You may have a cracked windshield and be wondering if it is illegal to drive your car like that. In this article, we will explore if it is illegal to drive with a cracked windshield, how it may affect your driving and what the consequences are. We will learn if it is worth it to repair your windscreen or what until it needs to be replaced.
In many countries, it is illegal to drive with a cracked windshield if it affects the visibility of the driver. Depending on the size and location of the crack, the police may give you a fine. It is highly encouraged to avoid driving with any cracks or breaks in your car windshield and to get them fixed immediately.
Let’s explore the effect of having a cracked windshield, how to fix one and how to ensure you are driving with a legal windshield. We will look at what may cause a crack in your windshield and what to avoid if you are driving with a crack in your glass.
Contents
Driving With A Major Crack In Your Windshield Is Illegal In Most Countries
In many countries, small chips or cracks in the windshield are not against the law. However, it is recommended that you get any deformities repaired immediately. If you have a large crack or a smashed windshield that prevents you from seeing the road and your surroundings clearly, then it is illegal.
Hence, we can see it is the severity of the crack and the visibility issues that would cause the cracked windshield to be illegal to drive with. Different countries and states have different regulations around what they would deem an illegal crack to drive with, so you must check what the rules are in the location that you are driving in.
How Cracks In Your Car Windshield Occur: Main Causes
Most modern car windshields are made from two or more layers of glass with chemicals and special engineering to protect the people in the car and also to add some structural rigidity to the car.
From this, we can see that if a crack does occur in the windshield, it can affect the safety and efficiency of the structure of the car if there is a crash or an accident that occurs. If you ignore the crack in your windshield, it will get bigger and possibly lead to crashes and fines, and not provide you with the safety you need, so ensure you get it repaired or replaced.
1. An Object Hitting The Windshield
If an object falls off a vehicle in front of you or if debris such as rocks and gravel hit your car with force, it can cause a chip or crack in the windshield.
There is not much you can do to avoid this apart from being careful of how close you are driving behind cars, where loose gravel may be on the road, and reducing your speed when driving on unstable terrain.
2. A Quick Change In Temperature
A quick change in the temperature can cause the glass to contract or expand. This can occur by blasting the cold air conditioning in your car if it has become really hot, pouting boiling water over your windscreen to defrost it, or leaving your car in direct sunlight on a very hot day.
3. Poor Glass Quality Or Installation
If the windshield has not been installed correctly and high quality glass hasn’t been used, then cracking may occur more easily compared to a high quality glass and installation.
4. Collisions In The Car
If you are driving and get into a collision with another car, animal or object, then it is highly likely that your windshield will get damaged and crack or smash. Being vigilant and aware of your surroundings is key to preventing a collision and causing damage to your vehicle.
How to Know If Your Car Is Not Road Legal
If you are unsure if your car is unsafe or legal to drive due to a crack in the windshield, it is best to contact your local road authority organization in your area as soon as possible. You can then take action on getting it repaired or replaced.
In Australia, if your windshield has cracked through more than one layer of glass and has hairline cracks up to 30mm long, cracks from the edge of the windscreen up to 75mm long, or bullseye cracks or chips up to 16mm in diameter, then your windscreen is deemed not roadworthy.
If you take your to get a Warrant Of Fitness and the mechanic sees a crack in the windshield, it is highly likely that you will not get your Warrant Of Fitness until the windscreen crack has been repaired or replaced.
Questions you may want to ask yourself before driving with a crack in the windshield are:
- How large is the crack?
- What kind of crack is it?
- Where is the crack?
- How far do I need to drive?
- What are the road conditions like?
- What are the weather conditions like?
- What is the quality of the windshield like?
From these questions, you may be able to self-assess the situation and decide on the best course of action to take. However, it is best to always get it checked out by a professional.
Advantages of Getting Your Windshield Crack Repaired
More Affordable Than a Replacement
If you notice a small crack in the windshield and know it is repairable, then it is advantageous to do so. If you get it repaired while it is still a small crack, it will be a cheaper and easier job to fix rather than waiting for it to get bigger and more difficult to repair and instead may have to replace the whole windshield.
Convenient Service
Some companies have a service where they can come to your house to do a repair job instead of you driving to them and having to leave your car there. This saves you time driving back and forth and perhaps having to take time off work to get the repairs done.
Peace of Mind
Knowing that a small crack will get bigger over time and that a crack has compromised the safety of the car, getting a small crack fixed will give you the peace of mind that you are safe and protected whilst driving.
Not knowing when your car windshield might crack further or shatter may cause anxiety, especially if the weather or road conditions are not optimal.
The consequences of not getting your windshield repaired or replaced can result in injury or even death. The windscreen is a vital and important part of the car and provides you with a shield of safety and visibility while driving on the road. If it is not durable and efficient due to a crack, then the consequence can be your life and others that may be in the car with you.
How to Avoid a Crack Becoming Worse
To avoid a chip or crack in your windshield getting worse, it is important that you treat it as fragile and vulnerable.
Do not tap or touch the cracked area and do not put hoses or anything that would cause pressure onto the windshield. Avoid using the air conditioning or putting the car in direct sunlight all day. Be careful of what roads you are driving on and close the car doors gently.
Other FAQs
Do DIY Windshield Repair Kits Work?
Do it yourself kits that you can purchase at the store to fix your small windshield cracks or chips may support in preventing a crack from getting bigger. They will not fix the damage that has been created but can support you in the meantime before taking it to a professional. They will not work on large cracks.
What Type of Cracks Can You Get on Your Windshield?
The different forms of cracks can include stress cracks, edge cracks, floater cracks, and crack chips. They can be caused by a variety of factors. Chips can occur and this is when a small chunk of glass has come out of the windshield due to something hitting the glass.
Are Windscreen Wipers Important?
Your windscreen wipers are very important as they allow you to see through the windshield in wet, dusty, or snowy conditions. They can remove rain and debris and bring up water onto the windscreen to assist the cleaning process in enhancing your view.
Final Words
Overall, in most countries, driving with a crack in the windshield is illegal if it is big enough to cause visibility issues for the driver. It is highly recommended that any size crack or chip in your windshield is to be repaired or replaced immediately due to it being unsafe. Drive safely!