Things to Know Broken Windshields & Car Windows
Consider These 5 Things if a Window or Windshield on Your Vehicle is Broken in the Houston, TX Area
Whether your vehicle was the victim of a theft that left a broken side window, or a bad hail storm damaged your windshield, broken glass on your vehicle is something that should be addressed right away. We're pretty sure we've seen it all in our authorized service center at Archer Volkswagen, and we want to share some of our experience related to broken car windows with you. Below, we look at five things we think everyone should be aware of in the event that a car window or windshield is broken.
If you have any questions about automotive glass services or anything else having to do with Volkswagen models, we'd love to chat. Give us a call or stop by our convenient location at 10400 Southwest Frwy, Houston, TX 77074. If you take a moment and let us know you're coming by scheduling an appointment securely and quickly online, we'll be sure to have everything ready when you get here.
5. Will Insurance Cover a Broken Car Window?
As you might imagine, the answer to this ultimately comes down to the insurance policy you have on the vehicle. Typically, comprehensive car insurance will cover broken windows to a degree. However, we strongly recommend checking the details of your policy as some may only offer partial coverage for broken automotive glass. For instance, we've seen policies that cover the side windows, but not the windshield. The best way to know for sure is to contact your car insurance provider.
4. Car Window Repair vs Replacement
If the window is shattered, clearly there's not much repair that can be done and the window will need to be replaced. However, things like chips and even certain small cracks can be repaired. Getting automotive glass repaired is most common for things like rock chips in the windshield. If you get the repair soon enough, the damage won't spread as the glass heats and cools over time.
3. Where & How to Get Damaged Automotive Glass Repaired
While there are a lot of independent outfits that are happy to charge your insurance for windshield chip and crack repair, we think you'll be better served if you first contact an authorized dealer. This way, you know you'll be getting a quality repair or replacement that's perfect for your make and model of vehicle.
2. How Can You Temporarily Cover a Broken Car Window?
If you're looking to temporarily cover a broken car window, chances are that it's not the windshield. However, if your ride has a broken back or side window, you may need to buy a day or so by covering the opening to keep rain out. First, grab some sturdy gloves and perhaps a shop vac to clear out all the broken glass you can from the opening and the interior of the vehicle. Then, we recommend using clear packing tape and running strips vertically until the entire opening is covered. We've found that this tape is easier to clean off the window frame than duct tape, and it also performs better when driving to the service center to get the problem fixed than a plastic bag or other piece of sheeting.
1. Don't Forget About the Safety Provided by Your Car Windows
The safety of every driver is the top priority in our authorized VW service center. Aside from making sure that any broken glass is carefully cleaned up to prevent cuts, remember that the windows in your vehicle are an important safety factor. Whether it's keeping the elements out or protecting you from getting a big lungful of the truck in the other lane that's rolling coal, there are a lot of reasons why you should get a broken car window fixed right away. They also deter thieves and other persons who may see a broken car window as an opportunity.