Do you really need a new windscreen?
Probably not. Chips and cracks up to 24 inches can usually be repaired in about 15 minutes for a fraction of the cost of replacement. Here is how to tell.
The short answer
If your windscreen has a chip (bullseye, star break, combination, half-moon or hairline) or a crack up to 24 inches long, it can usually be repaired. A repair costs $79 to $149 for most damage, takes about 15 minutes, keeps your original factory glass and seal, and carries a lifetime warranty. A full replacement typically costs $1,200 to $2,500 in Australia once ADAS camera recalibration is included, and takes hours rather than minutes. Repair first, replace only when you have to.
Repair vs replacement at a glance
| Repair | Replacement | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | $79 to $149 for most damage | $1,200 to $2,500 including ADAS recalibration |
| Time | About 15 minutes, while you shop | Several hours, often a full day with curing and calibration |
| Factory glass and seal | Kept intact | Original seal is cut; refit quality varies |
| ADAS camera recalibration | Not required | Often required, at extra cost |
| Insurance | Often covered; some insurers waive the excess for repairs | Covered under glass cover, but an excess usually applies |
| Environmental impact | Original glass stays on the car | Old windscreen usually goes to landfill |
Repair is usually right when
- The damage is a chip: bullseye, star break, combination, half-moon or hairline
- The crack is 24 inches long or shorter
- The damage is in the outer layer of glass
- You want it done today: kiosk repairs are walk-in, no booking, about 15 minutes
- You want to keep the original factory glass and seal
Replacement is the safer call when
- The crack is longer than 24 inches
- The damage goes through both layers of the glass
- Severe damage sits directly across the driver's line of sight
- The glass is shattered, delaminating or structurally compromised
Not sure which side your damage falls on? Drive into any kiosk and we will assess it on the spot, free. If a repair is not the right call, we will tell you honestly.
Repair vs replacement questions
Can a cracked windscreen be repaired instead of replaced?
Usually, yes. Chippy Repair fixes cracks up to 24 inches long by injecting acrylic resin that chemically bonds the fractured glass back together. Crack repair starts at $149. Cracks longer than 24 inches need a replacement.
Is a repaired windscreen safe?
Yes. The resin injection restores the structural integrity of the glass and stops the damage spreading. Repairs are performed to the Australian repair standard AS/NZS 2366 and carry a lifetime warranty: if a repaired chip ever cracks out, the repair cost is credited toward a replacement.
Will the chip be invisible after the repair?
The repair is structural first and cosmetic second. Most chips improve dramatically and become hard to spot, but a faint scar can remain depending on the damage. What matters is that the glass is bonded and the damage will not spread.
When do I actually need a full replacement?
When a crack is longer than 24 inches, when damage penetrates both layers of glass, or when severe damage sits across the driver's direct line of sight. If a repair is not the right call for your damage, we will tell you honestly and you keep your money.
Why is replacement so much more expensive?
A replacement means new glass, adhesives, labour, and on most modern cars a recalibration of the ADAS cameras mounted to the windscreen. That is how the bill reaches $1,200 to $2,500. A repair avoids all of it by saving the glass you already have.
Does insurance prefer repair or replacement?
Insurers generally prefer repair because it costs them far less, and some waive the excess for windscreen repairs. Chippy Repair gives you an itemised, insurance-ready invoice with photos on the spot so you can claim reimbursement from your insurer.
Save your windscreen before the crack spreads.
Walk into any of our 18 kiosks across QLD and NSW, or book a mobile repair.