Is it safe to drive with a cracked windshield?
The short TL;DR answer is: Yes, it can be dangerous. It's best not to drive with a damaged windshield. Of course, the longer answer dives into the “why” and the nuances of car window cracks, windshield chips, and general auto glass damage.
Windshield Repair/Replacement Cost & Your Insurance | Safelite AutoGlass
How big of a crack in a windshield can be repaired?
Usually, auto glass technicians can repair a chip, which has a diameter of around one inch or less. Likewise, a crack is also repairable, if it is no more than three inches long. If the size of the crack is more than that of a dollar bill, you should rule out the repair option.
How long can I drive with a crack in my windshield?
There is no set amount of time to safely drive with a cracked windshield. In some cases, the crack is diminutive and unlikely to spread, making it possible to drive days, weeks or even months without additional damage. However, even slight cracking makes windshields brittle.
Can you drive around with a cracked windshield?
If your windshield has only a minor crack, you can drive your vehicle home safely, but you should prioritize getting the windshield repaired immediately. Leaving a small crack unrepaired and continuing to drive will cause the crack to spread. This is a safety hazard.
When should I be worried about a cracked windshield?
The final quality to consider when dealing with a crack in your car's windshield is whether the chip or crack is growing in size or spreading out across the glass. If not, you should be okay for a short while, but if you notice spreading or growth, you need to have the windshield replaced or repaired very soon.
What happens if you don’t fix a cracked windshield?
In such a case, the windshield may break, allowing the airbags the room to expand outside the car. If that were to happen to you, you'd have neither the windshield nor the airbags working to keep you safe. So, by neglecting to fix your windshield, you risk severe injury, and even death.
Safelite Cracked Windshield Replacement For My 2019 Subaru WRX STI
How big of a windshield crack is fixable?
Usually, auto glass technicians can repair a chip, which has a diameter of around one inch or less. Likewise, a crack is also repairable, if it is no more than three inches long. If the size of the crack is more than that of a dollar bill, you should rule out the repair option.
How big is too big for a windshield crack?
The rule of thumb: If you have chips larger than a quarter or cracks longer than 3.5 inches, plan to get a new windshield. Take note that even smaller cracks and chips that are extremely deep may not be fixable!
Can a 7 inch windshield crack be repaired?
So the short answer is that cracked windshields can indeed be repaired in many cases. Current windshield repair standards classify short cracks as less than 6 inches and long cracks as between 6 to 14 inches.