Windshield repair does not have to be scary, hard, or expensive!
The dreaded chip in your windshield. Do you really need to repair it?
At first, you might think that it is so small it’s not worth fixing.
You gotta fix it.
Here are the reasons people use to justify not fixing it.
- It’s so small
- It doesn’t obstruct my vision
- I can’t afford to replace my windshield
- I am afraid to report it to my insurance
- I don’t want to deal with it
But how much will it cost?
But if I told you, that windshield repair is possible for less than $40, or even for FREE, would that motivate you?
If the price doesn’t motivate you, here are the reasons why you need to repair this right away.
- That chip is going to get bigger.The temperature will expand and contract the glass causing any chip or crack to grow.
- The windshield is an integral part of the safety restraint system in your car. It keeps the roof from crushing in on you in a rollover, it allows the airbags to deploy in the correct position to cushion passengers, and prevents you from being ejected in a serious collision.The windshield needs to be strong and intact at all times.
- You could also get a ticket.
- It can cost up to $500 to replace a windshield.
So fix a small chip before it becomes a big problem.
Here is how to do it for FREE!
It is not expensive to fix this problem if you catch it right away.
most auto insurance policies will pay for your windshield chip repair and even waive the deductible.
They would rather make the quick and cheap fix so you don’t have to file a windshield insurance claim later on.
If you have comprehensive coverage on your vehicle you are most likely in luck. Call your insurance company and ask.
Then ask them if they have contracted providers in your area or if you can go to whomever you’d like.
Then ask whomever you’d like to use if they will bill your insurance. If so, they will know what to do.
If you only have liability insurance or your company doesn’t offer free chip repair, the next cheapest way is to buy a windshield repair kit.
You can do it yourself
A popular one is on Amazon right now for $11.48. It has 23K reviews and it is super easy to use. There are lots of videos on YouTube that you can watch that show how to do this. I will link one that I think is really well done and easy to follow. I will also link the product in the notes below for you.
If your chip is the size of a quarter or smaller or you have a crack of 3-4 inches or less, most likely it can be easily be repaired using a repair kit.
The chip is repaired by using a special resin, applied under a vacuum, that is then cured to a rock-hard finish under ultraviolet light, to prevent the crack from spreading
If you have a major crack or you just would rather a professional do the job you can get it repaired by an auto glass specialist. There are many.
A well-known company is Safe-lite Auto glass. They are just about everywhere and they often have mobile service.
Typically it will cost about $35, but you should always get the price upfront before anyone comes out.
In short, it is not a big deal to repair this problem.
And now that you know how easy it is, you don’t have to worry about all the unknowns.
Check out my playlist on YouTube: The NO FEAR guide to basic car maintenance.
You may also enjoy Episode 016 of the How To Life Podcast: The NO-Fear Guide to Basic Car Maintenence. CLICK HERE to listen.