How Your Windshield is Manufactured - A windshield or the auto glass in the front of your car or truck is not made up of a single sheet of manufactured glass. It's actually two layers of glass that are separated by a complete layer of polyvinyl butyrate. This layer of PVB basically glues and seals the two pieces of glass together. This serves several purposes, though the most important is to maintain the integrity of the windshield. In the event of damage, the windshield is less likely to shatter.
Repair or Replace? - When damage to auto glass occurs, it's not uncommon for the owner to immediately start thinking about windshield replacement. While auto glass repair has been around for a while, it's still not common for people to do. The reason repair is steadily growing in popularity is because, without insurance, windshield replacement out of pocket is extremely expensive.
The ability to repair a window is so widely accepted now that insurance companies often prefer to try to have damage to a windshield repaired rather than trying to replace the entire windshield. As long as the damage is controlled and in a small location with minimal cracks then a repair is often the easiest and most cost effective solution.
Dealing with the Cost - The cost for windshield repairs is extremely low, far less than the deductible for most insurance companies to replace your auto glass. If you're only dealing with a single chip or small crack then the price should be somewhere in the range of $50. Additional chips or cracks are typically about $15 each after the first. Larger cracks can be a little more expensive depending on the length and may cost as much as $150. Replacing auto glass is where things get pricey. A used windshield can be installed for as low as $300 but an OEM windshield could go for more than $1000.00.
How to Avoid Damage - In most cases you can't really stop damage from occurring. If it's going to happen it's going to happen. There are a few ways in which you can reduce the probability of getting a chip in your windshield. Avoid following vehicles too closely, don't follow vehicles hauling gravel or other loose debris, if on a dirt road or road with heavy loose gravel try to stay at least 6 car lengths behind the vehicle in front of you.
When Repair Won't Do - Sometimes the damage to your auto glass is just too extensive and repair isn't possible. If you're facing a large number of chips that look like you were involved in a shootout, if the cracks exceed 6 inches, if the chip is a large bulls eye bigger than a quarter and if the larger damaged area is in front of the driver then it may be a better idea to simply spring for windshield replacement. This is the best way for you to stay safe.
