What To Do With A Cracked Windshield On A Road Trip
You are out in your car heading cross country when all of a sudden, something kicks up off of the road and strikes your windshield or the side of your car. You are now staring at large crack where there should be none. Uh oh. What do you do now?
If you ever find yourself in this situation, don't panic. Even if you are out in what you think is the middle of nowhere, it may be possible to get your windshield or window fixed much more quickly than you would think. Here's some advice to keep in mind.
Decide If You Can Still Drive
So, how bad, really, is your cracked auto glass? If it's a larger crack that looks like it could expand at any minute, then it's probably best to pull over to the side of the road. But if the crack looks small or is just a chip instead of a crack, it might be possible to continue on safely.
Cover It Up
Hopefully, you have an auto emergency kit in your car that contains clear tape. If you don't you should drive to the nearest department store that would have some immediately. If you are going to continue on with a cracked windshield, you need to take steps to make sure it won't get any worse. Clear tape placed directly over the crack will prevent the wind or additional debris from getting in there. Protect the crack and your auto glass will hopefully stay in place until you can get to a professional.
While you're at it, be sure not to blow air from the defroster directly onto the crack. If it's summer time, maybe turn the AC down so the temperature inside isn't dramatically lower than the temperature outside. A sudden swing in temperature could cause damaged glass to crack further, so keep that in mind.
Consider a Mobile Windshield Repair Service
If you can safely drive your vehicle to a repair shop, that is certainly one option. But if you don't know where you are or you are convinced the vehicle is not safe to drive, you will need another choice.
Luckily, there are auto glass repair companies that can now come to you. You just call the service, give them your general location or address and a van or truck with all the tools necessary for repair will come to you. With one quick phone call, you could quickly get your vehicle back on the road without even having to pay for a tow.
Contact mobile windshield repair services like Lloyd’s of Shelton Auto Glass LLC today for more information.