Windshield Crack Repair Cost ($60 to $150) and When Repair Works

A windshield chip repair usually costs about $60 to $100, and a crack repair runs about $100 to $150, according to AAA. A repair is a short job where a technician fills the break with resin so it stops spreading. It only works on small damage away from the edge of the glass. If your crack is too long, you need a new windshield, and our windshield replacement cost guide covers that bill instead.

Here is the short version.

• A small chip costs about $60 to $100 to repair, and a short crack costs about $100 to $150.
• Damage smaller than a quarter is usually repairable. Long cracks and cracks at the edge usually are not.
• Many insurers skip the deductible for a repair when you have comprehensive coverage.
• Fix a chip soon. A chip that spreads can turn a cheap repair into a full replacement.

What a windshield repair costs

Most of the price comes from the size and type of damage. AAA's windshield cost guide lists two common bands.

Mobile service can change the total. Some technicians charge a trip fee to come to your home or work. Others build it into the price. Ask before you book so the quote you compare is the full amount.

A repair is a fraction of the cost of new glass. AAA puts a full replacement at $250 to $1,500 or more, so a repair that holds is almost always the better deal.

• A small chip, such as a bullseye or star break, costs about $60 to $100.
• A crack repair costs about $100 to $150.
• A trip fee may apply when a technician comes to you.
• Sales tax may be added, depending on your state.

What happens during a chip repair

A repair keeps your factory windshield in place. The technician does not remove the glass, so the seal around the edge stays the way the factory set it. That is one reason a repair costs so much less than a replacement.

The job is simple to watch. Ask the technician to walk you through it, and ask what the repair will look like when it is done. Most repairs leave a faint mark where the break was. The goal is to stop the damage from spreading and to make it less visible, not to make it vanish. A typical repair goes like this.

• The technician cleans out the break so no glass bits or dirt are left inside.
• They mount a small tool over the chip and push resin into the break.
• They cure the resin, often with an ultraviolet light, so it hardens.
• They scrape off the extra resin and polish the spot smooth.

Which damage can be repaired and which cannot

There is no single size rule that every shop uses. AAA says a chip or crack smaller than a quarter is usually repairable and that cracks longer than three inches often need a full replacement. Progressive says windshields can usually be repaired when the damage is less than six inches long.

The repair industry's own standard goes further. The Repair of Laminated Automotive Glass Standard, known as ROLAGS, says stone breaks up to two inches across and single line cracks up to 14 inches are repairable. That does not mean every shop will take on a long crack. Many shops and insurers set tighter limits of their own.

The best move is to send clear photos to two or three shops and let them tell you whether it is a repair or a replacement. These signs usually point toward a new windshield.

• A crack that reaches the edge of the glass.
• A long crack, or several chips and cracks in different spots.
• Damage right in front of the driver, where a leftover mark could block your view.
• Damage that goes through more than the outer layer of glass.

How insurance handles a repair

Glass damage from a rock or road debris usually falls under comprehensive coverage.

Progressive's glass repair page says that if you have comprehensive coverage, you will not pay anything for a repair because it does not apply a deductible in that case. Other insurers have their own rules, so call yours and ask.

A few states go further for full glass claims. Progressive and AAA both name Florida, Kentucky and South Carolina as states where insurers cannot apply a deductible to a covered windshield claim when you have comprehensive coverage. In Florida, this comes from state law. Before you file, ask your insurer these questions.

• Does my policy waive the deductible for a chip or crack repair?
• Do I have to use a certain glass shop, or can I pick my own?
• Is a trip fee covered if a technician comes to me?
• Will a glass claim affect my rates?

Repair or replace, and what each choice costs

If the shop says the glass can be repaired, that is usually the cheaper and faster path. A repair saves the factory seal and keeps you on the road the same day in most cases.

If the shop says you need new glass, the bill changes a lot. A replacement means new glass, new adhesive, and on many newer cars a camera calibration for safety systems like lane keeping and automatic braking. We cover those costs line by line in our windshield replacement cost guide, so we will not repeat them here.

One tip applies either way. Get the shop's answer in writing. If one shop says repair and another says replace, ask the second shop to explain why. A clear reason, such as an edge crack or damage in your line of sight, is a good sign.

Can you fix a chip yourself

Store kits exist for small chips, and some drivers use them to keep a chip from spreading until they can get to a shop. They are a short term step, not a sure fix.

A kit is a poor choice for long cracks, edge damage, or anything in front of the driver. A failed home repair can leave dirt or half cured resin in the break, and that can make a later professional repair harder. If you are not sure, send a photo to a shop first. A shop can often tell from a photo whether the damage is worth repairing.

How to get a fair quote for a chip repair

Glass quotes are easy to compare when every shop answers the same questions. Take two photos in daylight, one close up with a coin next to the chip for size and one from a few feet back that shows where it sits on the glass. Send the same photos to each shop, then ask these questions.

• Is this a repair or a replacement, and why?
• What is the total price, including any trip fee and tax?
• Will you bill my insurance directly?
• Is there a warranty on the repair if the crack spreads?
• If the repair does not hold, do you credit the repair price toward a new windshield?

How MechanicRank helps you find a glass shop

MechanicRank lists glass shops, mobile mechanics and repair shops, with customer ratings on each listing. Every listing is free. Nobody pays to appear or to rank higher, and there is no sponsored placement. Some listings are owner claimed, which means the business owner has taken over the listing and keeps it up to date.

The services a business lists are reported by the owner. We do not check certifications or insurance, so ask each shop about those directly. At Supercanic Official locations, we set the training, insurance and quality rules.

Start at MechanicRank and ask two or three shops near you for a written quote. If you are deciding between a technician who comes to you and a shop visit, our guide on mobile mechanic versus shop service walks through the trade offs.

• Search glass shops and mobile mechanics near you by city.
• Read customer ratings before you book.
• Compare written quotes that list every fee.

Sources

This guide draws on AAA's repair and replacement cost guide, Progressive's glass claim pages, the ROLAGS repair standard, and Florida's windshield deductible law.

• How Much Does Windshield Repair or Replacement Cost?
• Windshield Glass Repair Coverage
• Free Windshield Replacement States
• ROLAGS Repairable Damage
• Florida Statutes Section 627.7288

Frequently asked questions