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3 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Ingnore a Small Chip in Your Windscreen

by Aubree Richardson

At some point in your driving life, you will likely find a small chip in your windscreen caused by loose material kicking up from the road surface, debris flying off a vehicle in front of you or weather phenomenon such as large hailstones. It is imperative that you have it repaired by a trained technician as soon as possible for the following reasons.

1. A small chip can get bigger and result in windscreen replacement

A small chip in a windscreen may not look significant, but without warning it can quickly develop into a large crack due to the vibration caused by the vehicle's motion. Environmental factors such as a rapid temperature change caused by blowing cold air conditioning onto a hot windscreen, wetting the glass in a rain shower or dirt lodging in the damaged area can also cause the chip to deteriorate.

2. A small chip weakens the windscreen

The windscreen is an integral structural component of the vehicle: it provides a barrier between the passengers and the road, supports the roof and contributes to the function of the airbags if they are deployed. Even a small chip will weaken the windscreen and therefore have an adverse effect on the safety performance of the vehicle in the event of an accident.

3. A small chip may be a distraction to the driver

The driver's eye may be repeatedly drawn to a variation in the windscreen glass caused by a small chip, resulting in a lack of concentration. More seriously, the damaged glass can distort the vision of the driver, potentially leading to errors in judgement of distances. For these reasons a windscreen with a small chip, particularly if it is in the driver's primary field of view, can result in a vehicle failing its registration or police inspection.

The windscreen of a vehicle is a safety feature. For this reason it should only be repaired by a fully qualified technician. They will use high quality materials, restoring both the integrity and cosmetics of the windscreen, and should provide a guarantee of their work. You can start looking for professionals through resources such as http://www.instantwindscreens.com.au.

Vehicle insurances typically have separate windscreen cover meaning that you do not have to pay the excess and will not loose your no claims bonus if you have your windscreen repaired. You may be able to arrange the repair directly with the authorised dealer, without contacting your insurance company.

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