If you take a glance at the windshield or auto repair listings in your local directory you will more than likely see lots and lots of different companies to choose from. To help you narrow down potential windshield repair companies you can do an internet search of the company's name too first see if there are any reviews from customers who have used the company for windshield repair. Secondly you can see if the company has a website. If they do, they should have some price quotes and lists of services they provide. You can also look around on their websites to see if they make any statements about what kind of certification or training their service techs have in windshield replacement. If you cannot find that information on their website, give the company a call and ask. If you end up having to decide between a company that requires their techs to have certified training in windshield replacement and one that doesn't it would be a good idea to choose the one that does require it.
The next step is getting an estimate or overall opinion of what needs to be done to repair your windshield. In many cases, a crack or chip in a windshield can just be filled with resin, while other times the entire windshield may have to get replaced. Keep in mind that replacing a windshield is much more expensive than just fixing the chips or cracks. If the first place you visit for an estimate tells you it needs to be replaced and you're uncertain about their opinion, you should visit a different shop for a second opinion. You may find that they both say it needs to be replaced, in which case you would then make your decision based on which shop offers the best deal and most experienced service techs.
Another factor that can help you decide on a qualified windshield repair company is to ask about what type of warranty they offer on both the glass and the work. Some of the better companies offer a warranty on repairs for as long as you own the vehicle, while some of the less reliable ones don't offer a warranty at all.
It is important to realize that most auto glass repair shops charge anywhere from $20 to $70 to repair a chip or crack in a windshield, depending of course on the size and severity of the damage. If the crack is longer than 24 inches, the windshield will almost always need to be replaced. If you have very small chips or cracks, less than 8 inches, they can also be repaired at many hand car wash locations. Taking this route is often less expensive, but the person who repairs the crack might not have any technical training in windshield repair and might do a poor job that you will have to get redone.
If you have submitted a windshield repair or replacement claim to your insurance company, they will more than likely supply you with the contact information for one or more local automobile repair companies that they work with to get the best deal. This usually means that the repair shop has a good reputation or good history repairing vehicles so you shouldn't need to do too much background research on them. Keep in mind that some insurance companies will not cover the cost of windshield repair or replacement if you do not use their recommended repair shop.
In the event where you have to have the entire windshield replaced, the cost is generally between $250 to $1,000, depending on the type of windshield that is used in the vehicle. If you're considering submitting the claim to your insurance company, you may want to consider the cost of your deductible. If the cost to repair the windshield is the same cost as your deductible it would be wise to forego submitting the claim.
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