We’ve all been there: you’re driving down the highway and a rock flies into your windshield, immediately cracking it. Or maybe you come out to your car after work to find a brand-new chip in your windshield.

Windshield chips are unfortunately part of driving. Stuff happens! As drivers, we’re probably unsure of when we should seek professional repairs - and, more importantly, how much repairs will cost and what’s covered by our insurance.

Small Repairs
As a general rule of thumb, a chip or crass can be safely repaired if its smaller than a dollar bill — and someplace other than the driver’s line of sight. The repair process works by injecting a special resin into the chipped area. For cracks, holes may be drilled at the ends of the crack to prevent it from spreading. In other words, your windshield can be fixed, versus being completely replaced.  And, most of these smaller repairs cost less than $100, according to Windshield Repair Professionals NOVUS.

Windshield Replacement
You may need to completely replace your windshield if:

• the chip is directly in the drivers line of sight,
• there are more than three cracks or chips on the glass,
• the damage is at the edge of the windshield, or
• the windshield is old and covered with tiny divots