The Chip You Thought Didn’t Matter
It starts as a speck , a faint click as a bit of gravel leaps up from the lorry in front. You wince, glance at the windscreen, and spot it: a pin-sized chip, barely worth a second thought. You promise yourself you’ll “get it sorted at the weekend.” Then the weekend becomes next week, and the chip quietly evolves into a spiderweb. I once spoke to a driver who ignored a small chip for six months. By the time it spread across his windscreen like a lightning bolt, he couldn’t see out properly. “It looked like I was driving through frosted glass,” he said. “The MOT guy just laughed - before failing me.” Moral of the story? That tiny chip is like a bad habit , harmless until it isn’t.
Why Chips Become Cracks (and Cracks Become Bills)
Windscreens are made from laminated safety glass , two sheets with a layer of plastic in between. It’s strong, but not invincible. Temperature changes, vibrations, potholes, even slamming your car door too hard - all these can turn a small chip into a full-blown fracture. It’s a bit like leaving a paper cut untreated ; except instead of a plaster, you’ll need a full windscreen replacement that costs anywhere from £200 to £1,000, depending on your car. And if the crack spreads into your line of sight, your car can fail its MOT on the spot. That’s not just inconvenient , it’s illegal to drive away until it’s fixed. “People think a crack’s just cosmetic,” says an MOT tester from Sheffield. “But if it’s in Zone A ; the driver’s direct view ; even a small one’s enough to fail.”
Insurance: Friend or Foe?
Here’s the good news - most comprehensive car insurance policies cover windscreen repair. The bad news? Many people don’t realise it until it’s too late. Instead of claiming for a quick, free resin repair (which takes 20 minutes and costs nothing), they end up paying an excess for a full replacement. And if you don’t report it at all? You could void your cover if the damage contributes to an accident. “It’s a safety issue,” explains a representative from a major insurer. “If the glass fails, visibility and structural integrity are compromised.” Translation: you’re not just risking your wallet, but your neck. Literally.
The Psychology of “It’ll Be Fine”
There’s something deeply British about ignoring small problems. The draughty window, the squeaky hinge, the weird noise from the engine - we soldier on. A chip in the windscreen? “Oh, it’s fine,” we say, like it’s a badge of stoicism. But there’s a reason repair vans are parked in supermarket car parks across the UK: because those “fine” chips add up to thousands of pounds in replacements every year. “I do about five a day,” says Dan, a mobile glass technician from Birmingham. “Half of them could’ve been fixed for free a month earlier.”
When Visibility Becomes Liability
A cracked windscreen isn’t just ugly , it’s dangerous. It distorts light, especially at night, turning oncoming headlights into blinding bursts. It also weakens the roof structure. In a crash, a compromised windscreen can pop out entirely, reducing the car’s rigidity. “The glass isn’t just there to keep bugs out,” Dan adds. “It’s part of the car’s safety system.” And here’s the awkward truth: police can fine you up to £2,500 and slap you with points for driving with a damaged windscreen if they think it obstructs your view. That’s a lot of money for something that could’ve been fixed with a dab of resin and a cup of coffee.
How to Spot Trouble Early
Not all chips are created equal. If it’s smaller than a £1 coin and not in the driver’s direct line of sight, it’s usually fixable. Anything larger or reaching the edge of the glass is bad news - replacement territory. You can even do the “fingernail test”: if your nail catches in the crack, it’s time to act. Most repair services can come to you, often same-day. They’ll inject a clear resin into the chip, cure it under UV light, and polish it out. It’s oddly satisfying to watch ; like a spa treatment for your car.
The Cost of Doing Nothing
Let’s put it plainly. Chip repair: £0 (usually covered by insurance). Replacement: £250–£1,000, plus potential MOT failure and downtime. Waiting too long? Priceless , in the worst way. And if you’re selling your car, a cracked windscreen screams “neglect,” knocking hundreds off the value before you’ve even said hello to the buyer. It’s one of those rare car problems that’s both avoidable and affordable - right up until it isn’t.
The Last Note:
That tiny chip you’ve been ignoring isn’t just a blemish - it’s a ticking bill. Fixing it now is cheaper than pretending it’s not there. So the next time you notice one, don’t wait for it to spread like bad gossip. Call the glass guy, get it sorted, and pat yourself on the back for adulting properly ; for once. Because nothing says “responsible motorist” quite like a clear view of the road ahead.