Windscreen Replacement: MOT Rules, Repair Guide & Costs
Replacing a car window when it is damaged is not always mandatory. It is often said that even the smallest damage can result in a mandatory repair, but that is certainly not the case. Whether a car window needs to be replaced is always determined by the nature of the damage and its exact location. Are you also wondering, ‘When should a car window be replaced?’ In that case, we are happy to give you a crystal-clear answer to this very important question.
Replacing a car window with a chip? No need!
When should a car window be replaced? Certainly not when you are faced with a small chip in your windscreen! This is one of the most common types of windscreen damage which, fortunately, can be easily fixed. So replacing your damaged windscreen is absolutely unnecessary in this situation. However, you should bear in mind that a harmless little chip can quickly become a lot less harmless. When you start driving with a small chip in your windscreen and drive into a pothole, for example, the chip can easily grow into a large crack. Is that the case? Then you will indeed need to have your damaged car window replaced.
Windscreen MOT rules: when is a replacement mandatory?
Obviously, no one can force you to have your damaged car window replaced. Nevertheless, in certain cases, car window damage can cause a rejection for the MOT. This is particularly true when there is a broken windscreen. Imagine, for example, that a crack is reflected in your driver's field of vision. This crack may seem quite harmless at first glance, but a single reflection can have major consequences. For this reason, this type of damage will always cause a disapproval for the MOT. In other words, do you have a crack in windscreen and is it obstructing your view of the road? If so, it is absolutely important to get this damage repaired as soon as possible.
Car windscreen damage repair? Not always mandatory, but recommended!
The above information makes it clear that it is far from always mandatory to have car windscreen damage repaired immediately. So, mainly for financial reasons, you might choose to just let the damage exist for a while. This is possible, but certainly not interesting. After all, not only can a damaged car window pose risks to the safety of the car's occupants, it can also have a not inconsiderable impact on comfort while driving. Are you not going to get your car window damage fixed? In that case, consider the following drawbacks:
- A damaged car window can compromise the rigidity of your car's chassis. After all, about 40 per cent of this is realised by the glass found in a car.
- Driving with a broken side or rear window not only ensures that you are exposed to all kinds of outside dangers, in addition, the comfort of the occupants is also significantly affected.
- A broken side or rear window makes it very easy for thieves to gain access to the vehicle. Therefore, it is always prone to theft.
- A damaged or completely broken car window can cause water to enter the car in rainy weather. As a result, not only can the interior upholstery become mouldy, in addition, the electronics can also be damaged.
Replacing your car window yourself with an after market car window
If you have faced car window damage, you can do two things. Either you can choose to have the damage repaired by a real expert or you can do it yourself. The latter is especially true for people who own a garage or hobbyists, for example. In this case, too, we can provide you with an excellent service. We simply make it possible for our customers to buy a separate after market car window. In this way, you can be sure of excellent value for money without having to pay top prices.
Still outsource your car window replacement?
When should a car window be replaced and what are the costs involved? These are two questions that people with damaged car windows will always ask themselves almost immediately. Well, the moment you choose to outsource the replacement of the damaged car window, you will obviously have to reckon with a certain additional cost. In this case, we always call on the expertise of one of our various certified fitting partners. Not only do these professionals have all the required expertise to carry out this task, they also all have more than considerable experience. So if you wish to outsource your car window replacement, we are without a doubt the party you want to call on!