We have all been there at least once before. Driving along the highway when something catches our eye; a stone is flying straight toward the front of our car. We sort of duck out of the way and hear a "thunk" on the windshield. "Oh great," we think sarcastically, our windshield now has a crack.
Windshield cracks and blemishes can be troublesome. You can never really guess what is going to happen; they almost always start small and end up spider webbing across the remaining windshield. Some rock blemishes only leave chunk of glass missing. If not treated correctly it can turn into a large crack as well.
Taking care of small chunks or blemishes is the easiest fix for a windshield. There are professional companies that will come out to your vehicle and use a resin mixture to fill the star or crack that is existing. By filling the mark the crack is aesthetically more pleasing, and more importantly the resin prevents the crack from spreading further. This method is great for prolonging the life of your windshield and saving you money up front. However, eventually the windshield will need to be replaced.
If your windshield has a large crack, the best option is to replace the entire windshield instead of attempting a repair kit. Repairs are meant for smaller stars and chunks, but larger cracks are uncontrollable. The most important thing to do is prevent the crack from getting larger. Avoid temperature change. Do not wash your car; the cold water from the hose on a hot or warm windshield causes the crack to spread. Try to leave the car in a protected garage as much as possible to avoid cold or hot weather from expanding the crack.
Once the crack is large enough that you can't stand it anymore, it is time to replace the entire windshield. This process only takes a couple hours at a local auto glass shop. Better yet are the companies that come to your home of office and replace the windshield on site. Make sure to call the auto glass shop as soon as possible to make sure they have your windshield in stock. They will usually need to order one, but it does not take very long to get it.
Paying for a new windshield can often be a drag, especially if it happens often. After all, most cracked windshields are not the driver's fault, just bad luck. Many auto glass shops will bill your insurance for you. However, for many drivers this is not the best option. It all depends on your insurance deductible. New windshields can cost anywhere from $300-$700. If your deductible is more than that, it is easiest to just pay for the new windshield out of your pocket. This is also the quickest way to have the issue resolved. However, if your deductible is significantly less than the cost of a new windshield, then let the insurance pay for it, that is if it is included in your policy. Again, this decision is based solely on the cost of your insurance deductible and the convenience of making a claim.
Cracks in your car's windshield can be a bummer, but luckily repairing them are not so bad. Take a look at your options based on the size of the crack and choose the most appropriate and affordable option.
