Catch it while it's small
A rock chip is a small break in the outer layer of the windshield. Left alone, it can turn into a crack. Allstate points out that a hard pothole, a bumpy road or a sharp turn can be enough to set one running, and that rain or moisture getting into the break makes it spread faster.
Until we get there, a piece of clear tape over the chip keeps it clean and dry. Skip the car wash, and don't point the defroster straight at the glass on a cold morning, because sudden temperature changes put stress on the break.
A small bullseye chip about to be filled with resinHow a repair works
- We clean the chip and dry out any moisture in the break.
- A bridge with a small injector mounts on the glass over the chip.
- Resin goes into the break under pressure, then a vacuum cycle pulls out the air so the resin reaches every leg of the chip.
- A UV lamp cures the resin hard and clear, and the top gets scraped flush and polished.
Most chips fade to a faint mark. What matters more is that a filled break stops growing.
When repair isn't the right call
Allstate's guidance is to replace rather than repair when a crack is longer than a dollar bill, goes more than halfway into the glass, or reaches the edge of the windshield. A break right in front of the driver is better replaced too, because even a good repair leaves a slight mark. If yours is close to any of those lines, send a photo and we'll tell you which way we'd go.
Small chip repair
$60to$100
National range per chip
AAA cost guide · checked Oct 2026 · national
Crack repair
$100to$150
National range, short cracks
AAA cost guide · checked Oct 2026 · national
Prices are from AAA's windshield cost guide. Many comprehensive policies cover chip repair; check yours for the deductible.
