When your windshield is broken or shattered, as opposed to merely damaged, you should look to replace it immediately. It\u2019s unsafe (and illegal in many states) to operate a vehicle with a broken windshield.<\/p>\n Get an Estimate<\/a>\n\n If your windshield isn\u2019t shattered but has a sizable crack in it, you\u2019ll still want to get it evaluated by a professional as soon as possible. Keep in mind that cracks more than 14 inches should never be repaired. While it might appear safe, the structural integrity of the windshield has probably been severely compromised. That means it could shatter at any time, injuring occupants of the vehicle or causing the driver to crash.<\/p>\n The Standard says windshield replacement is required in cases of damage:<\/p>\n Repair technicians should consult and follow any vehicle manufacturer\u2019s recommendations before performing a repair on any value-added feature.<\/p>\n The following are situations where the windshield should be repaired:<\/p>\n Replacement is also required if the damage occurs in the Driver\u2019s Primary Viewing Area (DPVA) if:<\/p>\n Beyond safety considerations,\u00a0driving with a cracked windshield could violate laws in your state<\/a>.<\/p>\n In New York, you won\u2019t be able to pass inspection if you have a crack<\/a> more than 11 inches long, or a star-shaped crack that\u2019s more than three inches in diameter. In Virginia, you\u2019ll fail inspection if there is a pit, chip or star break larger than 1-inches in diameter at any location in the windshield three inches above the bottom, or if a crack weakens the windshield so that one piece can move in relation to the other. So be sure to check the laws in your state.<\/p>\n Using a professional is always recommended. A\u00a0qualified technician<\/a>\u00a0who follows the Repair of Laminated Automotive Glass Standard (ROLAGS) will ensure it is repaired safely and effectively.<\/p>\n A do-it-yourself fix is intriguing. However, most of the \u201caffordable\u201d DIY kits on the market can be comparable in cost to a professional repair when factoring in the time\u2026 not to mention the experience of a trained and seasoned technician. Keep in mind, they\u2019re also using tools that cost thousands of dollars.<\/p>\n The technician will use repair techniques such as drilling and flexing and will fill the chip or small crack with resin, using proper methods of contaminate prevention and curing.<\/p>\n To learn more about when a windshield can be repaired versus replaced, visit the website of the\u00a0National Windshield Repair Association (NWRA)<\/a>, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the safe repair of windshields. It established the\u00a0R<\/a>epair of Laminated Automotive Glass Standard (ROLAGS\u2122)<\/a>. That standard describes when repair of a windshield can be made.<\/p>\n Qualified professional companies on\u00a0Glass.com<\/a>\u00a0can handle chip repairs large and small, simple or complicated. Most technicians offer in-shop or mobile services for your convenience, so find a professional near you at\u00a0Glass.com<\/a>. When it comes to a chip, always nip.<\/u><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A windshield that’s completely shattered obviously has to be replaced. But what do you do when it’s just cracked? A slight chip in your windshield may seem harmless, but when neglected, even a chip can crack and spread. Learn how to prevent your windshield chip or crack from spreading.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":884,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,1352],"tags":[12],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.glass.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.glass.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.glass.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glass.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glass.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.glass.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":70373,"href":"https:\/\/www.glass.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27\/revisions\/70373"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glass.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/884"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.glass.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glass.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glass.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}When to Repair<\/h2>\n
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When To Replace<\/h2>\n
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Stay Legal, and Safe<\/h2>\n
![\"bullseye-windshield-chip\"](\"https:\/\/info.glass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/bullseye-windshield-chip.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHow to Fix a Chip<\/h2>\n
Who to Call?<\/h2>\n