Windshields is essentially a glass sandwich that has a plastic layer in the the middle. Therefore this is the only piece of autoglass that can be repaired if you happen to get your windscreen chipped or cracked, without causing a structural damage to the car.

However you have to keep in mind that windshield repairs are not done for purely cosmetic reasons, but are done to to keep the structure of the the windshield glass and car as a whole solid.

Windshield repairs are also the better choice economically as opposed to replacing the windscreen itself. Due to this fact it is the preferred method of Insurance companies should you get a crack or chip.

Therefore the windshield repair cost is very low, and are usually covered for free under your policy without any negative repercussions.

However sometimes a Windshield replacement is inevitable and the cost of a windshield replacement varies depending on the model of the car.

Typical costs:

• Chips or cracks in the windshield may not require replacement. Many auto insurers will cover repairs in full, with no deductible, to avoid costly replacements. However, only certain chips and cracks can be repaired. Repairs can’t be in the driver’s direct line of sight and they must be small.
• Replacing windshields range from$157 to $324 for passenger cars; $164 to $290 for SUVs; $164 to $310 for pickup trucks; and $174 to $294 for minivans.
• Costs for chip repair range from $20 for in-store service to $55 for mobile service.
• Expect to pay $20 more for each additional chip. Cost for crack repair up to 12 inches range from $50 – $59; cracks between 12 and 24 inches range from $59 to $69. Reputable shops will advise replacement of windshields with cracks longer than 24 inches, since anything bigger cannot be repaired safely.

Additional costs:

• Certain vehicles require special rubber mouldings that cost $5 to $21.

• If your windshield has attached wipers, replacing the windshield will also require replacement of the wipers and blades, which would cost $10 to $20

To get the best deal I suggest you find your local dealer (either via a zip code search on the top right or Windscreen Repair Services on the right) and ask for a quotation. Remeber to shop around to get the best price for a windshield replacment.

Windshield Replacement Cost is a post from: Windscreen Chip Repair

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A Windscreen usually gets chipped or cracked by an impact from a stone or other debris hitting the windscreen while the vehicle is being driven.

This can be a problem as the Windscreen Chip  could turn into a crack at any time, and could cause a safety risk if it happens while your driving.

Further  the passenger airbag relies on support from the windscreen if deployed and is responsible for 30% of the cars structural integrity.

Types of Windscreen Chips

Windscreen chips can take up several forms such as:

‘Bulls eye’ – a circular indentation,
‘Star break’ – small cracks radiating out in all directions,
Other combinations of the above with names such as, ‘cloverleaf’, ‘beeswing’, ‘half moon’

What factors increase the risk of windscreen chips and cracks?

As Windscreen sizes increases so does the risk of chips due to the larger surface area.

More ‘complex’ windscreens may have certain stress points that if struck can cause chips and cracks.

A car on a ‘loose’ or busy road is more susceptible to get struck by debris that may cause damage.

Speed and number of miles driven also can contribute to the amount of damage that may occur if your windscreen is struck by debris.

Also further shock, vibration, extremes of temperature (such as turning the air-conditioning on full on a scorching hot day), driving time or factors such as frost, dirt and moisture getting inside a chip can all contribute in to making the windscreen chip in to a crack.

Glass has no inherent strength and therefore no ability to resist outside factors. Once a chip or crack appears, external stressors, such as heat, vibration or movement are likely to cause it to expand.

Other issues

A chip in a windscreen may cause damage to the rubber of the vehicle’s windscreen wiper blades if left unrepaired.

It may result in your car failing your MOT. There are clear rules about what must be repaired in different parts of your windscreen, particularly the part that is swept by your windscreen wipers.

Credit goes to http://www.glassdoctors.co.uk/

• Damage larger than 10mm will fail in the drivers line of vision. Marked Zone “A” above
• Damage larger than 40mm will fail in the rest of the swept area Marked Zone “B” above.
• Significant scratching that impairs the drivers vision

Remember

• If a chip is in the drivers line of vision, it only has to be bigger than 10mm for your windscreen to fail its MOT.
• The MOT testers manual says “any damage not contained within a circle of 10mm” so a cluster of minor damage could also fail
• (Statistics  accredited to Glass Doctors)

What can I do?

There are a number of DIY kits about, however usually if you have fully comprehensive insurance, this is covered and normally you do not have to pay any ‘waive’ fee or lose your no claim bonus. But make sure with your insurance company!

Or feel free to have a look though our emerging Windscreen Repair Services

Why do a Windscreen Chip Repair is a post from: Windscreen Chip Repair

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