GRAVEL, stones, extreme temperatures and high impacts – there are many dangers lurking in the road which can cause havoc for your windscreen.
There was a time when the only thing you could do once your windscreen had suffered a crack or chip was an expensive replacement, but as glass repairs advance that is no longer the option.
Now we’re faced with a multitude of choices – do you take it to your insurer to repair? Do you carry on driving and hope for the best? Or do you attempt to repair the crack yourself? In this post, we offer some advice on how best to deal with your car glass.
What Should I Do If I Find A Crack In My Windscreen?
Firstly, don’t panic. All car windscreens are made up of two layers of glass, with a thin layer of resin in the middle for added protection. Unless you have been involved in a high impact collision or been a victim of vandalism, it’s unlikely that the crack runs through all three layers of your windscreen, so you should still be able to drive safely home.
However, you should not continue driving the vehicle as normal indefinitely.
The longer your crack is left, the more likely it is to become contaminated with oil and moisture. Continuing to use your car with a cracked windscreen is leaving it vulnerable to further damage, and it will most likely cost you more as you will end up having to have it replaced, rather than just repaired.
Plus, turning up to business meetings in a company car with a cracked windscreen just smacks of unprofessionalism. Instead, once you’ve driven safely home, stick a piece of tape over the crack to protect it from contaminants, and look to get it repaired or replaced as soon as possible.
Can I Repair It Myself?
The answer to that is maybe. If you only have a small chip, and it looks like only one layer of the windscreen is damaged, you may be able to reduce the visibility of the breakage and prevent it from becoming any worse by using a DIY windscreen repair kit.
Doing it this way does take a bit of time and needs to be carried out carefully. It’s worth noting that you may well still have a small blemish on your screen after the work is completed, and your windscreen could still eventually need replacing further along the line. However, these kits can be used as a temporary solution until you have the time or money to take your car to a repairer.
Will A Professional Glass Repair Be Expensive?
If you have fully comprehensive insurance cover on your company car then the answer is probably not. Most likely, it’ll actually be free of charge. Because it is more economical for both you and the company to repair rather than replace your windscreen, many insurance companies will be happy to waiver your excess and cover the entire cost of the work, meaning that it doesn’t have to cost you a penny.
How Do I Decide Whether To Repair Or Replace?
To answer this, you may need to take your car to a professional. Whether your windscreen will need replacing will depend on a number of factors, including the size of the crack and its location.
Cracks near the edge of your windscreen can be more prone to spreading, so garages may be more inclined to replace your windscreen if that is the case. Some will not just repair a windscreen with a crack which is in the driver’s line of vision, as if it still leaves a small mark after it is repaired this could obstruct vision and potentially increase the risks of accidents.
Bear in mind that if it does need replacing, you will most likely be required to pay an excess for the work.
Remember, if you do need to go to a professional for help, you don’t have to go to the company that your insurer recommends. There are many independent car glass repair specialists, like Fleet Motorglass, who will carry out windscreen repairs or replacements to the highest standard in line with your existing insurance.
This guest post was written by Emma Williams, who got her car windscreen repaired with Fleet Motorglass.
