Stone chip in the windshield – How long can you still drive?

A sudden crack on the road, a small spot on the glass – and suddenly it has happened: a stone chip in the windshield. Many drivers experience this sooner or later. Especially on highways or country roads, small stones can be stirred up by other vehicles and hit the windshield at high speed.

After the initial shock, the same question usually arises immediately: Can I still drive with a stone chip, or do I have to act immediately? In many cases, the damage is initially small, and the car is still roadworthy. Nevertheless, it should not be ignored, because a small impact can quickly develop into a larger crack.

In this guide, you will learn how long you can drive with a stone chip, when a repair is necessary, and what options there are to fix the damage.

The most important things first

• A small stone chip in the windshield is usually not an immediate emergency.
• However, the damage should be repaired as quickly as possible to prevent a crack from forming.
• If the stone chip is in the driver's field of vision, continuing to drive can be problematic.
• Small damages can often be repaired easily and cost-effectively.

Why does a stone chip occur in the windshield?

A stone chip usually occurs when small stones or grit are stirred up by other vehicles. This happens particularly often on highways, at construction sites, or on roads with loose surfaces. When a stone hits the glass at high speed, it can leave small damages.

Modern windshields are made of so-called laminated glass. Two layers of glass are bonded together with a stable plastic film. This construction ensures that the windshield usually remains stable despite damage and does not completely break immediately.

Nevertheless, the impact can cause small cracks in the glass. These can spread further over time if additional stresses act on the windshield.

How long can you drive with a stone chip?

Many drivers are unsure whether they are allowed to continue driving with a stone chip in the windshield. As a general rule: As long as the damage is small and not in the driver's field of vision, you can usually continue driving for a while.

However, you should not postpone the repair for too long. Due to vibrations while driving, large temperature differences, or frost, the damage can quickly worsen. Even a small dot in the glass can develop into a longer crack within a short time.

As soon as such a crack occurs, a repair becomes significantly more difficult. In many cases, the entire windshield then has to be replaced, which is much more expensive than a simple repair.

When should you have the damage repaired immediately?

In some situations, a stone chip should be repaired as quickly as possible. This applies particularly if the damage is in the driver's direct field of vision. In this area, even a small damage can impair visibility and thus affect driving safety.

Even if the first small cracks appear or the damage gets larger, you should not wait much longer. The stability of the windshield can be affected by this. In addition, damaged glass can cause problems during a vehicle inspection or the general inspection.

The sooner the damage is repaired, the greater the chance that a simple repair will suffice.

Repairing a stone chip yourself – is that possible?

For smaller damages, the question often arises whether a stone chip can be repaired yourself. In fact, there are special repair kits with which small damages in the windshield can be treated.

A transparent special resin is poured into the stone chip. This resin penetrates the damaged area and stabilizes the glass. The material is then cured, which seals the damage and can prevent further spreading.

However, this method is only suitable for small stone chips without larger cracks. If the damage is in the driver's field of vision or a longer crack has already formed, the repair should definitely be carried out by a specialist workshop.

Cost of a stone chip repair

Many drivers fear high costs if the windshield is damaged. In reality, a repair is often significantly cheaper than a complete replacement of the windshield.

A simple repair usually costs between 60 and 120 Euros. If you have partial comprehensive insurance, you might be lucky: In many cases, insurance companies fully cover the costs of a repair. Only when the windshield has to be replaced can the costs be significantly higher.

That's why it's almost always worthwhile to have a stone chip repaired as early as possible.

Repairing a stone chip yourself – with the ATG repair kit

If you discover a small stone chip in your windshield, you can often fix it yourself. For this, ATG offers a practical windshield repair kit, with which minor damages can be repaired quickly and easily.

The DIY repair kit contains a special resin formula that fills the stone chip. This prevents the damage from spreading into a larger crack. The resin is then cured with UV light, so that the repair is completed quickly.

ATG offers various variants, including a repair kit with UV light and a complete kit with UV light and window sealant (250 ml). This allows you to repair minor damage yourself and often avoid having to replace the entire windshield.

Important: Repairs in the driver's field of vision are not permitted by law and should always be carried out by a specialist workshop.

Conclusion: Repair stone chips early

A stone chip in the windshield is almost unavoidable in the everyday life of many drivers. In many cases, you can initially continue driving as long as the damage is small and not in the field of vision.

Nevertheless, the damage should not be ignored. A quick repair prevents larger cracks and often saves high costs. Small stone chips can sometimes even be repaired yourself – the important thing is to act early and regularly check the damage.

Discover our stone chip repair kit.