If the windscreen on your vehicle is chipped or cracked, you don't want to put off having it repaired or replaced. Not only could you get a citation for a broken windscreen, but this could actually be compromising your safety, as the windscreen is meant to keep you in the cab if you're involved in a collision. A damaged windscreen may shatter if you were to fly forward and hit it during a collision; not only could this broken glass cause injury, but this could also mean being tossed out of the car during that accident! If your vehicle's windscreen is damaged, note some questions you might have about its repair or replacement, so you can determine the best choice for addressing this problem.

How long does a repair or replacement take?

Of course, the time to repair or replace your glass will vary according to the extent of the damage. Most companies can do auto glass repairs very quickly, and may only need a few hours to remove an old windscreen and replace it with a new one.

However, this doesn't necessarily mean that you can drive your car again once the repair is done, as the resin and adhesives used for this work may need time to dry or cure. This time will also vary according to the work done, so ask your repair tech how long your car should sit after the work is done and before you drive it again.

Can a replacement be done with recycled glass?

If you're very eco-conscious, you may want an installer to use recycled glass. When windscreen glass is manufactured, reclaimed glass can often be added to this process and reused, but this doesn't mean you can just use a sheet of recycled glass on your vehicle. Windscreen glass needs to be toughened, and it also needs to fit the frame of the car's body exactly. In some cases, you may be able to use a pre-owned windscreen, but only your glass installer can tell you if this would be a safe option for your car.

Do repair techs always come to you?

Most auto glass repair and replacement companies will come to your location, but note that it might be best if the work is done indoors if it's raining, snowing, so windy that it might blow debris into the area being worked on, and the like. An installer can tell you if bringing the car to them would be a better choice to protect their repair work.