When a pebble hits your car glass, your heart skips a beat. If you are driving it will be even more frightening.
Whether the resulting damage is either a small crack or a chip, you may be happy to know it can be repaired and not necessarily require a full replacement.
This means, you do not have to go for days without your car or worry about dealing with your insurance company when the glass can be repaired.
Being a driver, looking right through the chip is dangerous while on the road. It obstructs your line of vision which is a huge risk, especially at night.
If the crack is deep enough, water and dirt will start seeping into it. This along with vibrations of the car can cause small repairable cracks to grow too large, requiring replacement.
How Much Does A Windshield Repair Cost?
Repairing a windshield at home is cheap, but if this is your first repair you should really consider a professional. This is a part of your car that you cannot take chances with.
Depending on the size, location and extent of the damage you may get away quite cheaply with a repair. $50 may cover you for a professional windscreen chip repair, where the technician comes to you.
While you could buy a DIY repair kit for much less, with a professional mobile service you get assurance of a quality job and warranty on their work.
Why It Is Important To Have the Windshield Repaired Immediately
Besides being illegal to drive a car with a damaged windscreen, there are other reasons it should be repaired as soon as possible.
Depending on where the chip or crack is, water could get into the top lamination of the glass. There is a possibility that the glass will be delaminated from the center membrane.
This will not only result in a blemish on the glass, but if water sits in the cracked area, it will cause even more damage. Water could freeze in the crack or deposit dirt and debris.
This will result in higher repair costs or get to a point where the windshield needs to be replaced.
Not All Cracks and Chips Can Be Repaired
Not all chips and cracks can be repaired but a professional technician will be able to advise what is the best option. They check on the damage and recommend how to fix it.
The risk with doing this yourself is you could attempt to fix something the wrong way causing a safety risk for you and your passengers.
For example, cracks that are too long and damage that touches the edge of the glass cannot be repaired. Instead you will have to deal with the most costly and time consuming windshield replacement.
The size and location of where your damage is will determine what can be repaired. These restrictions vary from location to location, so it is best to check with your local authorities. Alternatively, a professional windscreen repairer will know this.
How Much Does Windscreen Replacement Cost?
This price can vary greatly as each car comes in different shapes and sizes. Comes of a common shape and size will have common glass which will be at a lower cost than a unique and hard to find shape.
Also you have the choice of genuine or aftermarket glass. Aftermarket glass usually has the same or better specifications to suit the vehicle, however the costs can be 50% or greater in difference.
Finally a premium car brand will almost always carry a higher cost for parts than an average priced model.
Based on this the cost of windscreen glass can vary so greatly. Add on the technicians labour cost and the price can range from 250 to over $1000.
To understand the cost for your vehicle, ask for a free quote from multiple technicians and compare prices.
Conclusion
When a windscreen is damaged, it should be repaired as soon as possible. Your main concern should not be getting into trouble with the authorities but safety.
If not repaired in good time, it is not safe to drive and as it may not be able to resist large projectiles. It also puts the structural integrity of the whole car on the line in case of a crash.
The size of the damage, the type of the car, and where you are located determines how much you will need to pay for the repair.
Although there are auto glass repair kits in the market, if you are not experienced, there are risks involved with this method of repair. As such you could cause more damage or improperly repair it.
To keep driving comfortably, let an auto glass specialist undertake the repair.
