Windscreen crack - is this an MOT failure?

born_again

TBH, given time of year it is only going to get worse as you heat the inside, while outside is cold.

Get it replaced under your ins co.

Car_54

tedted said:

its not rubbish do you look at the verge when driving?

What I look at is of no relevance whatever: what matters is the MOT Inspection Manual.

Or do you think you're right and the DVSA are wrong?

CliveOfIndia

tedted said:

its not rubbish do you look at the verge when driving?

Ermmmm - yes.  Personally I keep an eye out all around me when I'm driving, I don't just blindly stare straight ahead.

Driving in a residential area I'm constantly looking to the side in case a child or a dog runs out, driving in rural areas I'm on the lookout for deer, pheasants, whatever, that are lurking on the verges ready to jump out (I still maintain that pheasants are the most stupid animal on the planet, they seem to deliberately wait until you're just a few feet away then run out in front of you).

Anyhow, aside from that, the link posted by On-The-Coast is correct.  Unless you're going to disagree with the government's own guidelines?

If it's bigger than 40mm and anywhere in the swept area, it's a fail.

ascoli said:

It's definitely more than 4cm and the whole thing is covered when I use my wipers. That sucks! 

Will your insurance cover it?  Depends on your policy, but very often the insurance will pay for a repair at no cost to you (if it can be repaired), or if it needs replacing then it may not affect your no-claims discount.  Obviously you'd need to check the wording of your particular policy.

But it's probably a good idea to get it sorted anyway, particularly at this time of year.  Freezing temperatures can often lead to a small-ish crack rapidly becoming much bigger.

LightFlare

That’ll expand/creep over the winter anyway.

Any reason you aren’t getting it fixed regardless ?

ascoli

LightFlare said:

That’ll expand/creep over the winter anyway.

Any reason you aren’t getting it fixed regardless ?

Was hoping to get it done in the new year as I hardly drive this car. But the MOT is due in December so I'll need to get it done soon!

Thanks everyone 

tedted

Failure for damage is only justified if the damage significantly affects the driver’s view of the road. You do not need to consider the effects on tall or short drivers

tedted

and that is from the manual

Ectophile

For anyone who wants to read the actual rules: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/3-visibility

facade

You need to sit in the driver's seat.

If it is a hairline crack that you can't see from the driver's seat it will pass.

If you can see it easily and it is more than 40mm long in the swept area of the wiper blades it will fail.

You can fit a smaller blade on the passenger side to reduce the swept area, but if it is stupidly small it will fail for not clearing the windscreen.

It will only get bigger, so you might as well just get a new windscreen.

theoretica

ascoli said:

LightFlare said:

That’ll expand/creep over the winter anyway.

Any reason you aren’t getting it fixed regardless ?

Was hoping to get it done in the new year as I hardly drive this car. But the MOT is due in December so I'll need to get it done soon!

Thanks everyone 

If you can park it off road and not use it at all after the MOT expires until you drive to repair/the MOT I believe you could still postpone into the New Year.