Windshield Replacement: 4 Things You Should Know

Many windshields are replaced as a result of accidents. Others may be replaced as a result of a chip that grows into a shatter or simply for cosmetic reasons. Regardless of what has brought you to the decision to replace your windshield there are 4 main things you should keep in mind.

1. A Windshield Is More Than Just a Window.
Some people consider their windshield to be nothing more than a car's front window. In reality, windshield provide protection to the driver and passengers and are also built to be aerodynamic. Early windshield were made using plain window glass but that resulted in serious injury when an accident would occur. This changed in 1919 when Henry Ford began using the French method of laminated glass for windshields. Today, the glass used for windshields is made up of two separate pieces of glass with a special safety plastic in the middle which makes it harder to break.

2. Can It Be Repaired?

The technology surrounding windshield repair has come a long way. Insurance companies now often refuse to cover replacement costs of windshield unless it has been deemed necessary by a repair company. Windshield repair is done by filling the chipped or damaged area with clear epoxy resin which dries and then is cured with ultra-violet light. Once this has been done, the chip is gone and both strength and clarity are restored.

3. How to Protect Your Windshield

Protecting your windshield is the best way to avoid costly repair or replacement. This can be done by following safe driving rules, particularly if you are on a loose gravel road. Drive slowly to avoid throwing stones up and if you find yourself behind a truck that appears to be throwing stones, back off or change lanes. Window tinting can also offer added protection by acting as a first line of defense against chips, stones and other debris. The tinting film also does double duty in an accident and works to keep broken glass in place.

4. The Importance of Timely Maintenance.

If you discover a chip in your windshield it is important to get it repaired as soon as possible. Chips can splinter, especially in extreme weather. The cold air outside can react to the heated interior of your car, making the chip splinter into a crack which can then spider-web its way across the whole of your windshield effectively turning a rather minor problem into a big one.

Replacing your windshield can be a pretty hefty investment. Once you've spoken to a windshield specialist as well as your insurance company you will know where you stand on what repairs or replacement services will be covered. This is also a good time to consider after-market options such as window tinting which may help reduce the chances of needing to repair or replace it again in the near future.

Kelly is a freelance writer and is currently working for a company specializing in offering a variety of car window tinting solutions. In her free time she enjoys reading and hosting parties.

Should You Extend Your Auto Warranty

There are more and more advertisements these days telling us to extend our car warranty. The marketing pitches make it sound like we'll never have to pay for car repair again. While extending a car warranty may make one feel better, it is, in many cases, a waste of money. Here are a few things to consider.

Extend Car Warranty - 3 Points to Consider:

1) The first and most important point to consider is money. Auto warranty advertisements state "we'll never have to pay for car repairs again;" yet, we will have to pay a significant dollar amount up front for the warranty. Some car repairs may indeed cost $2,000, but many extended warranties cost significantly more than this. In other words, "we are" paying for auto repairs. In fact, they're asking us to pay now, rather than keep our money in the bank.

2) Although many extended warranties list off an impressive amount of items covered, many expensive and very common auto repairs and maintenance are not covered. This would include items such as tires, brakes, and maintenance services. Also, repair shops often charge above and beyond what our warranty company suggests, leaving us to pay the balance.

3) Even though a particular car repair is covered under an agreement, it may still cost us money. For example, most of these extended warranties have deductibles. Some will not cover what's known as "tear down" charges. This is when a shop has to disassemble our vehicle in order to determine the root cause. Also, many car warranties have caps on the hourly labor charge, which again, leave us to pay the difference.

Extended Auto Warranty - Additional Thoughts:

If the above doesn't deter us, consider too that an extended auto warranty is time and mileage sensitive. It's a race against the clock to get any actual monetary value from an auto warranty. Put another way, if we spend $3,500 for a warranty, our car needs to have at least $3,500 worth of "covered repairs" during the coverage period to break even. Not sure we want to even be driving a vehicle that needs this amount of work in such a short period of time.

Are there times when extending a car warranty makes sense? Yes...

1) when it's included with a certified used vehicle one is considering purchasing.

2) If we can get a significant discount, as these warranties are heavily marked up.

3) If it can be rolled into low finance rates.

Finally, if money is not an issue, and it makes you feel protected, go for it. Personally, I'd prefer to keep my money.

-Theodore P. Olson
RepairTrust
Making sense of Auto Repair Prices