We get this question just about every day, usually from somebody who's been driving around with a crack for a month and just noticed it got longer. The real answer is that it depends on where the crack is and how big it's gotten.
What Colorado law says
Colorado doesn't do yearly safety inspections, so nobody's going to fail you at the DMV over a crack. But you're not allowed to drive a car that's in unsafe shape, and you're not allowed to drive with something blocking your view through the windshield. A crack across the driver's side can get you pulled over and written up.
In real life, a small chip down low on the passenger side isn't going to get anybody's attention. A crack running across the glass right in front of the steering wheel might.
Commercial trucks are a different story. Federal rules spell out exactly how big a crack can be and where it can be, so if you drive for work, check with whoever handles your company's DOT paperwork.
Why it's a safety thing, not just a looks thing
Your windshield isn't just a window. It's glued into the frame of the car, and it does two jobs most people never think about:
- It helps hold the roof up if the car rolls over.
- It's what the passenger airbag pushes against when it goes off. If the glass gives way, the airbag can push out through the opening instead of catching your passenger.
A crack weakens the glass in both of those situations. A small chip isn't going to make your car unsafe tomorrow. A long crack that reaches the edge is a different story.
A quick way to figure out where you stand
- Chip smaller than a quarter, not in front of the driver. Fine to drive. Get it repaired soon so it doesn't spread.
- Crack under six inches, not touching an edge. Probably fine for now, but call this week. These are the ones that take off on the next cold morning.
- Crack in your line of sight. Get it replaced. Even if it never gets you a ticket, it's hard to see past at night or driving into the sun.
- Crack that reaches the edge of the glass. Replace it. Edge cracks keep growing.
- Glass that's crushed or sagging. Don't drive it. Call us and we'll come to you.
Keeping it from getting worse in the meantime
Until you can get it fixed:
- Put clear packing tape over a chip to keep dirt and water out.
- Go easy on the defroster. Warm the car up slowly instead of blasting hot air on cold glass.
- Skip the car wash. The water pressure and the temperature change are both bad news for a crack.
- Don't slam the doors. It really does flex the glass.
- Park in the garage if you've got one.
Not sure which one yours is? Call us at (719) 467-3190. Tell us how big it is and where it is, and we'll tell you whether you can keep driving on it.