Contrary to what many vehicle owners believe, the windshield of a vehicle does more than just keep the wind and the rain out. Yes, it also stops dust from blowing in your eyes, but there’s more to it than that. As strange as it may sound, in many modern cars, the windshields can account for up to 50% of the vehicles structural integrity. Furthermore, if the integrity of the windshield has been compromised due to a crack, the chance of the vehicle’s roof collapsing in an accident will increase dramatically. In fact, automatic airbag deployment systems can also fail in the case of a collision if the windshield has been sufficiently weakened. In a worst case scenario, where a windshield is severely cracked, it could implode into the vehicle while it’s being driven. Obviously the result of this happening could be catastrophic, given that it would almost certainly result it a serious accident.

Driving you vehicle with a cracked windshield is not only illegal, but in so doing, you are also putting your own life at risk, along with the safety of your loved ones, or anyone else who may be travelling in the vehicle with you.

Considering the seriousness concerning defective auto glass, one needs to keep a few things in mind when it comes to auto glass repairs and/or auto glass replacement. While it’s perfectly understandable for people to search out cheap deals, especially in the current economic climate, going the cheap and easy route with auto glass is certainly not advisable. Many of the bottom end auto glass repair centers are able to offer those ridiculously low prices simply because they use materials of inferior quality. Sure, such repairs may keep you from getting into trouble with the law, and they may even stop that crack from getting worse, but you need to ask yourself if it’s worth risking your life, and that just to save a few dollars.

Something else to bear in mind when it comes to auto glass replacement is that you should always verify whether or not the auto glass being used meets the specifications of the vehicle manufacturer. If your insurance policy covers the cost of windshield replacement, they will demand that the auto glass meets certain safety specs, and if it doesn’t, they will simply refuse to honor any claim. While on the subject of insurance companies, it’s always advisable to determine whether or not your chosen auto glass company deals with insurance claims, or once again, you could find yourself having to foot the bill.

The key to getting auto glass repaired or replaced in such a manner so you then have complete peace of mind, is to ask as many question as you can think of before you agree to a specific quote. Are the technicians suitably qualified to undertake auto glass replacement jobs? Find out what sort of adhesive is being used, and even how long that adhesive takes to cure. Remember, while there’s certainly no need for you to be paying over-the-top prices, going for the cheapest deal isn’t always the wisest thing to do either.