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Will has written for several major auto sites including Motor1 since 2020, logging hundreds of hours researching and testing products ranging from child car seats to torque wrenches. Will is also Certified by Safe Kids Worldwide as a Child Passenger Safety Technician (#T836339). Sun Shield For Car Windshield
An adjustable, wide-coverage UV screen for those who’d rather not wear sunglasses.
A car visor organizer that also provides vertical and lateral sun-blocking extensions.
A quality-made polarized sun visor that attaches to a range of car sun visors.
A set of glare filters that can enhance your night vision and day vision while driving.
A sun visor for your vehicle with a polarizing lens and easy side shade extender.
If wearing sunglasses while driving isn’t an option for you, a car sun visor extender for your vehicle can be a terrific alternative. Visor extenders come in different varieties, as some block the sun entirely and others work as fold-down polarized screens, but the goal is always to give drivers better visibility.
All the extenders we recommend attach to your existing sun visor, and they extend vertically, horizontally, or both. If your backseat passengers are experiencing excessive glare from the side windows, you might look into a car window shade that covers your back car window and protects your car’s interior and backseat.
For this review, our team thoroughly tested and evaluated each car sun visor based on each item’s ease of use, stability, and coverage. The scores in each category are compiled into a single overall rating that ranges from 1.0 to 5.0 stars.
We named the Sailead Polarized Sun Visor, Veharvim Car Visor Organizer, Glare Guard Polarized Visor Extender, Bell + Howell TacVisor, and the Sailead Sunshade Extender as the best-rated car sun visors on the market in 2024.
*Because cost data fluctuates, the prices in the table above are approximate values that our team regularly updates.
After looking at factors such as build quality, fitment, customer ratings, and prices, our product testing team ordered the sun visors that best met these standards. A team member tested each product on a 2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid SE, taking note of how easy the sun visor was to use, stability, and coverage. Each sun visor was given a rating out of 5.0 stars based on these criteria.
Learn more about how we tested car sun visors here.
The Sailead Polarized Sun Visor offers adjustable UV protection. If you don’t want to drive with sunglasses, this easy-to-use product provides the next best thing. It was the most stable visor extender we tested and provided the best coverage.
You can see how the Sailead performed in each of our testing categories below:
Instead of connecting with an elastic strap like many of the other visors on this list, the Sailead sun visor extender attaches using a spring clip, making it more adaptable to various car visor sizes.
Below are the pros and cons of the Sailead Polarized:
This visor was our favorite to test because it’s adaptable thanks to the swivel system and spring clip. Despite a somewhat difficult installation, the coverage this visor offered was the best of any visor in this review.
Ease of Use: The spring clip was a different application than what we were expecting and familiar with and it did require two hands to install, plus a little strength to be able to pull either side of the clip wide enough to reach either side of the visor.
Stability: We were unsure about how the visor would perform in terms of stability because it can rotate on a swivel, while other visor extenders aren’t adjustable in this way. However, during our driving test, minimal shaking occurred and it appeared fairly stable throughout the entire test.
Coverage: This visor offered the best coverage of the visors in our review. By bringing the visor closer, you can practically encompass your entire field of view. It can also rotate on a swivel, while other visor extenders aren’t adjustable in this way.
This polarized sun protector is an Amazon bestseller thanks to the easy installation and nice build design. The most common praise heaped on this visor is that it works better than similar products because of its excellent adjustability.
Some shorter drivers (those 5.0 feet and under) say the Sailead does not come down far enough to help them. Other drivers have mentioned the attachment mechanism being incompatible with some visor shapes.
The Veharvim Car Visor Organizer doesn’t provide a polarized lens but offers extendable flaps to the right and below your car’s existing sun visor. This car sun visor extender also has several pockets for storing car accessories and items such as ID cards and sunglasses.
You can see how the Veharvim performed in each of our testing categories below:
The Veharvim is an excellent automotive sun visor if you wear sunglasses for UV protection while driving and could use extra coverage to block the sun’s harshest glare completely.
Below are the pros and cons of Veharvim’s Car Visor:
The Veharvim offers a good amount of protection and is a great addition for regular sunglasses users looking to get some extra UV blockage. We didn’t love the stability that this sun visor offered because it was pretty floppy when fully extended.
Ease of Use: You install the Veharvim with two elastic straps. The pockets hold cards securely, which may be particularly beneficial if you frequently use a keycard. It would also be convenient to store tickets and receipts for parking garages.
Stability: We found it stable, though the side extender is slightly floppy when fully extended. Still, this sun visor extender is unlikely to fall off while in use.
