Everyone gets windshield cracks and chips from time to time. It is part of owning a car or truck.  They often start off small, but with time, weather, and road vibrations, they will grow larger over time, and they can threaten the integrity of your car’s structure.  What should you do and when should you do it? Is there a safe level of cracks or chips? Can you safely fix them or do you have to replace the entire windshield?

Fixing Those Windshield Cracks and Chips

Windshield cracks and chips can be a problem for any car owner, but they don’t have to be.  Some can be fixed and others are too dangerous to ignore, and the placement and size are the biggest keys in knowing what you can fix and what you can’t.

If you have a chip that is smaller than a quarter and isn’t in your direct line of sight, you can probably have it fixed without it causing you too much further trouble.  You will likely always be able to see where the chip is, but it won’t cause you problems in weakening your windshield.

If it is bigger than a quarter, you likely can’t fix it and reliably expect it to not spread.  And if it is in your line of sight, it can contribute to driver fatigue because your brain will be trying to see around it while you drive.

A crack that is less than six inches long is potentially fixable, but that depends entirely on where it is located and whether it is a straight line or curving. A safer bet is always to replace a windshield when it has a crack because cracks spread quickly and with no warning. Since your windshield is part of what protects you in an accident, take care of the glass that takes care of you.