August 25, 2017
Many of us have experienced an unsettling feeling while driving on a highway and all of a sudden you hear a loud noise as something hits the windshield. A rock bounces off your windshield and leaves a large chip or crack obstructing your view. With a majority of construction projects occurring during the summer, debris may be scattered across the highways, making cracks or chips in your windshield more likely to occur. What do you do? Do you repair your windshield or do you replace it?
Choosing whether or not you need to repair or replace your windshield depends on a variety of factors:
Size – Many windshield and glass repair shops can repair chips that fit under a dollar bill. If the chip or crack is larger than a dollar bill, the shop will recommend a replacement. If you have a chip that is small, you should repair it quickly as many chips can turn into large cracks, which will cost you more time and more money.
Location – Is the crack or chip along the edge of the windshield? These cracks and chips tend to spread quickly and the repair shop may recommend that the entire windshield be replaced. Is the crack or chip within the driver’s line of vision? Many shops will not repair a chip in the driver’s line of vision because the repair process can create distortions in the glass.
Severity – If a small rock or piece of debris caused the chip or crack to your windshield, it may be repaired. However, if your windshield has major damage, according to your repair shop, a replacement is necessary.
Your repair shop will know best as to whether or not you can repair your windshield of if you should replace it. Contact your agent to see if windshield replacement and/or repair is covered under your policy.
This summary is for general informational use only and may not include all relevant information.
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