It's 8:00AM on a cold winter morning, and you're driving in your car on your way to work. You've managed to start your day off on the perfect foot:

Early morning workout? check. Ate breakfast? check. Coffee by your side in the cupholder? check. 

Nothing can stop you. Your day is going to be fantastic - and then...

a loud "CLICK", "CRACK" hits your ears. The inevitable has happened, and one of the vehicles in front of you caught a rock and sent it rocketing into your windshield. 

Luckily, the damage looks minimal. The crack is as small as a grain of rice, with a black mark surrounding it. 

Option #1. Ignore the damage - what's the worst that could happen? 

Many would think that ignoring the rock chip is the cheapest and easiest route to take. With the winter conditions, who knows if (or when) you'll end up getting another rock chip while driving.

The issue with this lies in the fact that windshield glass becomes HIGHLY vulnerable to cracking as soon as it's been struck. 

Damaged windshields are especially fragile during the colder seasons. As the temperature around the window's glass rises and drops (think of turning on your heat while driving), the constant increase and decrease in temperature will slowly force the glass to expand and contract. This will eventually lead to the rock chip spreading to the point of no return - having to replace the entire windshield. 

Option #2: Repair the rock chip (for free*)

Time is of the utmost importance:

The sooner you can bring your vehicle in for a rock chip repair, the better the results will typically be. While a rock chip repair will not make the damage disappear completely, the outcome will be significantly better depending on the size, type of impact, and cleanliness of the damaged area. If there is dirt and residue built up in the rock chip, it is likely the repaired chip will not have optimal clarity. 

IT COULD BE FREE:

Choosing to repair your windshield typically costs much less than replacing the entire windshield.  You may be eligible to have your windshield repaired for FREE, depending if:

• The damage is smaller than a Loonie
• The repair leaves no residual damage greater than 1/4 inch in the driver's line of vision
• The damage isn't a long crack
• There isn't pre-existing damage (e.g. a long crack)
• You have comprehensive coverage with ICBC

THE EXCEPTION:

In certain cases, even with repairable rock chips, we recommend going with the replacement of the windshield if:

• There are multiple rock chips
• The damage is in your line of sight.
  • Although the rock chip may be repairable, the outcome could still be distracting to your everyday driving. 
• The Windshield Technician's assessment determines that the there is a chance that the repair won't hold.
  • Since we are dealing with damaged glass, there is always a slight chance that the windshield may crack during or after the rock chip repair. 

Option #3: Replace the windshield

If your only option is to replace the windshield, we strongly recommend looking into a reputable glass repair shop. Your windshield is the barrier between you and the elements (not to mention bugs and debris). It is one of the more important components of your vehicle, and should be treated as such.

Windshield replacements don't have to be a difficult process, especially if they are an ICBC Glass Express Facility that can start your insurance claim for you (*cough - Splashes Auto Glass is an ICBC Glass Express facility - cough*).