Driving with a damaged windshield may be safe, but in some cases, it might be hazardous to drive with a cracked windshield.It’s essential for the driver to determine what type of crack repairs could be delayed or ignored and which ones require urgent repairs or replacement.

Moreover, the glass used in the car doors are different than the windshield which means they are prone to damage more than the windshield. The main difference between the two is that the car window is made from tempered glass, but the windshield is made from two large pieces of curved and laminated safety glass.

Components of a Windshield

As mentioned earlier the windshield is made from two layers of glass laminated together. Hence, upon impact when the windows are cracked, what holds the glass together is the internal layer of glass and the laminate.

The material containing the two pieces together is called polyvinyl butyral (PVB). The PVB holds the glass color and the ultraviolet protection. The different elements in the windshield help it stay together.

Different types of Damage to Windshields

The windshield is exposed to all elements including weather, falling debris and other external elements on the road. All these elements have the potential to damage the windshield over time. The windshield of the car could cause severe cracks, chips or dings in the glass that could hinder the visibility of the driver. Cracks that are smaller than 6 inches are easy to repair, however, anything beyond that is either too hard to repair or needs to be replaced. Some of the common damages to the windshield are:

• Bullseye
• The Combination Break
• A Crack in the Window
• The Star Break
• The chipped windows

Damage That is Not Repairable

Some damage to the windshield is not repairable because of the massive size or the location of the chip or crack in the windshield. The crack on the inside of the windshield is sometimes considered as difficult or impossible to repair. Some of the damage that is not possible to fix are:

• Cracks and chips that are located near the edge of the windshield
• Long and massive cracks
• Direct blow right in front of the driver’s line of vision
• Damage to the rain sensor
• Damage to the internal radio antenna
• Several numbers of cracks and other extensive damage

Some cracks, chipped windows and the windshield of the car is repairable but if the cracks are wide and larger than 6 inches, then replacing the window is inevitable. It’s considered too late for repairs when the larger cracks continue to grow, and eventually, the whole window could collapse even at the slightest pressure. Hence, it is recommended to avoid driving with a cracked windshield.