Auto Glass and Windshield

A chip from a truck on the BQE turns into a crack across the windshield faster than most people expect, and a cracked windshield in the driver’s line of sight fails New York State inspection.

A1 Collision NY handles glass at 4525 36 Street, Long Island City 11101, Monday through Sunday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Call (212) 564-7100.

A chip smaller than a coin, away from the edge and out of the driver’s direct view, can usually be filled. It stops the crack spreading and keeps the original factory seal, which is worth having.

Replacement is needed once a crack has run, once damage sits at the edge of the glass where it affects strength, or once it is in the driver’s line of sight. Temperature swings make cracks run: a cold windshield hit with hot air from the defroster is a common way for a small chip to become a full-width crack overnight.

Side windows, rear glass and mirrors as well. Side glass is tempered and shatters into fragments rather than cracking, so it always means replacement, and it usually means a vacuum-out of the door card and seat rails too.

If glass has gone after a break-in, we can secure the car the same day so it is not standing open on the street. Where the damage is part of a wider incident, it can be handled together with the body repair and put through one insurance claim rather than two.

A1 Collision NY & Auto Care, 4525 36 Street, Long Island City 11101. Open Monday through Sunday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Call (212) 564-7100 or get in touch.