Windshield Chip: Repair It or Replace the Glass?

Size

Chips smaller than a coin are candidates.

Location

Chips in the driver's view leave distortion.

Edges

Damage at the edge weakens the glass.

Cameras and sensors

Replacement may need calibration.

Insurance

Glass coverage is often under comprehensive.

How to tell a chip from a crack

A chip is a point of impact, often with a small bullseye or star. A crack is a line. Chips under roughly the size of a quarter can usually be filled. A crack that runs more than a few inches, or one that touches the edge of the glass, is generally a replacement job because the glass loses strength where the crack meets the frame.

Press lightly with a pencil eraser from the inside, not a fingernail from the outside, to see whether the damage has a loose center. A loose center is the first sign it may spread.

What happens if you wait

Windshields flex with temperature and road vibration. A chip that is stable on Monday can run across the glass by Friday if the car sits in a hot parking lot and then meets cold air conditioning. Dirt and water also enter the break, which makes a later resin repair less clear.

If you cannot get in right away, cover the chip with clear tape to keep debris out, park in shade and avoid slamming doors. Then get an estimate. A chip repair is far cheaper than a new windshield and usually quicker.