# How much is this going to cost me? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 18, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-this-going-to-cost-me/189268 "2003-07-18T00:47:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bibliophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@bibliophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophile)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-this-going-to-cost-me/189268/1 "2003-07-18T00:47:28Z")
On my way home from work tonight, a car in front of me kicked up a rock that cracked my windshield. It’s a relatively small crack, but the car’s leased, so it will have to be repaired, plus, I don’t want it to get any bigger. Someone told me I probably don’t need a new windshield, that the crack can probably be repaired. Is that possible? If so, does anyone know how expensive it would be to fix, and in case I need an entirely new windshield, what’s the ballpark cost of that? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![nebco9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@nebco9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nebco9)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-this-going-to-cost-me/189268/2 "2003-07-18T01:16:50Z")
It depends, of course, on how bad the crack is. Is it a star or a bullseye or a long crack? How deep is it? Small cracks can usually be repaired for about $50. Look in your Yellow Pages under “Windshield Repair” or if you have your car serviced at a dealer, the service dept. or their used car manager may be able to recommend someone. Fix it ASAP, it could get bigger. A new windshield will run $250 or more. ---
**Author:** ![nebco9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@nebco9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nebco9)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-this-going-to-cost-me/189268/3 "2003-07-18T01:16:50Z")
It depends, of course, on how bad the crack is. Is it a star or a bullseye or a long crack? How deep is it? Small cracks can usually be repaired for about $50. Look in your Yellow Pages under “Windshield Repair” or if you have your car serviced at a dealer, the service dept. or their used car manager may be able to recommend someone. Fix it ASAP, it could get bigger. A new windshield will run $250 or more. ---
**Author:** ![AmbushBug](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ambushbug/32/4600_2.png) [@AmbushBug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmbushBug)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-this-going-to-cost-me/189268/4 "2003-07-18T01:20:52Z")
When I leased my minivan, the bank required comprehensive insurance, which for me, in my state, included glass repair. So call your insurance agent. It’ll be three (3) $800+ windshields for me, as soon as I get around to calling them about the latest crack. If it’s to the edge, too long or spidery, or right in front of the driver, it can’t be repaired, only replaced, AFAIK. ---
**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-this-going-to-cost-me/189268/5 "2003-07-18T01:21:17Z")
Note that many insurance companies will waive the deductible for windshield replacement, if it comes to that. ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-this-going-to-cost-me/189268/6 "2003-07-18T01:26:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bibliophile \* > **in case I need an entirely new windshield, what’s the ballpark cost of that?** What kind of car is it? My roommate just had his windshield replaced on his 2001 GMC Sonoma for $100. They came out and did it in the parking lot of our apartment building. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@bibliophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophile)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-this-going-to-cost-me/189268/7 "2003-07-18T01:33:59Z")
It’s a 2001 Saturn L200. The crack is smack dab in the middle of the windshield, roughly the diameter of a quarter, and is star-shaped. I’ve had another friend look at it, and if he’s right, I won’t need a new windshield. God, I hope he’s right. I’m pretty sure my insurance won’t cover it, and even if I need a new one, it will likely be less than the deductible. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-this-going-to-cost-me/189268/8 "2003-07-18T01:35:31Z")
Are you sure your insurance won’t cover it? In many states, windshields are part of comprehensive and there’s no deductable. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@bibliophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophile)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-this-going-to-cost-me/189268/9 "2003-07-18T01:39:34Z")
No, I’m not absolutely positive, I’ll have to read the policy before I go to bed, but my parents have a policy with the same company [their car is leased too] and they had to pay to replace theirs. Still, just to save as much money as possible, I’ll definitely read the fine print. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-this-going-to-cost-me/189268/10 "2003-07-18T01:58:08Z")
I had one done a few weeks ago - a little gravel crack. The price was $35, but insurance paid all of it. Any shop that does a lot of those repairs will know the ins and outs of insurance coverage. ---
**Author:** ![olefin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d78d45/32.png) [@olefin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/olefin)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-this-going-to-cost-me/189268/11 "2003-07-18T02:02:41Z")
I been driving for many years… never had a windshield replaces but in the last few years have had 3 windshields repaired to to cracks from rocks. Insurance pays 100% on repairs. ---
**Author:** ![mrbuddylee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@mrbuddylee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrbuddylee)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-this-going-to-cost-me/189268/12 "2003-07-18T02:36:26Z")
if it’s not all the way through and the crack is no longer than a dollar bill, it can be repaired, if it’s bigger than that, then new window for you. If your insurance has a deductible (mine was $500 for the window) talk to the shop and they’ll cut what you have to pay down quite a bit. My window originally cost $800, my deductible would have been $500. Shopped around, and got a place to lower my deductible to $250. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-this-going-to-cost-me/189268/13 "2003-07-18T15:09:57Z")
I would get a window before I bring the car back, in case this happens again, rather than now. You can get a glass shop to look at it or get a kit from the auto parts store but the sooner the better as the results depend on how clean the glass is & the longer you wait the dirtier it gets.