Windscreen chip - need sorting?

Manchee

We are quite new to driving (have had a licence for 10+ years, but not owned my own car before) and picked up a cheapy secondhand car the other day. We just noticed that there are a couple of tiny chips in the windscreen on the passengers side, prop about 1mm in size, about 2 cm apart. Is this something we should really get sorted straight away? I would have to pay an excess with my insurance if I went though them, so it would prob make more sense paying for it ourselves.

Sorry if this seems like a daft question, its just we would rather not have to shell out for it right now if dont have to, but of course we don't want to leave it if its actually quite dangerous.

Thanks for any help you can give

Iceweasel

If you have comprehensive cover Autoglass will do a chip repair at no cost to you, and no insurance excess etc. But check well first.

Check your insurance policy even if you have comprehensive you should not lose NCB but there will usually be an excess for replacement.

My excess is £75 for example - but my windscreen is a £420 job to replace - (it's tinted and heated) I wouldn't want to foot the bill for that myself.

Manchee

Yes I would have to pay an excess for chip repair, sadly (cheapest insurance we could get).

So.. does this need to be sorted straight away then?

Rain_Shadow

The chips you describe in the position you state would not fail an MoT so there is no need to get them fixed for that reason. Some chips go for years and never get worse, others can develop quite quickly into cracks. I would wait and see how it goes. If you get it replaced it will almost certainly be worth claiming on your insurance as stated above. Remember that if you do then you will have to declare it as an insurance claim if you apply to another insurer for a quote.

Manchee

Awesome, we'll just keep an eye on it then, thanks for the help

Horizon81

When you say chip, do you mean a tiny little pit rather than a bullseye chip?

Ezmondino

It's fine.

You can have up to 10mm crack/chip in front of the driver and up to 40mm anywhere else.

Just keep an eye on it - I've had chips/cracks never grow.

forgotmyname

Just dont go pouring hot water over the screen when its icy, Or putting the screen demister on full blast when its icy also.

Let the screen warm up slowly.

Get a repair kit and fix them yourself?

Manchee

Horizon81 wrote: »

When you say chip, do you mean a tiny little pit rather than a bullseye chip?

Yes its a couple of small pit type chips, def not bullseye

Thanks for your help everyone

scotsbob

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WINDSCREEN-REPAIR-KIT-/181099997278?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Car_Care_Cleaning&hash=item2a2a66a85e

poppasmurf_bewdley

I ignored a chip at the bottom of my heated windscreen for more than a year with no problem. Then last winter, with the screen iced over, the heating element kicked in and I watched a crack grow from the chip to 18 inches in a matter of seconds.

So, yes, get it fixed before winter sets in.