To Repair or Replace a Damaged Windshield – Your Choices

Every time you take your car out on the road, it seems that your windshield comes under attack from rocks, stones and many other types of flying road debris, not to mention damage from collisions with other vehicles or solid objects. It can give you quite a shock when something hits your windshield, especially if it causes damage, so as soon as it is safe to do so, you should pull over and take a look at the extent of the damage.

Your first action will be to decide; is the windshield a total write-off, or can the damage be repaired? With a totally smashed windshield, the choice is made for you – a windshield replacement is clearly called for, and it is against the law to drive with a badly damaged windshield. However, it’s not quite so clear-cut when it comes to windshield repairs, as repairability all depends on the extent of the damage, and where on the windshield the damaged area is located.

Can my damaged windshield be repaired?

You should consult an expert windshield technician, such as a member of myWindshield, to help you to decide if a damaged windshield is repairable – these people will have dealt with thousands of chips, dings and cracks in all their forms, and will be able to offer the best advice. The decision as to repair or replacement will come down to the type of damage, the size of the damaged area and how extensive the damage is. To be repairable, the area of damage must be smaller than 2 inches, shallower than 3/8 of an inch and usually outside the field of view of the driver.

Repairing a chipped or cracked windshield will always cost less and be more environmentally friendly than replacing it entirely. Where repair is possible, the cost will be much lower than replacement and may well be covered by your vehicle insurance, whereas a higher priced replacement could also cost you at least your deductible. From an environmental viewpoint, windshield glass is difficult and relatively expensive to recycle, so most highly damaged windshields end up going straight to landfill. You should weigh up both these factors when deciding between a repair and a replacement.

Time is of the essence with windshield repairs – a rock chip or a small crack can quickly develop into something more serious if you don’t get it fixed straight away. The sooner you get damage filled, the less visible the repair will be, and the more certain you can be that your vehicle is both safe and roadworthy.

Should my damaged windshield be replaced?

It may be obvious that you need a total windshield replacement – the glass could be totally crazed, have a hole in it or be sitting in pieces on the dashboard. However, there can a fine line in deciding if repair is possible. A single crack could be repairable, unless it is 14 inches or more in length, or if there is a danger of the inner layer of the lamination becoming discolored over time. Three or more cracks make a replacement necessary, as may a crack near the edge of your windshield, which could become an area of weakness, liable to severe damage if subject to further collisions. Again, the decision on replacing a damaged windshield should be made in conjunction with an expert windshield technician.

Whether you decide to windshield repair your windshield replacement, you need to act quickly to avoid minor damage developing into major problems and therefore increased costs, or to be driving an unsafe vehicle that may leave you exposed to inspection failures and even road accidents and penalties. The point is that your windshield does far more than keep out the weather - it forms a vital part of the vehicle’s body structure, and you could compromise the safety of yourself, your passengers and other road users if you fail to take action when you have sustained windshield damage.