors clearly | Medium – depends on weather & officer’s judgment | | Missing rear passenger window | Generally legal | Very low – unless raining/ cold causing driver distraction | | Sharp glass edges remaining | Illegal (dangerous condition) | High – immediate prohibition |
While you might not be pulled over specifically for the window, if it is deemed to make the car dangerous or unroadworthy, you are breaking the law. It is strongly recommended that you do not drive the vehicle until the window has been professionally repaired or replaced by a mobile glazing service. In practice, police treat a missing driver’s side
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 , it is a criminal offence to drive a vehicle in a condition that poses a danger to the driver or others. When is it Illegal?
If your car fails an MOT because of a broken side window, driving it on the road is illegal. The MOT manual states: