Chipped windscreen - DIY or pro?

[glasgowcyclist]

I have a small chip on my windscreen, about 0.2mm deep and about 1mm across. This has a crack 9mm long with this little chip at the centre and is just within the swept area on the driver's side, maybe 2cm in.

Can anyone recommend from experience whether I go for a DIY repair or entrust it to a professional? I'm hoping @screenman chose his username to match his profession here and can offer some advice.

GC

(Please don't anyone suggest Autoglass, I've had a very bad experience with them.)

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

I tried one of the DIY kits a while back. Seemed fine to start with but after a couple of days turned into a crack that rapidly spread across the screen. I'm going to let a professional do it in future.

Edit: The chip had been there for about six months without any change and I thought sealing it might be a good idea before the winter. Wasn't impressed at having to buy a new screen due to my "repair"

 

[Roadrider48]

Is it not free on your insurance to get it fixed professionally and it doesn't affect your no claims?

 

[Markymark]

(Please don't anyone suggest Autoglass, I've had a very bad experience with them.)

Me too. Gavin from auto glass injected his special resin into my wife's crack...

She doesn't even have a car

 

[Vapin' Joe]

I've used Autoglass a few times and they've been great. I had a chip repaired a couple of months ago and despite it being borderline between repair or replace they repaired it in less than twenty minutes and it only cost me a tenner, insurance coughing up the rest. Are you fully comp or TPFT?

 

[welsh dragon]

Roadrider48 is correct. It is free if you have windscreen cover. Contact your insurer, they will tell you which windscreen repairer they recommend.

 

[Wafer]

I've just arranged for mine to be repaired, covered by insurance with a £10 excess, though with the firm you don't like! I wouldn't even contemplate trying to do it DIY, especially if it risks voiding insurance cover for a new windscreen if required.

 

[fossyant]

Autoglass did a chip in my car. Been fine since over 8 years since.

 

[jnrmczip]

I would go professional as anyone I know who has done the job diy hasn't been to successful . And windscreen has ended up worse in most cases. But you should be covered through insurance.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

My insurer's preferred repairer is Autoglass, a company I won't deal with after they botched a windscreen replacement causing just under £1300 of damage, then refused to pay out. They also lied about the conclusions of an independent assessor's report, claiming that it blamed me when it showed the fault was theirs.

I prepared the paperwork to pursue them at court and gave them 7 days to settle, they sent me a 'goodwill gesture' cheque for £30. That went straight back with a 'see you in court' note and I got my full settlement on the final day of my deadline.

GC

 

[welsh dragon]

Your not obliged to use the company that your insurer prefers. As they said, they PREFER you to use autoglass. You can use another one, but you may have to pay them first then claim from your insurer. Give them a ring and find out.

 

[TissoT]

The crack or chip has to be bigger than a five pence piece before they will look at it !
But rightly so £10 excess .. waiting for mine to grow

 

[Vapin' Joe]

The crack or chip has to be bigger than a five pence piece before they will look at it !
But rightly so £10 excess .. waiting for mine to grow

That's not true. They will repair up to the size of a 5p piece but over that they replace.

 

[TissoT]

That's not true. They will repair up to the size of a 5p piece but over that they replace.

Took My car it to a insurance approved windscreen specialist.... they would nt touch it unless the chip/crack was either
the size of a five pence piece or slightly bigger ....just going off there Quote
My mrs works for a insurance company ... she checked it to see if it rang true ... got the same answer

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Took My car it to a insurance approved windscreen specialist.... they would nt touch it unless the chip/crack was either
the size of a five pence piece or slightly bigger ....just going off there Quote
My mrs works for a insurance company ... she checked it to see if it rang true ... got the same answer

I stand corrected.