You’re driving down the highway, a truck kicks up a rock, and now there’s a fresh chip in your windshield. What you do in the next few days decides whether that chip stays a small, quick repair or turns into a crack and a new windshield. Here’s what to do, and what not to do.
1. Take a look at the size and the spot
If the chip is smaller than a fifty-cent piece, it can usually be repaired. If it’s bigger, has already spread into a crack, or sits in the driver’s direct line of vision, you’re more likely looking at a replacement. See chip repair or replacement: how to tell for the details.
2. Don’t press on it
It’s tempting to run a finger over the chip or push on it to see how deep it goes. Don’t. Pressing on a chip or a small crack can make it split out right then and there.
3. Should you put tape over it?
Putting clear tape over a chip is a bit of an old wives’ tale. Tape won’t stop the chip from cracking out. What it can do is keep dirt and water out of the chip until it’s repaired, which helps the repair. If you use tape, lay it on gently and don’t press down on the damaged spot.
4. Skip the car wash
Stay out of the car wash until the chip is repaired. Damaged glass is already under stress, and there’s no reason to add more before it’s fixed.
5. Get it repaired as soon as you can
This is the big one. The sooner a chip is repaired, the less likely it is to crack out. Bumps, potholes and temperature swings all put stress on a chip, and there’s no way to predict which one will turn it into a crack across the windshield.
The good news: Magic Glass can almost always repair a chip the same day. Most repairs take less than an hour, and you can drive right away. Our mobile service can also come to your home, workplace, farm or job site.
Once we repair a rock chip, we guarantee the glass won’t break from that original damage. If it does, the cost of the chip repair goes toward a replacement.
What about insurance?
Many policies with glass coverage pay for chip repair. We work with any and all insurance companies, and our dedicated insurance specialist can help with the claim. See how a windshield insurance claim works.
Common questions
Can I wait a few weeks to get the chip fixed?
You can, but every day you wait is another chance for it to crack out. A crack usually means a new windshield instead of a quick repair.
Will tape keep my chip from spreading?
No. Tape can keep dirt and moisture out of the chip, but it won’t stop it from cracking. Only a repair does that.
How soon can you fix it?
Almost always the same day. Call your nearest shop and we’ll get you in.
Got a fresh chip?
Call Magic Glass in Lafayette, IN, Champaign, IL or Danville, IL, or request a quote and a real person from your local shop will call you back. Learn more about windshield chip repair.