These days, most car windscreens are fairly robust, however, it only takes a rogue chip or piece of gravel to hit the glass in the wrong place for a problem to occur.
If your windscreen has suffered any kind of damage, it’s essential that you get the issue fixed as soon as possible to prevent the damage from escalating and risking the safety of you and other road users.
The team here at The Windscreen Company are specialists in windscreen repairs and windscreen replacements for vehicles of every make and model. So no matter what you drive, we’re here to help.
In this article, we’ll take a look at how to deal with a damaged windscreen.
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If your car’s windscreen has suffered any kind of damage, we’d always recommend getting the issue fixed as quickly as possible.
With this in mind, it’s not advisable to drive your vehicle until the damage has been fixed. This is because driving your car with a damaged windscreen runs the risk of the damage getting worse and becoming more expensive to fix.
Plus, in some instances, it is actually illegal to drive with a damaged windscreen. The legalities will depend on the size of the damage and where it is located on your windscreen.
The Highway Code states that drivers must always have a good view of the road ahead, so if the chip or crack is obscuring your vision when behind the wheel it will likely be illegal to drive. Windscreens are divided into different zones, with zone A being the driver’s side and zone B being the passenger side. If the damage has occurred in zone B, you can usually continue driving the car as it will not obstruct the driver’s view of the road.
If the police see you driving with an illegal windscreen, you’ll likely face a hefty fine and points on your licence. And, if you’re involved in a serious accident while your windscreen is illegally damaged, a more serious driving offence will likely be coming your way.
With all of this considered, it’s clear why it’s important to address windscreen damage as soon as possible.
Whether a windscreen can be repaired or whether it needs to be replaced depends greatly on the type of damage that has occurred.
Usually, simple chips or scratches can be repaired but this will depend on the size, location and depth of the damage on the glass. For example, damage in zone A that is within a 20mm circle diameter can be repaired and if it has occurred in zone B it can be up to 40mm.
Please note, that in all cases it will be up to the MOT or VOSA tester whether a vehicle’s windscreen damage can pass an MOT test.
With windscreen cracks, it will again depend on its size and location. However, it is usually safer to replace the entire windscreen when a crack has occurred.
While we always recommend getting your windscreen fixed as soon as damage has occurred, we understand that this may not always be possible.
If you need to use your car before organising repairs, and the damage is not severe enough to be illegal to drive, there are a few things you can do to minimise the chances of the damage getting worse.
This includes:
How to deal with a damaged windscreen
If your vehicle has suffered damage, getting it fixed as soon as possible should always be a priority.
While there are some DIY windscreen repair kits on the market, you should always use a professional windscreen company to deal with the repairs or windscreen replacement.
At The Windscreen Company, we have more than 25 years of experience when it comes to leading windscreen repairs and replacements, helping keep drivers in the South East and across the West Midlands safe on the roads.
Plus, we can even deal directly with your insurance company so you don’t need to worry about a thing.
For more information, contact our team today.
The Windscreen Company, has over 20 years of experience in windscreen repair and replacement. Since 1998, they have been at the forefront of industry innovation, leveraging the latest technology to ensure customer safety and satisfaction.
The Windscreen Company's, help-and-advice pages offer valuable tips and guidance on maintaining vehicle safety through quality windscreen care, while also featuring updated industry realted content.
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