Stone chips - should you repair stone chips or replace the windshield?

Suddenly it happens, to quote an old famous advertising slogan. You're out on the road, driving. Maybe you get overtaken or have a meeting – then something pops into the windshield. You've just been hit by a stone. We take a look at what happens at the glass workshop. And: is it a smart idea to fix stone chips yourself?

The most common cause of stone chips is flying stones – they get stuck in the tires and fly away due to the force of rotation. This is especially common at the beginning of spring when the snow has melted and before the gravel has been swept up from the streets and country roads. An accident can happen at any time, but you can reduce the risk of stone chips somewhat by keeping a slightly greater distance than usual from the cars in front.

4 important points about stone chips

• It is possible to repair stone chips and prevent the windshield from cracking.

• It is not possible to fix it without it being visible afterwards.

• How nice the repair will look depends on what the damage looks like and how long you have been driving with the damage without fixing it.

• There is a small risk that the stone chip will worsen during repair, which could result in the windshield having to be replaced, resulting in higher costs.

Order stone chipping directly

If the accident has occurred, it is important that you contact a workshop as soon as possible. It is easy to put it off, thinking that there is no urgency. But a stone chip can actually be a safety hazard. It can interfere with visibility through the windshield, but above all, a stone chip can turn into a crack in the windshield, and then it is too late to do anything about it.

Therefore, you should book a stone chip repair with a car glass specialist as soon as possible. Here is a simple little checklist if you are affected by stone chipping:

1. Put something over the stone chips as soon as possible. This will prevent rain or dirt from leaking in. Use transparent tape or a so-called stone chip patch.

2. Make an appointment with an auto glass company. You can often pick up a stone chip patch from them free of charge.

3. The workshop handles contact with your insurance company.

What is a stone chip patch?

A stone chip patch is a type of adhesive patch that you put on top of the stone chip. It prevents dirt and water from getting in. Ideally, you should put it on immediately after the damage has occurred. Therefore, it is a good idea to always have one or more stone chip patches lying around in the glove compartment, they can often be ordered free of charge from several car glass specialists.

How do you fix stone chips?

When repairing a stone chip, a diamond drill is used to remove the damaged glass. Then, a special repair fluid is used to fill the hole that has formed, using a special tool. Finally, when the fluid has dried, the surface is sanded and polished until it is shiny and smooth.

Then it is possible to repair stone chips

A windshield consists of different zones. They can be divided into a) the field of vision, b) the edge of the windshield, c) the area for the rain sensor and other driver support, and d) the remaining zone.

It is only in what is called the “other zone” that it is possible (or wise) to repair a stone chip. You do not repair in the field of vision in front of the driver, at the outer edge of the glass or in front of the camera area/sensor area. However, this means that the largest part of the windshield allows you to repair a stone chip.

Repairing stone chips – price depends on your insurance

Maybe you think that the stone chip comes at a very inconvenient time and that you can't really afford to fix it right now? But don't worry. Fixing stone chips is arranged through your insurance, and the only thing you need to pay is the deductible. And that's not a big concern in this context.

Depending on which insurance company you have and what type of car insurance you have, the deductible is rarely higher than 200 kronor – in some cases you don't have to pay a deductible at all! Many people, especially on older cars, only have third-party liability insurance. It doesn't cover damage to glass, so in that case the price tag ends up being around a thousand kronor to fix a stone chip.

When do I need to replace my windshield?

There are times when it is not possible to repair a stone chip or it is not a good idea because, for example, the repair may obscure your view through the window.

If the windshield has started to crack, you need to replace it. The same applies if there are more than 3 stone chips, if it is closer to the edge than 5 centimeters, or if the stone chips are in front of the car's sensor area at the top of the windshield (the area where the camera, rain sensor, etc. are located). Finally, the stone chip should not be larger than about 3 cm if it is to be repairable.

Making stone blocks yourself

Many people wonder how to fix stone chips themselves. You've probably seen various kits, both on Swedish and foreign sites. But even if you're handy and know what you're doing, it's not really a great idea - unless you love tinkering yourself.

A repair kit costs about the same as the deductible at the garage, which is usually up to 200 kronor. There are also risks in repairing the stone chip yourself. If it is not repaired correctly, it is not possible to redo the work. The window simply has to be replaced. So in summary, it is not a good idea to try to repair a stone chip yourself.

Repair a crack in a windshield – is it possible?

First of all, you don't "have to" do anything about a crack in your windshield, as long as it doesn't pose a traffic hazard. And if you do go to an auto glass specialist and want to fix a crack in your windshield, they're guaranteed to say no.

This is because there are no guarantees that a repair will last. A cracked windshield is irreversibly weakened, and since the windshield is part of the load-bearing structure of the car, you don't want to risk anything. That's why you always choose to replace a cracked windshield.

Replacing a windshield without insurance

Replacing a windshield without insurance that covers glass can be expensive. How much depends on what car you have and what type of windshield it is. It is not uncommon to pay between 6,000 and 10,000 kronor to replace the window at an auto glass specialist.

However, it is possible to bring the price down if you put in a little effort. In many cases, you can find a windshield at your local scrapyard for a few thousand kroner or less. If you are really handy (and know what you are doing!) you can install it yourself – otherwise you can get help at a workshop for a couple of thousand kroner. Note that these figures are estimates and may differ depending on where you live.