Chips and short cracks stopped before they spread across the glass. Most repairs take under 30 minutes, no appointment needed at the shop, and many Ontario policies waive the deductible for repair entirely.
A windshield is two layers of glass laminated around a sheet of vinyl. Most impact damage only breaks the outer layer, which is why it can be repaired: we clean the break, draw a vacuum on it, and inject a clear resin that bonds the glass back together and cures under UV light. Done early, the repair restores most of the strength and leaves a faint mark you have to look for.
Cracks that run to the edge of the windshield, damage directly in front of a forward camera or rain sensor, deep pits, or anything in the driver's primary viewing area where a repair mark would be a distraction, all call for replacement. We will tell you which it is from a photo, and we will not sell you a replacement you do not need.
Timing is everything in Ottawa. A chip that is repairable in October is often a full crack by January, because a heated garage in the morning and -20°C by evening puts the glass through a temperature swing every day. If you can see a chip, book it this week.
Most Ontario comprehensive policies cover chip repair, and many waive the deductible for it because repair is far cheaper for the insurer than replacement. We bill the insurer directly. If you do not have glass coverage, repair is inexpensive enough that most people just pay for it on the spot. More on how claims work.
As a rule, anything smaller than a toonie that has not spread, and short cracks that start away from the edge. Our post on how big a crack can be repaired goes into detail.
Not completely. A good repair restores the strength of the glass and leaves a faint mark that is hard to see unless you know where to look.
You can, but a crack that obstructs the driver's view can draw a fine under the Highway Traffic Act, and cracks spread quickly in winter. Read more.
Side and rear glass is tempered, not laminated, so it shatters rather than chips and has to be replaced.
OEM and OEM-equivalent glass matched to your Canadian VIN, installed with cold-weather urethane and recalibrated in-house.
Learn moreA stone off a truck on the 417 does not have to become a new windshield.
Learn moreA fully equipped van comes to your home or workplace anywhere from Kanata to Orleans to Gatineau.
Learn moreDoor glass, quarter glass, vent windows and rear windshields, including heated and tinted glass, for every make sold in Canada.
Learn moreMirror glass, complete mirror assemblies, and heated, power-fold or turn-signal units, matched to the original and often done the same day..
Learn moreLane keeping, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise and automatic braking all look through a camera mounted to the windshield.
Learn moreGasket-set windshields, curved back glass and flat side glass for classic and collector vehicles, sourced from reproduction suppliers or cut to pattern when nothing is available..
Learn moreOpen seven days. Same-day appointments available for most vehicles.
