When your glass takes a hit, one question matters most: can it be fixed, or does the whole windshield have to come out? Three things decide it, and you can size them up yourself in a minute.
The three tests
Size
Damage smaller than a one dollar coin is often repairable. Bigger, or a crack longer than a few centimetres, leans to replacement.
Location
Damage in the driver line of sight, or within about 3 cm of the edge, usually means replacement even if it is small.
Depth
If only the outer layer is chipped it can be filled. Once a crack goes through to the inner layer, the glass is compromised.
Repair or replace, side by side
Usually repairable
- Smaller than a coin
- A single chip or short crack
- Outside your line of sight
- Only the outer layer
Usually replaced
- Larger than a coin or spreading
- In your field of vision
- Near the edge or in the black band
- Through the outer layer
Quebec safety standards regulation even sets a technical limit: in the wiper area a windshield should not carry intersecting cracks or a chip wider than 12 mm. CAA-Québec uses very similar guidelines.
Why it is not just about looks
Your windshield supports the passenger airbag and adds strength to the roof, and on newer cars it holds the ADAS camera. A bad crack can also fail a SAAQ mechanical inspection. When in doubt, we will tell you honestly whether a repair will hold or a replacement is the safer choice.
Not sure which one you need?
Send us a photo of the damage and we will tell you straight, repair or replace, and what it costs.
This article is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Coverage varies by policy and vehicle, so confirm with your insurer or ask us for an exact quote.
