I live in Pennsylvania where we are lucky enough to have four seasons: Fall, Winter, Spring, and PennDOT season. Itโs kind of a joke, but not really. The constant freezes and thaws our climate goes through tear up our roads pretty badly every year, and the government agency in charge of caring for them (PennDOT) makes a big show of halting traffic across the state every summer without ever actually getting all the work done.
All the bumpy roads and construction vehicles mean that our car windshields are often at risk. Whether itโs a stray piece of gravel or a deer crossing the road at night, cracked windshields are a prolific phenomenon. Of course, this isnโt a problem we alone have in Pennsylvania. And if youโve ever had the misfortune of dealing with a cracked windshield, you know it can be a costly repair.
Having a lot of experience dealing with the aftermath, Iโm going to walk you through how to find a cheap windshield replacement.
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1. You might not need the entire windshield replaced.

First, just because you have a crack in your windshield doesnโt necessarily mean you need the entire thing replaced. A lot of times, repair companies can simply fill the crack in the glass.
But make sure to get any small nicks or scratches fixed right away. The more you drive with a small crack, the more likely that crack is to spread and become a bigger (and more expensive) problem.
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2. Your cheapest bet is usually to go through insurance.
Whether you need a crack filled in or you need to replace your entire windshield, the cheapest way to get it fixed is typically through your insurance.
This past winter, I had a huge gasher running all the way up my windshield. I simply called up my car insurer, told them what was going on, and they sent one of the repair companies they contract with to my house.
When he saw how big the crack was, he knew the entire thing was going to need replacing. He used this fancy machine to suck the windshield off my car right there in the driveway. Then, he placed some glue around the edges and stuck the new one on.
I had to wait a couple hours to drive while it dried, but all in all it was super convenient process and not overly time consuming at all. Plus, I was fully covered so I didnโt have to pay a penny. No out-of-pocket costs feels like the best kind of cheap windshield repair.
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3. Check your deductible.
Depending on your policy, youโll sometimes have to pay a deductible for this service. This varies by insurance carrier, specific policy, and state.
Some insurers view the repairs and replacements as preventative measures that will help prevent further damage, so they wonโt make you pay the deductible to utilize this specific service. Others are forced to not charge you a deductible by state law under these circumstances.
Others still will absolutely make you pay the deductible if the law of the land allows it.
Windshield repairs are covered under the comprehensive coverage portion of your auto insurance. To see what your deductible is, find your dec page and look for the comprehensive coverage line item. The deductible should be listed right there.
Call your insurer to see if theyโll charge you this deductible or not. Even if itโs listed, they might not charge it for windshield repair or windshield replacement.
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4. Cheap windshield repair will vary by location.
I really, really hope youโre not driving a vehicle without insurance. Thatโs illegal.
But if you are, or if your car somehow got damaged while sitting in the driveway, youโre going to have to pay out of pocket. The price of repairs is going to vary greatly depending on your location.
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5. Small chips usually cost $50 โ $100 to repair.

Safety isnโt the only reason you want to get those small chips repaired early. If you can fix them before they spread, filling small chips usually only costs somewhere between $50 โ $100. Thatโs not bad in the cheap windshield repair realm.
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6. Cracks in your windshield can cost up to $130+ to repair.
Filling full-fledged cracks in isnโt much more expensive, but if the crack has grown long enough you may be looking at a repair bill of about $130, sometimes more.
Donโt let those cracks get too long, though. If theyโre large enough to compromise the structural integrity of your windshield, an honest repair person is going to insist on replacing the entire thing.
That might not be good for your wallet, but itโs good for your physical safety.
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7. Replacing the whole windshield will cost you hundreds.
If youโre replacing a windshield without insurance, the average cost is going to be in the hundreds. It will vary based on things like your location, vehicle, and where you shop. The range is typically between $250 โ $500.
TIP: If your car insurance company is going to make you pay the deductible and your deductible is high, you might want to consider paying out of pocket rather than filing a claim. Youโll pay the same amount either way. While windshield repair claims donโt always push your premiums up, checking with your insurance company on their policies can help you make a good call.
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8. You wonโt find cheap windshield repair at the dealership.
Thereโs some assurance in utilizing a dealership to fix your carโs windshield. You know they have the exact right windshield for your vehicle, and you know the product youโre getting is legit.
The tradeoff is that youโre going to be paying a higher price to use the dealershipโs services. Itโs usually cheaper to go elsewhere.
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9. If you go with third-party companies, make sure theyโre AGSC-certified.

When you go with a third-party glass repair company, youโre likely to find lower prices, but youโre also rolling the dice a bit.
Some third-party companies are totally legit in their cheap windshield repair offerings. They charge less than the dealership because they purchase aftermarket windshields directly from the factory supplier at wholesale pricing. These folks are professionals and know what theyโre doing.
But others are shady and use cheaper (read low-quality) glass. They might be able to get the job done for less, but theyโre also putting your familyโs safety at risk.
To make sure you can trust the company, do the usual things like read reviews before engaging in their services. But also check to see if the company is a registered member of the Auto Glass Safety Council (AGSC). The repair person they send to your house should be AGSC-certified to boot.
Companies that ride with the AGSC might cost you more than those who donโt, but theyโre also less likely to put you in danger.
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