Chip or crack? How to tell if your windshield can be repaired

Most windshield damage starts small. Whether it can be repaired, or whether you’re looking at a new windshield, comes down to three things you can check yourself in about a minute.

1. How big is it?

Hold a coin next to the damage, including any legs running out from the center. As a rough guide:

• Smaller than a dime: almost always repairable.
• Dime to quarter size: usually repairable.
• Bigger than a quarter, or a crack longer than about six inches: often needs replacement.

2. What kind of damage is it?

• A chip or ding is a small pit, sometimes with a light halo around it.
• A bullseye is a round break with a ring around the impact point.
• A star break has short legs radiating out from the center.
• A crack is a line running across the glass. Short ones can sometimes be repaired, long ones can’t.

3. Where is it?

Damage within about two inches of the edge of the glass tends to spread and is often not repairable. Some technicians also won’t repair directly in the driver’s line of sight, because even a good repair can leave a faint mark right where you look.

Not sure?

A photo settles it. Take one straight on with a coin next to the chip and send it to a technician before booking.