Windshield Repair

Repairing or Replacing My Windshield?

At the tail end of the fall season, a little rock kicked up and pinged my windshield. It left such a tiny mark that I didn't think anything of it, until the weather grew colder and the tiny mark began to grow.

Suddenly, we're in the middle of an arctic blast, I was concerned about the increasingly large crack! I contacted a few different companies to see if I would have to replace the windshield or if I could just repair it, and this is what I learned:

Repair: if the crack is smaller than a dollar bill, you're likely looking at a repair. However, if the crack, regardless of size, is directly in the view of the driver, many professionals will opt for a repair as to prevent any interference with the line of sight.

Replace: basically, all other circumstances--more than one chip or crack, any larger than a dollar bill, directly in the line of driver's vision -- will result in a replacement.

To avoid paying a costly deductible and being forced to purchase a replacement windshield, it's important to do the opposite of what I did: don't wait to repair!! I got lucky that the crack didn't splinter or grow so large that it posed a hazard...to both my safety and my wallet!

Now I know to contact my insurance company right away and take care of the repair immediately. Many professionals offer mobile service and come right to your home or workplace, making the repair as convenient as possible. It usually takes less than an hour, too! The bottom line is this: take care of even the smallest cracks and chips right away.