Windshield: repair or replace?
Answer a few questions about the chip or crack and see whether a glass shop can fix it or you need a new windshield, what each option typically costs and what your insurance may cover.
How glass shops decide: repair or replace
Windshield repair shops in the US follow a standard called ROLAGS, the Repair of Laminated Automotive Glass Standard (ANSI/AGSC/NWRD ROLAGS 002-2022). It sets the largest damage a trained tech should repair and the spots where a repair is not allowed at all. Big chains add their own simpler rules on top. This tool uses both, and when they disagree it tells you the damage is borderline instead of guessing.
- Size. The standard allows repair of a bullseye up to 1 inch across, a star break up to 3 inches, a combination break up to 2 inches and a crack up to 14 inches. Safelite's rule of thumb is tighter: an impact point smaller than a dime and damage under 6 inches long.
- Driver's line of sight. The standard calls it the driver's primary viewing area: a strip 12 inches wide, centered on the steering wheel, from the top to the bottom of the wiper sweep. Nothing over 1 inch gets repaired there, and two repairs closer than 4 inches are not allowed because they can block both eyes at once.
- Edges. Cracks that touch more than one edge, and stress cracks that start at the edge with no impact point, are replaced. Edge damage also tends to spread faster.
- Cameras and sensors. Damage in front of the camera, rain sensor or heads up display area is replaced, since a filled chip can still blur what the camera sees.
- Count. Safelite repairs up to 3 chips. More than that usually means a new windshield.
Why you should fix a chip fast
A chip is the cheap version of a crack. Heat, cold, car washes and potholes all flex the glass, and a small chip can quickly run into a long crack. Once that happens you are usually paying for a whole windshield. Until you can get it filled, put a piece of clear tape over the chip to keep dirt and water out, and avoid blasting the defroster on a cold windshield.
What camera calibration means
Most newer cars have a camera at the top of the windshield that runs lane keeping, automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise. When the windshield is replaced, that camera has to be moved to the new glass and calibrated so it looks exactly where the car expects. Some cars do it on a target board in the shop, others on a test drive, some need both. AAA found the camera work adds about $360 to a replacement, and Kelley Blue Book says replacement on these cars can top $1,000. Always ask the shop if calibration is included and ask for the printout showing it passed.
OEM or aftermarket glass?
OEM glass comes from the company that built your car's original windshield. Aftermarket glass is made by someone else and usually costs less. On an older car without a camera, good aftermarket glass is fine for most people. On a car with a camera, many automakers require or strongly suggest OEM glass. Ford says it does not approve aftermarket windshields, and Toyota warns the black border on some aftermarket glass can block the camera. If your insurer pays for aftermarket glass, ask whether you can pay the difference for OEM.
Insurance tips
- Glass damage from a rock is usually covered under comprehensive, not collision.
- Many insurers waive the deductible for a repair, so a chip fix often costs nothing out of pocket.
- Florida, Kentucky and South Carolina do not allow a deductible on a covered windshield replacement when you carry comprehensive.
- Rules and add-ons differ by insurer and state, so check your policy or call your agent before you book.
Where these numbers come from
Repair rules come from the ANSI/AGSC/NWRD ROLAGS 002-2022 standard (sections 5, 6 and 7) and Safelite's published repair criteria. Costs come from AAA's windshield repair cost guide (chip repair $60 to $100, crack repair $100 to $150, typical calibration $360) and AAA's 2023 report on ADAS repair costs (average windshield replacement with camera work $1,440), Kelley Blue Book (2025) and Consumers' Checkbook. Insurance rules come from Progressive and AAA. Reviewed October 2026. These are typical US ranges, not quotes.