Windscreen chip or crack: repair or replace?
25 February 2026 · 5 min read · Windscreens
When a chip can be filled, when the glass has to come out, how insurance excess usually works, and what ADAS recalibration means for newer cars.
The quick rule
A chip smaller than a five rand coin, outside the driver's direct line of sight and not touching the edge of the glass, can usually be repaired with resin in under an hour. A crack longer than about 150 mm, or any damage reaching the edge, means replacement.
Why the edge matters
The windscreen is a structural part of the car. It supports the roof in a rollover and provides the backboard for the passenger airbag. Damage at the bonded edge compromises that, which is why no reputable fitter will repair it.
Insurance and excess
Most South African comprehensive policies include glass cover with a lower excess than a normal claim, and many waive the excess entirely on a chip repair because it saves them a whole windscreen. Phone your insurer before you pay cash: a repair claim usually does not affect your no-claim record in the way an accident claim does.
ADAS recalibration
If your car has lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control or autonomous braking, the forward camera usually sits on the windscreen. After replacement it must be recalibrated, either statically with a target board or dynamically on a road drive. Ask the fitter to confirm which method they use and to give you the calibration certificate. Without it, your driver assistance systems may read the road incorrectly.
After the fit
- Leave the retention tape on for the period the fitter specifies, usually 24 hours
- Avoid high pressure car washes for two days
- Do not slam doors while the urethane cures, since the pressure spike can shift the glass
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