Despite its name, your vehicle’s windshield is more than just a means to shield you from the wind. It keeps all of the elements out, provides an unobstructed view of the road ahead, and keeps you safer in a collision or roll-over. Given all of these critical functions, though, most drivers don’t give their windshield much thought. But we should. A chipped or cracked windshield may seem like a minor annoyance but having one can cause major issues if not fixed or replaced. 

What are some common causes of a cracked windshield?

There are many reasons why a vehicle’s windshield may crack, other than a stray baseball missing its mark. Additional causes may include: 

• Road debris 
  Whether it is debris flying off the vehicle ahead of you or from loose gravel while travelling on unpaved roads, windshield damage is common when yours takes a direct hit while driving. 
• Foul weather 
  You don’t have to be driving for windshield damage to occur. From heavy hail to severe winds that cause trees and branches to come down, your parked car is often at the mercy of Mother Nature. 
• Auto accidents 
  In addition to any obvious windshield damage that could result, a collision – even a minor one – can introduce new weakness in the glass or exasperate existing imperfections. 
• Temperature swings 
  Temperatures naturally fluctuate of course, but if there’s a regular hot-cold/cold-hot cycle going on, cracks can develop over time. 
• DIY fails 
  Fixing a windshield chip or crack may seem ideal for a DIY project, but if not done properly it could lead to new cracks or larger ones later on down the road. 

How to prevent a windshield crack from happening or worsening

A windshield crack often doesn’t happen overnight. It usually starts small and spreads. To minimize it from happening to you: 

• Regularly inspect your windshield for damage. 
• Repair windshield chips promptly so the chip doesn’t turn into a full-blown crack. 
• Avoid driving on dirt or gravel roads. If it’s unavoidable, give yourself extra room from the car ahead of you and take it slow to minimize the risk of debris flying up. 
• Avoid parking in spots where there is (or will be) direct sunlight to reduce the swing in temperatures your windshield encounters over the course of a day. 
• Park in a garage or carport, if possible, during nasty weather. 
• Resist the urge to crank the defrost to high if there is uncleared ice on your windshield. Clear the ice and snow off first and let your vehicle warm up slowly.  

Is it dangerous to drive with a cracked windshield? 

Many drivers underestimate the risks of driving a vehicle with a cracked windshield – and make no mistake, there are risks! Consider what a windshield is designed to do and then what could happen if the integrity of it isn’t 100%. 

A windshield is supposed to: 

• Support the roof of the vehicle in a roll-over 
• Protect you and your passengers in a collision. The windshield, seatbelts, and airbags work together to keep everyone in the vehicle where it’s safer. 
• Allow the airbags to fully deploy 
• House some of the crash avoidance technologies common in today’s vehicles  

Industry estimates suggest that in a front-end collision, a windshield contributes up to 45% of the structural integrity of a car's cabin and up to 60% in a roll-over.¹ For safe driving, a cracked or chipped windshield is not something you really want to mess about with. 

Fixing a chipped or cracked windshield 

Repairing or replacing a windshield isn’t generally a task that’ll take too long out of your busy life. Depending on where you live, for example, there may be mobile chip repair services that will come to your home or work. Sometimes you’ll even find a pop-up repair service in a parking lot, and there is, of course, your mechanic or an auto glass shop that can do the trick. For chips, it usually takes about an hour to repair.

On the other hand, windshield replacement is more involved and generally takes 3 to 4 hours. Why so long? Well, there’s a fair bit of prep work involved once the old window is removed, the adhesive has to set once the new windshield is fitted, and if there is one, the vehicle’s camera (needed for crash avoidance features) requires recalibration.  

• To repair or replace, that is the question. Or is it? 
  Chips are usually easy to repair without replacing the entire window. A cracked windshield, however, could go either way. It’s best to replace the windshield if the crack is in the driver’s field of vision, is larger than a Loonie, or is located within close proximity to the edge of the window. 

Does car insurance cover a windshield replacement or repair? 

Your auto insurance may cover the costs for a windshield replacement or repair. It will hinge on how it was damaged and the types of auto insurance coverages your policy includes. 

• Is the damage from a collision?
  If you have collision coverage (it’s optional and not all drivers buy it), the cost to repair or replace your windshield will typically be covered along with the rest of the damage to your vehicle. 
• Is the damage from road debris, a fallen tree/branch, or vandalism?
  For damages caused by something other than a collision, you’ll need to look to your policy’s comprehensive insurance coverage. This insurance is optional so having it isn’t always a forgone conclusion. If you have comprehensive insurance, chances are the costs are covered but there may be exceptions. For example, some people exclude glass coverage from their policy as a cost-savings measure – the option to do this however, varies by province and insurer. 

Whatever the reason for the damage, and regardless of your policy’s coverages, a quick call to your insurer will confirm if they’ll cover the costs. There’s no harm in asking and it could save you money, because while a chip repair is usually inexpensive, a windshield replacement could be costly.

At the same time, your insurer can also let you know if your insurance deductible applies. While there are sometimes exceptions, the deductible generally doesn’t apply when it’s a windshield chip but does if it’s a crack. This is another good reason to talk to your insurer as soon as possible after a chip happens – it’s better to fix a simple windshield chip before it turns into an involved (and pricey) windshield replacement!