How much do car window repairs cost?

Matilda Douglas-Henry

 

It is vital to have car windows that are functional and unobstructed: simply put, you can’t drive safely without them. A standard vehicle has three different types of windows—the windshield, side windows, and rear window—and the price range for each window will vary based on a number of factors. Below you will find a comprehensive breakdown of car window repairs, including:

1. Different types of window damage, and what repair they would need
2. What window repairs should cost
3. What your insurance will cover

Window damage, while common, is typically a straightforward fix; often your car will only be offroad for a few hours.

 

Different types of window damage, and common repairs they might need

Windscreen damage is an incredibly common external issue for cars, because it’s such a large piece of glass that regularly makes contact with small pieces of debris and other obstructions that fly up from the road.

More often than not, windscreens are chipped rather than cracked, but across the board windscreen damage will worsen over time if it is not dealt with swiftly. Windscreen repairs are typically cheap to fix and can take as little as half an hour. For more detailed information on windscreen chip damage (as well as what it might cost you), refer to “How much does windscreen chip repair cost?”

Side windows and rear windows are usually made of tempered glass, which is much harder to break than the laminated glass most windshields are made of. Nonetheless, bad accidents—or break-ins—can happen, and blunt trauma that impacts these windows will cause them to crumble into many small pieces; thanks to the tempering process, none of these fragments will be sharp, to ensure that drivers and passengers remain unscathed.^[1] As a result, a broken side or rear window—while rare—needs to be replaced in its entirety. (No, we don’t recommend the garbage bag trick.)

In the instance of rear windows, they will also need to be replaced if the demister—the small orange lines that run across the glass that provide heat—have broken away, or stop working completely^[2].

 

What should window repairs cost?

The cost of repairing your car windows depends on a number of factors—particularly in regards to windscreens, as the damage here can be more varied in its complexity.

Windscreen repair/replacement costs

On average, a basic chip, Bullseye, Half-Moon or Star can cost between $60 and $78, and a Crack can cost between $60 and $80. However, different states have recorded different quotes: in New South Wales chips are more likely to cost $99 - $120, and in Victoria $99 - $110^[3].

Unlike replacing a windscreen, the cost of repairing a chip isn’t influenced by the make or model of your car. Although many factors need to be taken into consideration you can safely assume that your repair will cost less than $140, no matter the vehicle, and possibly less than 30 minutes to complete^[4]. A windscreen replacement can cost anywhere between $200 and $2,000 due to the different technological abilities of the cars on our roads.

 

Side window replacement costs

Like windscreen repair, the cost of a side window replacement depends on the make and model of your car; nonetheless, the average cost lies anywhere between $250 and $500^[5]. If your car is an unusual or particular model, you can expect it to cost a little more. Some older cars also have small vent windows, or quarter glass windows on the back doors, which would make the replacement more complex and thus more expensive.

There are also a few other factors that could hike up the price: if pieces of glass have fallen into the door, you might need power window repair, which means digging into the car’s electrical system^[6]. This would cost between $300 and $450^[7]. Your new window might also need to be tinted to match the other windows, and this service would be offered at an additional cost.

 

Rear window replacement costs

Without glass cover insurance, a rear window replacement would cost $250, but depending on the make and model of your car, the price could get as high as $800.

These costs also vary, of course, on which glass technician you ultimately hire for the job. Use DingGo’s quick quotes service to find the highest quality assistance.

 

Will my insurance cover window repair costs?

When it comes to window repair costs, insurance cover should be approached on a case by case basis. Firstly, if you have comprehensive cover, you should be sorted. And if your car was broken into—or there was an attempted break-in—your insurance company will most likely be quick to assist.

But a rock flying up at one of your windows and smashing it will not necessarily be covered. We always recommend double checking your insurance policy, particularly the fineprint, to familiarise yourself with what is/isn’t covered. Windscreen repair coverage, for example, is different to windscreen replacement coverage; there are a variety of nuances to keep an eye out for, and returning to your insurance policy on a regular basis is a useful habit to get into.

 

Conclusion

Dealing with the aftermath of a broken window is never fun, but at DingGo we’re here to make it easy. If you have any further questions, or want a more specific repair quote, get a quick quote from us now.