Windshield replacement cost and when it’s important to replace your front windshield.
Posted by admin7571Feb 21
The front windshield of your vehicle is important for more than just keeping the wind, bugs and road debris from hitting you in the face while driving down the road. It also acts as a major safety device during the event of a rollover accident. Keeping your vehicle safe is very important and when researching the windshield replacement cost remember there are different levels of glass to choose from and not all glass meets the manufacture recommended safety specifications.
The different types of glass include OEM or original equipment manufacture, factory recommended replacement glass and aftermarket glass. OEM is the glass that is installed at the plant where your vehicle is built and is installed under perfect environmental conditions. Factory recommenced replacement glass has the same specifications as OEM and is the next best choice to OEM when trying to save money on a windshield replacement cost. Aftermarket is glass that generally doesn’t meet the recommended specifications and in my opinion the least safest glass to purchase and install on your vehicle. Insurance companies will not pay to have aftermarket glass installed on a vehicle.
So you have damage on your windshield and need to know if the damage warrants a complete replacement of your front windshield. Auto glass shops and insurance companies tend to have different opinions when discussing whether or not you should replace your front windshield if it has a crack. From my experience, an auto glass shop generally will suggest that a crack in the front windshield be repaired as long as the length of the crack is less than the size of a dollar bill whereas most insurance companies generally recommend a complete front windshield replacement if there is any type of damage to the front windshield. Contacting your nearest auto glass shop or automobile insurance agent can help you with your decisions when faced with the dilemma of whether or not to replace your front windshield.
A list of questions that are generally considered by an auto glass shop when deciding on whether or not to replace your windshield when there’s damage are as follows.
Does the crack appear in the direct line of site for the driver?
Does the crack run to the outside edge of the glass?
Is the damage to the front windshield larger than the size of a dollar bill in length?
Is the damage missing any surface glass?
Is the damage larger in diameter than a quarter?
Most auto glass shops will tell you that you need a complete replacement for any question above that you answer with a yes.
My personal recommendation would be to have your front windshield replaced if there is any type of noticeable damage so that the safety of your vehicle is restored to it’s recommended manufacture safety specifications. Here’s a great place to find out further information on the different types of auto glass and review a great source of frequently asked questions pertaining to the replacement process. This site will not only help you find answers to questions you have pertaining to replacing your front windshield but also has a large database of professional auto glass shops to choose from which will supply you with a windshield replacement cost in your city.