Dealing with rock chip damage on your vehicle windshield is important. There are a few things you should know if you experience windshield damage to keep your vehicle in good shape.
The following are six things you should know if your windshield is exhibiting rock chip damage.
Rock chips are easiest to repair immediately after they happen
Don't wait to schedule repairs on your damaged windshield. It's pretty typical for chips and cracks in a windshield to expand and worsen if they are not repaired right away. This could make it so that windshield repairs end up being more costly than they would have been if you had them done right away.
Rock chips can often be repaired with a polymer
When it comes to simple rock chips, repairs can often be done with a polymer. A polymer is injected into the chip and left to cure. This type of repair can often make minor chips completely disappear.
More extensive windshield damage can make windshield replacement necessary
While windshield repair is often possible for minor rock chips and cracks, extensive windshield damage could make it so that a complete windshield replacement is necessary. Your windshield repair technician will recommend repair or replacement after inspecting the damage.
It's possible that you have insurance coverage that will pay for windshield rock chip repair
If you need to have your windshield repaired or replaced, it's important to check the details of your insurance policy. Motorists with collision coverage may be able to file a claim to have their insurance pay for work on their windshield.
You may be able to prevent future damage by changing your driving habits
You might be making rock chips and other types of windshield damage more likely because of the way you drive. If you often drive on gravel roads or through areas where construction work is being done, chips in your windshield are more likely. You're also more at risk of windshield damage when you tailgate or drive at especially high speeds.
Change your driving habits if you want to minimize the chances that you experience windshield damage again in the near future.
Neglecting windshield repairs can create safety hazards
If you wait to have chips in your windshield repaired, your windshield may not be as structurally sound as it should be. This could mean that your windshield could be easily shattered or cracked by impact damage.
A weakened windshield won't provide as much protection as it should in an accident. Safety is another important reason to get rock chips in your vehicle's windshield repaired promptly.
Contact a local windshield rock chip repair service to learn more.