Whether it happened because of flying debris or as the result of a car accident, a cracked windshield is never a good thing. You might be tempted to ignore it if it’s not interfering with your ability to see as you drive. However, it’s important to know that even small cracks and chips can spread quickly, presenting several risks.
The Risks to Driving with a Cracked Windshield
- You could get ticketed for having a cracked windshield. Windshield cracks become dangerous once they’re large enough to interfere with your field-of-vision. In many states, you can be ticketed if a police officer deems your cracked windshield to be unsafe.
- Weather can make windshield cracks worse. Moisture can drip into a chip or crack, and cold temperatures can cause the moisture to freeze and expand, making the crack spread.
- Cracked windshields can make car accidents more dangerous. Auto glass contributes to the overall structural integrity of the vehicle. Intact windshields are designed to transfer the force of a frontal collision down into the chassis, which lessens the impact you and your passengers feel. If your windshield is already cracked when you get into an accident, the glass is more likely to shatter during a front-end collision and your vehicle’s roof is more likely to collapse in a rollover accident. A cracked windshield can also interfere with airbag deployment because it is less likely to hold up to the force, increasingly the possibility of serious injury or even death.
Temporary Windshield Fixes
Windshields with cracks of any size need to be replaced as soon as possible. Do-it-yourself windshield repairs or replacements are never wise for several reasons; you don’t want to do anything that could exacerbate the damage or interfere with your ability to drive the vehicle safely. However, when you’re in the process of scheduling a professional repair or replacement, there are temporary measures you can take to help keep the crack from spreading.
- Protect the glass from extreme conditions. Park in the shade when it’s hot and if possible, park in a garage or carport to protect the auto glass from water and direct sunlight. If you can’t park in a garage or carport, covering the vehicle with a tarp can protect the crack from moisture.
- Try a windshield repair kit. If you’re handy and the crack is very small, or it’s only a chip, auto parts stores sell windshield repair kits that contain resin. Just keep in mind that in many cases, DIY repairs do not last like those done by professionals and the crack may still spread.
When to Take A Cracked Windshield to an Auto Glass Shop
It’s important
to seek repairs for your damaged windshield as soon as possible, even if the crack
or chip is small, because the damage can spread over time. Even minor
scratches,
nicks, chips and cracks can spread, leading to more expensive repairs and potentially
a full auto glass replacement. We recommend seeking advice from a professional at
a local auto glass repair shop as soon as it happens, even if the damage
appears to be minor.
Should I Repair or Replace My Cracked Windshield?
In the past,
having a chipped or cracked windshield always required replacement. Recent innovations
to auto-glass repair makes windshields more repairable, but it depends on the size,
location and severity of the damage.
Auto Glass Repair
Auto glass repair is a quicker, cost-effective solution than an auto glass replacement, if the chip or crack is small enough. Generally, chips smaller than a quarter and cracks less than three inches long can be repaired. Anything larger will likely require a full replacement. A quality auto glass repair can prevent a chip or crack from spreading and help hide the original damage without having to remove the original glass. You’ll need to act quickly to get an auto glass repair, otherwise replacement will become your only option because driving with a cracked windshield can cause the damage to spread, for a variety of reasons.
An auto glass
repair is a simple procedure that typically takes less than an hour: the technician
uses a small suction vacuum to remove any moisture or other matter from the
crack and injects resin to fill it. If done properly, windshield crack repair
can be a safe and permanent solution to a damaged piece of auto glass.
Auto Glass Replacement
Auto glass replacement is typically more expensive than an auto glass repair, but it is often the best way to make sure that your vehicle is safe to drive. The location of the windshield damage plays an important factor in determining whether or not you’ll need an auto glass repair or replacement. For example, a crack on the edge of your windshield can spread quickly and compromise the structural integrity of the glass, making replacement the safest option in those cases. If the damage is in the line of sight of the driver, the auto glass shop will likely recommend a full replacement even if it is a small chip, because an auto glass repair on a chip may leave minor distortions in the glass. If a crack is deep enough to penetrate the clear layer of plastic that prevents a windshield glass from shattering, they will likely recommend a full replacement as well.
An auto glass replacement typically takes longer than a repair; you may have to wait a few hours before driving your vehicle to let the urethane that bonds the glass to cure.
How to Find a Local Auto Glass Repair Shop
A professional technician at your local auto glass repair shop will be able to quickly inspect and assess the damage to your cracked windshield and help you determine whether you will need to repair or replace the glass.
Carwise.com makes it easy to find a reputable auto glass repairer and request an estimate. From reviews by real customers to services and payment information, Carwise has details on over 21,000 repair shops. Use Carwise’s shop finder tool to search your zip code for a customer-reviewed auto body or glass repair shop nearby: https://www.carwise.com/auto-body-shops/.
