Windscreen Chip and Crack Repair: Costs and Options UK

Summary

• Small chips can be repaired: Costs £30-£75 and takes about 30 minutes.
• Cracks usually need replacement: Costs £200-£500 depending on the car.
• Insurance often covers it: Many policies include free windscreen repair without affecting your no claims bonus.

A stone flies up from the car in front. Crack. There's a chip in your windscreen. What now?

Don't panic. Most chips are easily fixed. But if you leave them, they can spread into a crack that needs a whole new windscreen. Here's what to do.

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Repair vs Replace: Which Do You Need?

Not every chip needs a new windscreen. Here's a quick guide:

Damage Type	Can It Be Repaired?	Cost
Small chip (under 10mm)	Yes, in most cases	£30 - £75
Chip in driver's line of sight (over 10mm)	No — replacement needed	£200 - £500
Crack (any length)	No — replacement needed	£200 - £500
Chip on edge of windscreen	Sometimes, depends on size	£30 - £75 if repairable

A repaired chip is nearly invisible and restores the windscreen's strength. But once a chip spreads into a crack, repair isn't possible.

Act fast: Temperature changes, bumps, and vibration can turn a small chip into a long crack overnight. Get it fixed as soon as possible.

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Does Insurance Cover Windscreen Damage?

Most comprehensive car insurance policies include windscreen cover. This often means:

• Repair is free: No excess to pay for a chip repair.
• Replacement has a small excess: Usually £50-£75 for a full windscreen replacement.
• No impact on NCB: Windscreen claims don't usually affect your no claims bonus.

Check your policy details. Some basic policies don't include windscreen cover. Read our insurance types guide for more.

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Windscreen Damage and the MOT

Windscreen damage can fail the MOT. The rules are:

• Driver's line of sight (Zone A): Any damage larger than 10mm is a fail.
• Rest of swept area (Zone B): Any damage larger than 40mm is a fail.

Zone A is a 290mm-wide strip centred on the steering wheel. Zone B is the rest of the area swept by the wipers.

If your MOT is coming up, get any chips fixed first. Check your MOT history to see if windscreen damage has been flagged before.

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Can You Fix a Chip Yourself?

DIY windscreen repair kits are available from Halfords and online for £5-£15. They use a resin that fills and seals the chip.

They can work for very small chips. But professional repair is better because:

• Professional resin is stronger and clearer.
• Professionals use UV lamps to cure the resin properly.
• DIY repairs may not pass an MOT inspection.

For anything larger than a small surface chip, always go to a professional.

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How Professional Windscreen Repair Works

1. The technician cleans the chip and removes any loose glass.
2. A special tool creates a vacuum over the chip.
3. Clear resin is injected into the chip under pressure.
4. UV light cures the resin until it's hard and clear.
5. The surface is polished smooth.

The whole process takes about 20-30 minutes. Most mobile services come to your home or workplace.

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Preventing Windscreen Damage

• Keep your distance: Stay well back from lorries and trucks. They throw up more stones.
• Avoid gravel roads: Loose surfaces are the biggest risk for stone chips.
• Don't pour hot water on a frozen windscreen: The temperature shock can crack the glass instantly.
• Use a proper ice scraper: Don't use credit cards, keys, or other hard objects that could scratch the glass.

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A chip is easy and cheap to fix. A crack is not. Get chips repaired quickly and you'll avoid the cost and hassle of a full windscreen replacement. Most repairs are covered by insurance too — so there's really no reason to wait.

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