Repair VS. Replacement
Sometimes bringing your car for a checkup may result in you finding out there are problems with the vehicle, such as a crack on the side window you did not see or internal issues. On the other hand, sometimes you’re driving and a piece of debris hits your windshield, resulting in a huge crack across the front of the auto glass. When you find out at a maintenance appointment, it may be due to a minor incident prior but the latter incident may result in you being in a panic. What are your next steps? Is this something that an average driver can fix or do you bring it to a mechanic? Most of all, is it a low price windshield replacement? Don’t be blindsided or feel confused, keep reading to find out the answers to these questions:Repair or Replacement?
The first step when you notice a crack or dent in the windshield is whether or not it can be repaired, or if it has to go to more extreme cases of a replacement. Using a magnifying glass, you can identify which category it falls under. Below are the qualifications for repair and replacement:Your auto glass can be repaired if:
- The crack is shorter than the length of a $5 bill
- The chip is smaller than the diameter of a quarter
- The damage is small and circular
- The damage is fresh
Your auto glass should be replaced if:
- The crack is longer than the length of a $5 bill
- The chip is larger than the diameter of a quarter
- The damage is directly in the driver’s line of sight
- There are multiple cracks
- The damage is deep, penetrating the inner layer of safety glass
- The damage is directly over a heating element or radio antenna
- The crack reaches into the windshield’s edges