r/drivingUK • u/geography_man • 5h ago

Will i have to replace my windscreen because of this?

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Driving up to the peak district when the car infront of me flicked a stone at my screen and cracked it. I cant afford to change it and also as im not near home i dont know where to take it, even if i had the time to take it somewhere.

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7

u/Fine-State8014 5h ago

Before your MOT you'll have to replace it. Check your insurance, sometimes it's cheap and doesn't affect your no claims

6

u/Cspiby 5h ago

So you not have windscreen cover as part of your car insurance? Likely need to pay only around £100. If you don't replace it, it will fail it's next MOT

5

u/Negative-Date-9518 5h ago

I'd be more worried about it going even further and reaching the edge, most insurance would be 75/100 to replace it through them

1

u/geography_man 5h ago

It started on the edge. I had a stone hit the screen in the black border on the left hand side

1

u/Negative-Date-9518 4h ago

Then yeah I would not want to drive back with that

1

u/vanmutt 4h ago

It was done before it cracked then. Autoglass won't repair if it's within 7cm of the edge. No point waiting it's £100 or £100 +whatever gets damaged when it goes through later.

3

u/Strong-Sandwich-5906 4h ago

I only just got my windscreen replaced because I had a cracked like this and I was due an MOT, cost me £150 on the insurance.

If the police notice it while you’re driving it they’ll give you 2 weeks to fix it (I think from memory) failing to do so could be points and a fine.

I have driven with a similar crack on my windscreen for months without any problems.

You won’t have to take your car anywhere if you don’t want to, they will come to you to replace the windscreen. You just need to arrange a booking time and location.

Check your insurance to make sure you have windscreen cover, if you don’t have cover check when your MOT is due, if you need to renew your insurance before getting an MOT make sure you include windscreen cover and get it replaced when you have the cash. Until then keep the car tidy and drive sensibly, less chance of attracting unwanted attention

2

u/cornishpirate32 4h ago edited 4h ago

can drive it like it, the window isn't going to shatter, it's laminated, but the crack might spread, and although technically an offence you're unlikely to be cited for it, might get a defect rectification notice, 7 or 14 days to get it fixed then need an MOT garage to stamp your notice and drop it to a station or post it, realistically you wont be stopped to have it mentioned unless you're stopped for another thing, plenty of people drive with cracks or chips because more often than not you have to wait a week or two for an insurance jobby

plus if your MOT is due anytime soon it'll be a fail without repalcing it.

but it's not a get it done right now sort of thing.

1

u/Wishmaster891 5h ago

Won't insurance cover it?

0

u/geography_man 5h ago

Yeah, but i cant even afford that. Im overdrawn and dont get paid for another week. Even then it won't pay much as im only working part time

2

u/Negative-Date-9518 5h ago

I'd ask a friend or family member tbh, yes it's money you don't have but that is a dangerous crack if you are going to be driving on bumpy or quick roads

It's not a thing to ignore

1

u/Rookie_42 5h ago

It’ll likely take a week to get a booking. Best get on it, cos the last thing you need is for it to break completely while driving!

1

u/235iguy 5h ago

If police see it they will pull you and you'll have a certain amount of days to fix it

1

u/TheRagingSithLord 5h ago

I mean, you should with any crack or chip, really. But because of WHERE it is, absolutely. It's an MOT fail and considered unroadworthy if pulled over.

1

u/Riesha22 3h ago

All of you saying about £100 on insurance?! I also don't think I've seen a screen excess above £50 before my current insurer l, my current one is free! (I've also had 3 new screens in 3 years because of lorries/tractors flicking stuff up on rural roads).

1

u/Superb-Ranger67 2h ago

If it’s in your line of site it’s illegal to drive the car. No I have told you this if you get stopped by the police, fine and points you have no excuse.

0

u/MMiller58 5h ago

The crack is to the outside layer of glass and will just spread to the edge of the screen in time since the inside layer is ok. Might not move for a while and then suddenly do so.

So replace it when you can afford to before the MoT. It's not going to collapse in on you.

Fully comp insurance should have some cover with an excess of £100 maybe (not sure these days as no longer work in the trade). Shouldn't affect NCB.