You’re cruising along New York roads, belting out your favorite tunes, when you hear the slight ping of something striking your windshield. Looking over, you notice a small chip in the corner of your front glass. Though it may seem insignificant, it could spell disaster if left unattended. A crack in your windshield can reduce your visibility while driving, causing accidents. It also can compromise the integrity of the glass, which is essential for safety features like passenger-side airbag deployment.
Rather than risk it, you’ll want to find an auto glass repair near me to fix the damage as soon as possible. There are several reasons to do so:
1. Safety
Your windshield provides a crucial barrier between your vehicle and road debris that can cause injuries during an accident. It’s important to have a clear view of the road for the sake of both your own and other drivers’ safety.
2. Costs
Getting your car’s windshield repaired or replaced is an expense, but it’s worth the investment for the benefits you gain from safe driving. In fact, many drivers get their windshield replacements covered under the comprehensive portion of their auto insurance policies, which waives any applicable deductible. It’s easy to find an auto glass repair shop that accepts your insurer’s coverage online. Simply enter the make, model and year of your car and select the location and severity of the damage to see a list of options.
3. Reputation
When it comes to finding an auto glass repair shop, you’ll want to go with a company that has a reputation for excellent customer service and quality work. You can check out reviews and ratings for local shops on sites such as Yelp or Google My Business, and you’ll also want to verify the technician has a valid license to perform auto repairs.
4. Warranty
Depending on the extent of the damage to your car’s windshield, you may need a full replacement or a partial one. If you’re having the latter done, you’ll need to ensure the new glass is properly installed, which is why it’s essential to use a shop that follows industry best practices. The old glass must be removed carefully to avoid damaging the paint and bonding surface, and the new window must be properly anchored in place. Additionally, if your car has advanced driver assistance systems that use a camera mounted behind the windshield, the system will need to be calibrated once the new glass is installed.
5. Recycles
When you’re ready to have your windshield or another automotive glass panel replaced, it’s important that the company you choose has an environmentally responsible program. Safelite, for example, recycles old windshields and other automotive glass panels and turns them into fiberglass insulation and carpet backing. Other companies may have a different recycling process, so be sure to ask before you schedule a repair or replacement.
Auto glass repair and replacement are often urgent, but you’ll want to take the time to select a qualified technician. If you can’t afford to wait, consider using an online quote tool such as the one offered by Safelite, which can match you with a local provider.