Coverage: At least from our test vehicle, it is unclear how you would use the bottom extender. It’s nice to have a visor to block the sun, but the downside is that it impairs the driver’s view. However, the side extender is an excellent addition, as there are times when the sun may creep past your visor’s protection. You can attach this extender to the passenger-side visor just as easily as the driver-side visor.
The utility of this sun visor may vary with the size and shape of your car’s visor. Some drivers, including our tester, have found that the Veharvim fits snugly and securely, but not everyone has had such a positive experience.
A few Veharvim reviewers have complained about the quality of the materials. The pockets consist of a sturdy suede-like material, but the extender is flimsier plastic. It was good enough for us, though.
The Glare Guard Polarized Visor Extender adds a strip of polarized UVA/UVB protection under your car’s sun visor. This foldable extender uses strong aluminum clips and hook-and-loop straps to ensure it stays in place.
You can see how the Glare Guard performed in each of our testing categories below:
While not offering quite the same level of coverage as the Sailead, the Glare Guard seems to be made of slightly more durable materials. Because of how the Glare Guard is installed, you can lower it farther than the Sailead, possibly making it a better option for shorter drivers.
Below are the pros and cons of the Glare Guard:
Overall, the Glare Guard was easy to test and took only a minute to get installed and attached to our car’s sun visor. We did note some stability issues and a lack of adjustability to provide full coverage.
Ease of Use: The Glare Guard is both easy to install and use. We found it to be a great option for shorter drivers because it can easily drop down to an applicable height for most and is also compatible with the majority of cars on the market.
Stability: While stable, the Glare Guard visor sunshade extender shakes a bit more than the other visor extenders in this review. You should not expect the Glare Guard to fall off, but it does shake some while you’re driving.
Coverage: The Glare Guard is not as adjustable as the most comparable product in this roundup: the Sailead polarized visor. Because of its distance from your face, the Glare Guard doesn’t offer as much protection. However, you can bring the Glare Guard down to a lower height than the Sailead, making it more adjustable vertically. Despite lacking the coverage of the Sailead, the Glare Guard nonetheless offers decent protection from UV rays.
Most drivers are happy with the quality materials used to construct the Glare Guard, and unlike other sun extenders, it also seems to work better with various sun visor sizes. The sun visor clip system can handle visors with thicker padding.
The Glare Guard’s design does leave a gap between your visor and the extender. Depending on your height and the sun’s position, this gap may be an issue for you.
The Bell + Howell TacVisor features two fold-down glare guards: an anti-glare visor for the day and an anti-dazzle visor for night driving. This visor is supremely stable, long-lasting, and can help reduce eye strain while driving.
You can see how the Bell + Howell performed in each of our testing categories below:
While it doesn’t extend your horizontal glare coverage, the TacVisor offers protection not only from the sun but also from bright lights on the road.
Below are the pros and cons of the Bell + Howell visor:
Overall, the Bell + Howell was simple to install and very stable. We were super impressed by the durability of the material and the lack of flimsiness once installed and in use. However, because of the durable design, there were some coverage issues that could be a problem for some drivers.
Ease of Use: The TacVisor quickly snapped onto our test vehicle’s visor. Each filter operates on a separate mechanism, allowing you to use either or both.
Stability: This sun shield extender was the most stable one we tested. While most of the visors in this review are made of polycarbonate, this one was much thicker than the other visors, making it very stable without impacting our view of the road.
Coverage: Once deployed, the TacVisor is not exceptionally adjustable but provides a decent coverage area. Because it’s stiffer and more stable, this made adjusting it difficult which could prove to be problematic for some drivers.
Positive reviews mention the ease of installation, and many note the night anti-glare filter as especially helpful.
Negative reviews tend to focus on the daytime filter. Some drivers say the reflective surface hindered their visibility, and a few say the film covering the daytime filter bubbled and peeled when left in direct sunlight. Other critical reviewers say the visor was unstable, but we found it exceptionally stable during our test. Stability may depend on the size of your sun visor.
The Sailead Sunshade Extender provides a downward polarized screen and a sideways sun blocker. While less stable than some of the other guards on this list, it’s an attractive option if you want the sideways extender and a downward polarized screen.
You can see how the Sailead performed in each of our testing categories below:
This driver-side sun visor performed well enough in our testing for us to recommend it, and it’s easy to use. Overall, the Sailead Sunshade Extender provides decent protection from the sun’s rays.
Below are the pros and cons of Sailead’s Sunshade Extender:
This sun visor had its ups and downs during our testing process. While easy to install and versatile in fit compared to some other sun visors, it was more floppy and not as adjustable which could cause some coverage issues depending on your car and height.
Ease of Use: The Sailead car sunshade extender is easy to install, and the elastic straps are very adjustable. While it may not fit every car sun visor, this product is more versatile than some of the other recommendations on this list.
