Car Windshield Replacement: What You Need To Know

Automobile windshields are susceptible to several hits, and they may crack or break anytime. Breakages and cracks can be repaired, but if they are severe, replacement remains as the only option. Chips and objects can hit your car while moving and cause some damage. Accidents do not spare the windshields as they mostly lead to complete breakages. Acts of vandalism and deliberate human actions are the other threats to the safety of the windscreen. They composed of tempered glass, which is, of course, brittle and quite vulnerable. Replace or Repair? Windshield replacement is more expensive than conducting repairs. Before settling on the replacement, you need to weigh your options and decide between the two. Repairs may seem attractive, but the trained technicians are very limited in what they can do to a damaged windshield. Small cracks can be fixed but only to certain extents say less than three inches. Cost. After confirming that you need a new windshield, start comparing the different quotations from different companies. The general direction is to try and find a quality windshield at a reasonable price, and you need to know how to do it effectively. Car shops offer quotations covering the process of replacing the windshield plus the cost of the adhesives used. The installation process is crucial as the windshield could fall off or even break loose under very minimal pressure, forcing you to get a new one. It is better to pay more for the whole process and have a strongly fitted windshield that will not collapse after a few days. One aspect affecting the cost of a new windshield is its availability. Some windshields are only available through dealerships, something that is common among luxury vehicles. Such have to be ordered directly from the original dealers and will probably cost a little bit more due to the whole ordering process. The amount of labor needed for the installation process affects the quotation. Modern vehicles are smart and have several sensors attached to the windshield. Replacing windshields on such vehicles is more involving since the functionality of the sensors has to be protected during the process. Some of these sensors are integrated into the windshield and make the price of a new shield quite high. Original Equipment Manufacturer windshields are more expensive than the aftermarket ones. The OEM ones come directly from the manufacturers while the aftermarket ones are made by third party companies that have no contract agreement with the car manufacturers. Aftermarket parts come in different thickness levels and cost much less than the OEM ones. Depending on your budget, you have the task of finding a suitable windshield. However, some might argue out that as long as a driver can see the road, replacing the windshield should not be mandatory. Well, here is why you need to replace a damaged windshield. Why Replace? To begin with, a damaged windshield spoils your car’s overall look. If appearance is not to go by, be informed that driving a vehicle with a...