Having a chipped or cracked windscreen can be anything from a minor nuisance to a big repair bill, depending on how and when you deal with it. 

In this article, I’ll explain what you need to know about windscreen cracks and chips, and how best to deal with them. 

Can You Drive With A Cracked Windscreen?

Technically yes you can drive with a cracked windscreen. Whilst the windscreen being cracked will not hinder the function of the vehicle, it could affect your ability to drive safely. 

If the crack is at all obscuring the view of the driver, this can be considered “use of a motor vehicle in a dangerous condition” by a police officer, an offence that comes with 3 penalty points and a fine.  

If the crack is on the passenger side then only use the car for essential travel, but essentially, I would always recommend replacing a cracked windscreen as soon as possible, if

Is it Illegal to Drive With a Broken Windscreen?

The act of driving with a broken windscreen is not specifically illegal, but you could be committing an offence if the damage is affecting your ability to safely drive. 

This could be from something as small as a minor chip if it’s directly in your eye-line.

Is a Broken Windscreen an MOT Fail?

The MOT rules are quite clear on windscreens, there are two main distinctions, chips vs cracks and the area in which the damage is in.

A crack or chip in the driver's view larger than 10mm is classified as an MOT fail

Any crack larger than 40mm (about the width of a credit card) anywhere on the windscreen will be an MOT fail.

Can A Broken Windscreen Be Repaired?

It depends on the chip or crack. Unlike bodywork, glass is not easily repaired, but some damage can be fixed without needing a new windscreen.

Fixing a Chipped Windscreen

Small chips - under 25mm - can usually be repaired, a chip classified as smaller than or approximately the size of a £2 coin. The repair consists of an epoxy resin being injected into the chip, filling it to be flush with the surface.

The chip will also need to be away from the outside edge, at least 7 cm in most cases. The excess is removed and the chip will be practically invisible once completed.

Fixing a Cracked Windscreen

For a windscreen crack to be repairable, it needs to meet a few strict requirements; generally, these are to be at least 7 cm from an edge and less than 4 cm in size. However, in most cases, cracks will not be fixed by most repair companies.

How Much Does it Cost to Repair A Windscreen?

Windscreens are generally quite expensive components to replace, with many modern cars involving active safety cameras and sensors too. If your windscreen has a chip, make sure to get it fixed as soon as possible to avoid higher costs. 

How Much Does A WindscreenChip Repair Cost?

Small chips in your windscreen can be repaired for as little as £40. 

This will generally be per chip so if you have more than one make sure to factor this in. Chip repairs take around 30 minutes.

You can sometimes see companies offering free chip repair, often in supermarket car parks. 

Usually, these claim the cost from your insurer, so make sure to double-check your policy details before approaching one.

How Much Does Windscreen Replacement Cost?

If your windscreen has a large chip in it, or a crack over 40mm, you’ll need to have it replaced, this can range from £300 to £1,000, depending on the car and the features it has (auto-braking and rain sensors can make the job more complex).

As detailed below, you can have your windscreen replaced much cheaper through your insurance, usually, the windscreen excess will be around £100 - £130.

Does Insurance Cover Windscreens?

It’s actually fairly commonplace for comprehensive policies to cover windscreen replacements, and what’s more, it generally doesn’t affect your no-claims policy.

To have your windscreen replacement covered by your insurance policy, check your policy documents for information on how to claim. This will also detail the windscreen excess you’ll have to pay.

How Much Does a Replacement Windscreen Cost Through Insurance?

Like most costs in motoring, the standard excess cost has risen over the last few years, you can generally expect to pay £100 - £150 for windscreen excess from most insurers.

However, this cost is assuming you’re happy to use the insurers nominated provided, to use an unapproved supplier you may find yourself having to pay significantly more. 

Can You Prevent a Chipped Windscreen From Spreading?

Cracks do tend to grow over time, made worse by heat/cold cycles and vibration/impact from driving.

That said, chips can also turn into cracks if left too long, so it’s important to get any chips repaired as soon as possible, ideally with the car having as little use beforehand as possible.

Unfortunately, it’s near enough impossible to avoid the stone impacts that most often cause windscreen chips and cracks.

Repairs With Bumper

If your car is presenting large repair bills, Bumper offers a zero-interest option to spread out car payments, from bodywork damage to large mechanical work. Choose from one of our many nationwide approved partners.