Stability: Once installed, the Sailead Sunshade Extender is not as stable as other sun visors. The side extension is a bit floppy, though it shouldn’t fall off while you’re driving.
Coverage: Depending on your height, the polarized filter may not work best since you need to pull down your sun visor and then the filter. Taller drivers may find this impedes their view of the road, but shorter drivers may be thankful the filter comes lower than other options.
Most reviewers simply say the product works and seem pleased that it reduces sun glare. Commonly praised features of the Sailead are its horizontal extension flap and how the extender attaches to the passenger’s side visor.
As with many car sun visor extenders, this one doesn’t fit in every vehicle perfectly, and it may not work for you if you have an especially thick car sun visor. Some reviewers also complain about how easily fingerprints smudge the polarized filter.
Before purchasing a car sun visor extender, consider your objective. Do you want a visor that blocks a large area of your windshield, or do you need something to reduce glare without hindering your vision? Perhaps you need both.
Generally, sunglasses provide better glare reduction and polarized protection for your eyes, but some drivers are uncomfortable wearing sunglasses or unable to wear them for one reason or another. You should certainly consider a car sun visor extender if this is you.
When purchasing an extender of any type, consider stability. Most extenders attach to your vehicle’s sun visor, and a product that does not stay securely attached is not worth buying. If your visor extender consistently falls off, it will become more of a distraction than a help.
Most car sun visors are relatively inexpensive, so there isn’t necessarily a reason to purchase the cheapest option you find. Even our top recommended product is under $35.
In this article, along with sharing helpful purchasing tips for those interested in purchasing a car sun visor, we reviewed the top five car sun visors in 2024:
Below are some common frequently asked questions about sun visors:
Car sun visors are legal, though federal safety standards don’t regulate aftermarket visor extenders like factory-installed visors.
You should purchase a car sun visor extender if you have difficulty with sun glare on the road and your factory sun visor doesn’t adequately protect your view. Some visor extenders are polarized filters that can help against the sun if you don’t wear sunglasses.
You can purchase a decent car sun visor extender for less than $30.
We recommend the Sailead polarized sun visor because of its adjustability and glare-reduction properties. But depending on your height, this may not be the best visor for you. Read the full review above for our top recommendations and to get an idea of the best option for your needs.
Sunshades for cars can help mitigate harmful UV rays and keep a vehicle cool on a sunny day. Some sun visors for cars extend the factory sunshade of your vehicle, but they come in different sizes and custom fits depending on the needs of the driver. The best car sun visors are typically very affordable.
Car windshield sun shades come in a variety of tints that block UV rays. These can range from black, gray, yellow, and white tints, each of which can help keep your car cool.
When testing each sun visor in this review, we wanted to consider the ease of use, stability while driving, and the amount of coverage each visor offered. We go into further detail below, but by considering these testing criteria we could evaluate each visor to determine the best ones on the market.
Ease Of Use: We attached each sun visor according to the directions that came with it (if it included directions). Any visor must be easy to install to be worth buying. A sun visor that’s difficult to deploy while driving is not only unhelpful but could also be dangerous. Each of our recommended visor extenders can be maneuvered quickly and with little effort.
Stability: A floppy sun visor extender can do more harm than good, especially if it falls off while you’re driving. Our test drive included several sharp turns, and we noted how well each visor stayed attached and in place. The best sun visor extenders remain where they’re supposed to be.
Coverage: During testing, we noted how much area the extender covered. In the case of polarized filters, the amount of protection for the driver’s field of view is essential. Visors that extended sun protection without significantly hindering our view of the road scored highest in this category.
Star ratings help us evaluate the best sun visors as we can differentiate between products to provide an accurate review. Among the visors in this review, we calculated an average rating of 4.2 out of 5.0 stars.
Each year, we test over 350 auto products on vehicles and in our testing lab. Our team of product testers thoroughly researches top products, unboxes and puts our hands on each component, and tests the items on real vehicles before making recommendations to readers.
We publish hundreds of product and service reviews to bring car enthusiasts detailed guides on automotive tools, detailing kits, car seats, pet products, and much more. For more information on our testing methodology and how we evaluate every product, check out our methodology page here .
*Data accurate at time of publication. Products subject to availability.
Will has written for several major auto sites including Motor1 since 2020, logging hundreds of hours researching and testing products ranging from child car seats to torque wrenches. Will is also Certified by Safe Kids Worldwide as a Child Passenger Safety Technician (#T836339).
As a member of both the APA and IMPA, Charles Noyes has devoted himself to creating and refining quality content covering automotive products and accessories, motorcycle products, RV products, and more. As the lead editor serving the product review team, he has personally reviewed, critiqued, and fact-checked over 200 product reviews.
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