If damage does happen to the car windshield or motorcycle fairings, and a professional is required, a quick look in the phone book or a quick search on the Internet will offer quite a few options, including both chain and local auto glass repair shops.

When it comes to locally owned shops, word of mouth is the best way to find the reputable places as opposed to shady businesses. The best thing to do is to ask around and to call different shops to obtain quotes on their service. Also available are several large chain auto glass businesses. These businesses usually have a stronger reputation and often, lower prices due to their size. Here are a few of the large windshield repair businesses and pertinent information about them:

- Safelite Auto Glass - Safelite’s website is easy to navigate and features helpful tools to assist in making the decision to repair or replace the windshield. Also, the site touts Safelite’s promise to offer flexible payment options and assistance in filing insurance. A form offers “instant quotes,” but does not follow through with this offer. After inputting information about the vehicle and the damage, a contact form is required and the only way to get a quote is to wait to be contacted by a representative. As far as actual service, Safelite’s mobile service is considered excellent. Offering competitive pricing, quick service (around 40 minutes for windshield repair), and good work, Safelite is definitely a good choice for windshield repair or replacement. Available in most areas of the United States, Safelite’s website states that the company is able to help 95% of people in the United States. Safelite is available for repair 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, visit www.safelite.com or call 877-800-2727.

- The Glass Doctor - With a basic website and not quite the widespread coverage that some other windshield repair chains, The Glass Doctor offers more of a personal feel, but may not be available in all areas. The Glass Doctor’s online quote form, much like the one with Safelite, asks for the pertinent information about the vehicle and then asks for contact information. But, The Glass Doctor promises to make contact within 30 minutes if the form is submitted during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM). Since The Glass Doctor is a franchise, each individually owned business can vary widely in service, price and glass repair quality. However, the majority of customers are satisfied with the work done. The Glass Doctor does not offer mobile service, so the vehicle must be taken to location. For more information, visit www.glassdoctor.com or 866-318-7344.

- Complete Auto Glass - Claiming to serve the entire United States and Canada, Complete Auto Glass has a simple and navigable website including a contact form to have a representative call. No time frame on how quickly contact will be made is given. Offering a 100% satisfaction guarantee, Complete Auto Glass will even work on damaged RV windshields, and the business offers mobile service. Testimonials agree that the service is fairly priced and the fact that Complete Auto Glass employs local professionals is a nice perk, however some complaints about the workmanship have been made. Over all, Complete Auto Glass offers mobile service at a good value. For more information, visit www.completeautoglassinc.com or call 866-621-3999.

- Glass America - Offering a basic, not too fancy website, Glass America touts their service, stating that they will file the claim to all major auto insurance companies, and they offer a lifetime windshield guarantee. Glass America offers over the phone quotes and help deciding if a windshield needs to be replaced or can be repaired. Located in major United States cities, Glass America is commended for its quick service, courteous employees and professional work. A negative word on Glass America’s work is hard to find, but the company may not be available to everyone. Glass America even offers a media section on their website with quick videos on windshield repair and safety. For more information, visit www.glassusa.com or call 877-745-2774. Glass America does not specialize in motorcycle glass and fairings repair and Replacement.

