Chip vs. Crack: What Can Actually Be Repaired

The repair thresholds most shops use

Chips smaller than a quarter and cracks shorter than about six inches are usually repairable. Beyond that, the resin can no longer restore the structural strength of the glass and shops move to replacement.

Damage that sits in the driver's primary viewing area is often replaced even when it is small, because a repair leaves a faint distortion that can be distracting at night.

Why waiting makes it worse

Temperature swings, car washes and rough roads all push a chip to spread. A chip that could have been filled in twenty minutes frequently becomes a full replacement within a few weeks.

Cover the damage with clear tape until your appointment so dirt and moisture stay out of the break — contaminated damage repairs far less cleanly.

What a good repair looks like

A quality resin repair restores strength and removes most of the visible blemish, but it rarely disappears completely. Any shop promising an invisible result is overselling.