Smash repairs
Windscreen Repairs and Replacement
A stone chip caught early can usually be repaired. Left alone through a few hot Brisbane days it turns into a crack, and a crack means a new windscreen. Bring it to our Moorooka workshop as soon as you can and call 0402 723 464 if you want to check whether yours is still repairable.
Why it matters
Why a small chip does not stay small here
Glass expands and contracts with temperature. A windscreen chip is a weak point in that glass, and every expansion cycle works on it.
Brisbane is hard on chipped screens for two reasons. Cars sit in the sun until the glass is far hotter than the air around it, and then the air conditioning goes on full and the inside surface cools fast while the outside stays hot.
If you have a chip now, the practical move is to keep the car out of direct sun, avoid blasting demist or air conditioning straight onto the glass, and get it looked at this week rather than next month.
The decision
Repair or replacement
A chip can usually be repaired if
- It is smaller than roughly a twenty cent coin
- It has not already sprouted long legs
- It is not directly in the driver's line of sight
- It has not been sitting there collecting dirt and water for months
Replacement is needed when
- The damage is a crack rather than a chip
- The chip is large or has multiple legs
- The damage sits in the driver's primary viewing area
- The inner layer of the laminate has been broken as well as the outer
Roadworthiness
The safety certificate side of it
Windscreen damage is one of the more common reasons a car fails a safety certificate in Queensland, and the location of the damage matters more than the size.
If you are selling the car or need a certificate, get the screen sorted before the inspection rather than after.
About roadworthy certificatesModern vehicles
Cameras and sensors on modern windscreens
On a lot of cars built in the last decade, the forward facing camera for lane keeping, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition is mounted to the windscreen itself, usually behind the mirror.
If your car has any driver assistance features, tell us when you book so recalibration is planned in rather than discovered afterwards.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Will a repaired chip be invisible?
Usually not completely. It will be much less noticeable and, more importantly, it will stop spreading.
Can I claim a windscreen on insurance?
Many comprehensive policies include windscreen cover, sometimes with a separate or reduced excess. Check your policy schedule.
Will a cracked windscreen fail a safety certificate?
It can, and damage in the driver's line of sight is treated most strictly. Get it dealt with before the inspection.
How long does a chip repair take?
It is a short job, usually well under an hour, and you can generally wait for it.
Does my car need camera recalibration?
If it has lane keeping, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise or traffic sign recognition, almost certainly. Tell us the make, model and year and we will confirm.
Can I drop the car off before you open?
Yes, we have an after-hours key drop. We are at 2 Baldock St, Moorooka.
Get the chip seen to
Get it looked at
before it spreads.
Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, Saturday 8am to 3pm. After-hours key drop available. All major cards and cash.