A cracked or chipped windscreen must inevitably be repaired or replaced soon. But since it is not a regular event, most people cannot compare the prices for previous jobs. Therefore, one will face the challenge of gaining a good deal.
The most common concern of windshield replacement or repair is how much it will cost. Several factors will impact the price. This does not imply that anyone can quote an exact price for a windscreen replacement job. But following tips will help ensure that one is getting a fair deal:
Need For Replacement
Firstly, it is worthwhile to check if one requires to replace the windscreen. Of course, the visibility of the driver while driving is crucial. But minor damage like chips or tiny cracks does not imply that the whole windscreen must go.
If one quickly catches minor cracks or chips, expert technicians can prevent them from becoming a more serious problem. This will also be a much cheaper option than replacing the complete windscreen.
If the chip is an inch or less across, it can be repaired and can't be corrected if it is within an inch of the edge. Anything in the line of sight of the driver must not be larger than 0.4 inches.
For repairing a crack or chip, the mechanic will start by thoroughly cleaning the damaged part of the glass. Then he will fill a transparent resin in the damaged area. When the latter dries, it looks like the glass's rest.
Lastly, the mechanic will check for a smooth finish of the repaired area. He will check whether the windscreen wipers can move over the area smoothly, preventing any damage to the wiper blades.
Labour Costs Of Replacement
For starters, the mechanic will ensure that the car bodywork and interior are protected while the task of replacement is done. Protective wraps will be placed around the glass to stop any glass shards from coming free and causing damage.
In the next step, seals or glue attaching the windscreen to the car's body are removed. The windshield is painted with a primer, and work will be paused till the primer dries.
The frame will be painted with strong glue when the primer is dry. After this, it is time to put the new windscreen in place. This stage is most time-consuming, and the adhesive must be left for an hour to set fully. You cannot drive the car before this happens.
Experienced mechanics can fix this job within two hours, and this amount of time for labour will be calculated in labour costs.
Model Of Car
The model of one's car will impact the price of one's replacement window. Generally, the more expensive the car is while buying it, the costlier it will be to replace. Replacing the windscreen of a luxury car will cost three times as much as economic models.
Size is also a factor. The more significant the windscreen is, the more expensive it will be to replace it. Also, if one goes to an exceptional dealership, one must pay more for the OEM glass. But one must check the insurance and warranty, and one will get cover only in the case of an authorized dealer.
The repair can be costly if the car is a model that is no longer manufactured or is a rare item. The repair shop will need to devote much time and effort to track down a part for replacement, and this time and effort will be reflected in the price.
Options Provided By Repair Shop
It isn't vital that the windscreen must be replaced with a new one. Consider options provided by the auto glass repair shop. Some of the latter will only deal with new windscreens, but others may give options on second-hand windscreens.
One must only ensure that this windscreen option is in perfect condition. Second-hand is not necessarily flawed, and many second-hand windscreens can be re-used without any problem.
Nature Of Local Competition
A significant factor of local competition impacts the cost of replacement. If one is in a location with very few auto-glass shops, one will not have much choice over costs. However, if one is located in a place with robust competition, one can get cheaper quotes.
Costs will also be impacted by the speed by which one demands a replacement. In case of damaged windscreens, they must be fixed at the earliest; one will have to pay more for getting one's car ahead in the queue.
Availability Of Insurance
One must check whether one's car insurance policy covers broken windscreens. This might be a standard feature of insurance policies, or one may have to buy it as an optional addition. But by the time one needs a replacement job, it may be too late to buy the optional extra. So, if one is renewing insurance, it is worth acknowledging that extra.
In sum, many factors impact the cost of windshield replacement. After checking whether replacement is necessary, follow the above tips to save on costs.