There is no surefire way to get a one hundred percent guarantee on a windshield repair against cracks, chips, and breaks. It is almost inevitable that, sometime in a driver’s lifetime, something will happen to a car’s windshield. But, there are ways to help avoid as many of these bad occurrences as possible.
- Do not tailgate. When a vehicle’s tires throw gravel and debris in the air, the vehicle behind is much more likely to be hit by the flying matter if they are less than three car lengths away. By staying a safe distance away from the vehicle in front, the driver is actually accomplishing two things. One is pure safety. Staying farther back will help to avoid rear end collisions. The second is avoiding windshield damage. A rock is much less likely to make it all the way to the windshield if the car is farther behind.
- Avoid Staying Behind a Loaded Tractor Trailer. If the semi truck up ahead is hauling a load of gravel or some similar matter, it is a surefire guarantee that some of those rocks are going to fly out. And, any car behind is like a target for the flying debris, just waiting to be damaged. In the event that a driver finds themselves behind such a semi, the best thing to do is to stay a safe distance away and get out from behind the truck as soon as possible. If the mud flaps on a semi truck are damaged, the large wheels are also more likely to throw road debris in the air.
- Park under a Shelter. If a tree limb falls on the car’s windshield, there will surely be damage, and if the driver lives in a hail prone area, the windshield is just waiting to be cracked. The best way to avoid elemental damage to a car windshield is to park under cover. A garage would be the best option, but also, a car port, shed or any type of shelter that will protect the car will save a driver much headache.
- Take Care When Cutting Grass. There is nothing more dismaying than the moment when, stepping away from the lawnmower after a hard couple of hour’s work, the sight of shattered glass catches the eye. Lawnmowers will sling debris, even if they employ a clipping catcher. When the blades on the mower hit a rock, there is a good chance the rock will go flying. And, if the vehicle is in the path of the flying rock, the worst is bound to happen. The best choice is to move the vehicle to a safer place while one is working on the lawn.
- Deal With Ice Carefully. Extreme temperature variations can be harmful to a windshield that has even the most miniscule damage. So, if a driver lives in place prone to hard freezes, a few steps can help prevent windshield damage. Do not stab or chop at ice with a scraper. Doing so can cause small chips in the windshield. Do not turn the car’s heater defrost to full blast in the beginning. The high heat on a frozen windshield could cause a tiny chip to become a big headache. Do not throw hot water on a frozen windshield. Ever had a drinking glass crack or shatter when ice was placed in it? The same concept goes for a car windshield. The sudden shock of such a varying temperature can put much strain on a windshield.
- In the Event of a Chip, Do Something Soon. Whether it is to employ a professional to fix the chip or to use a “do it yourself” repair kit, it is important to go ahead and do something to the little chip. A small chip can spread under the sun’s heat or cause the windshield to completely shatter if not seen about in a timely manner. It is best to go ahead and take care of the damage before it gets worse.
- Regularly Inspect the Windshield. Sometimes, a driver will not even realize that the windshield has been damaged. Or, the damage may happen when the car is parked and may go unnoticed. With a regular inspection of the windshield, small damage can be caught and take care of before it becomes worse.

If the crack in a car windshield is not large or it does not impair the driver’s line of vision, there are some affordable alternatives to having a professional do the work. Although many of the cheap fixes are temporary, they can keep the crack or chip from spreading. If the crack or chip is small, a piece of duct tape will stop the spreading, but, of course, the tape will not stay on forever. Super glue or crazy glue can also slow the crack down, but again, as the car is exposed to the elements, the glue will eventually wear off. One of the best and most lasting affordable fixes is a car windshield crack repair kit. These kits are available online and in auto parts stores everywhere. There are many different brands of car windshield repair kits, but they are all available for less than twenty dollars. A few of these kits include:

- Permatex brand car windshield repair kit. This kit requires no mixing of compounds and, the packaging says the windshield will be repaired in minutes. This kit is priced around $9.99. Permatex brand also offers a “bull’s eye windshield repair kit,” especially designed to deal with the pesky bull’s eye cracks. This kit also prices at about ten dollars.
- Loctite Brand Windshield Repair One Component System. Also offering a no mixing required system, the Loctite brand indicates that the resin in the kit refracts light at the same level as windshield glass, so it becomes invisible when used from windshield replacement and repair. This kit prices at $10.99.
- Windshield Pro Glass Repair Kit. The upside to this kit is that it comes with a multi use supply of resin, making it the most cost effective kit at the price of $10.99. The downside is that customer reviews indicate that this kit can be quite confusing to the average consumer, and may be hard to use if the user has little or no experience repairing car windshields.
- Pitstop “As Seen on TV” Windshield Repair Kit. This kit boasts that the repair resin is five times stronger than the glass itself and can repair cracks up to six inches. With varying customer testimonials, this kit, priced at $10.95 may vary in outcome depending on the type of crack and user efficiency.
- Fix-A-Windshield Do It Yourself Windshield Repair Kit. One of the highest rated among consumers, this kit prices around $10.78. Though the instructions are quite detailed and need to be read thoroughly before use, this kit does a good job repairing small cracks and chips. The chief complaint being the repair does not make the crack totally disappear, but definitely lessens the look and stops crack growth.
There are many choices and brands of low priced windshield repair kits. The key when choosing a kit is to consider customer reviews. Also, if purchasing from an auto parts store, it never hurts to ask on employee for advice on which brand repair kit to choose. Often, real-life experience is a much better judge of which kit works the best than advertising or pricing.