Try as we might, we can never completely prevent the universe from sometimes creating a little chaos in our lives.

Even the most diligent automobile owner experiences an unexpected problem now and then. Sometimes it’s a flat tire, sometimes it’s a scratch on the paint, and sometimes it’s what we’ll talk about today – a chip in the windshield. 

The most common cause for a chip in the windshield is a small rock or other solid object being kicked up by the vehicle in front of you or flying out of a construction vehicle, impacting your windshield, and leaving behind a small spot. Even when the spot is barely noticeable, you’ll likely know there was an impact by the loud popping sound you’ll hear at the moment of impact.

Your first instinct might be to leave it be, right? It’s just a tiny little nick, it’s not impeding your view, right? You might be thinking it’s going to be tough to schedule a time for the repair, and it’s going to be expensive. Or maybe you planned to take care of it, but you sort of put it to the back of your mind and eventually, you don’t even notice it anymore, and still it goes un-repaired. This is a mistake that’s far more detrimental than you might think. In fact, the truth is that all of those things you’re thinking are false.

Not only is the chip in the windshield unattractive, but leaving it un-repaired will cause the cost of the repair to be more substantial in the long run, and perhaps even less effective – especially if dirt or debris becomes embedded in the area. This effect can even be caused by the windshield wipers forcing dirt into the chipped spot. Most importantly, an un-repaired chip has the potential to become a full blown crack at any given moment – this means the safety of you and your passengers are at risk! Temperature changes, bringing your vehicle through the car wash, and many other things can cause a small chip to become a large spider crack, or even shatter, which will make repair impossible and you’ll need to replace the windshield instead.

Most chips can be repaired, but there are some exceptions. Here are a few examples of criteria that will require a replacement instead of a repair:

• the chip is in a location where it is within the driver’s primary viewing area,
• the crack extends to the outer area of the windshield
• damage that penetrates both the inside and outside of the glass
• damage that is solely on the inside of the glass
• damage consisting of three or more cracks, longer than 6 inches, from a single point of origin
• a pit greater than 3/8 inch

A trained and certified repair technician will be the best option to assess whether it is best to repair or replace your windshield. Many companies even offer mobile services that can come to you to make the repair or replacement. Most insurance companies will even cover the cost of a chip repair without any change in your current rates, easing the burden of repair for the customer. Being proactive in repairing your damaged windshield can save you time, effort, and money in the long run, and most importantly, keep you and your passengers safe.