You’re driving down the highway in the morning enjoying a soothing winter drive on your way to work. Tunes are coming through the radio and you can’t help but sing along. Your coffee sits patiently in your cup holder waiting to be sipped on, because you never go without your morning cup of Joe! You’re alert, peaceful, and ready to take on the wonderful day ahead.

Then it happens. A rock. A cracked windshield. Your relaxing morning drive has turned into a stressful experience that leaves you wondering just when you’re going to be able to find the time to fix it. You may be tempted to ignore the problem, its just one tiny crack right? However, windshield cracks are a legitimate safety concern.

Here’s everything you need to know about cracked windows, and how to appropriately handle one of your own:

Types of Windshield Cracks

Depending on the type of crack you’re dealing with, your car may need a different treatment. The following are types of windshield cracks you might be faced with on the road:

• Bull’s eye
• Linear crack
• Pit
• Crack chip
• Star-shaped

If you can identify the type of crack your car has experienced, you can better explain the situation to your auto service shop over the phone.

How Severe is my Auto Glass Crack?

 While you may not need to call immediately for roadside assistance, driving with a cracked windshield is not recommended and can pose serious safety hazards. Here are a few signs to look out for to determine whether or not you can drive around with cracked auto glass:

1. Positioning: Is the crack disrupting your view of the road? Or, alternatively, is it positioned relatively out of your line of sight on the passenger’s side? If it’s not affecting your ability to drive safely, you can operate your vehicle until you’re able to book in to get it repaired.
2. Size: This may seem obvious, but it’s very important that you analyze the size of the crack. One minor chip on your glass will likely not affect your ability to drive, but one long crack could severely do damage if it were to be aggravated and made worse.
3. Severity: In most cases, it’s quite obvious when the damage is too big to ignore. If the crack in your auto glass is less than 12 inches long, you should be able to get it repaired. However, any larger than this and you will require a full auto glass replacement.
4. Mobility: Is the crack in your auto glass spreading? Take it into the shop ASAP, as fluctuating temperatures cause auto glass to expand and contract, changing the severity of the crack immensely.

Can I Drive with a Cracked Windshield?

While the mitigating factors certainly have an impact on just how safe it is to drive with cracked auto glass, we still never advise that you do so for any longer than you truly have to.

While we mentioned that size is an important thing to consider in whether or not you can drive (temporarily) with cracked glass, it’s imperative that you remember that your crack is likely to grow larger and can pose a serious threat to not only your safety, but the safety of everyone in your car and on the road with you should anything happen.

The structural integrity of your auto glass is something that should never be compromised, and as the old adage says so eloquently, “you’re better off safe than sorry.”

Why North York Auto Glass

At North York Auto Glass, we provide comprehensive auto glass replacement and repair. Our expert mechanics are seasoned in their ability to determine the best possible solution to all your auto glass woes. From simply repairing minor rock chips, to installing entirely new auto glass on your vehicle, you can trust our team to get the job done right!

Benefit from our lifetime auto glass warranty that covers all auto glass leaks, manufacturer defects, and services performed, and give us a call today to get a free quote on auto glass repair!

Car accidents are one of the most traumatic events that can occur in someone’s life. They’re shocking as of course, they are accidental. You should always be prepared to deal with accidents even as a pedestrian. Even if you’re careful, you can’t control the other people on the road.

There are a lot of practicalities regarding accidents. If you’re involved in an accident and no one has gotten seriously injured, there a few steps you can take to make this difficult situation less daunting. Here’s what to do if you’ve been in a car accident:

1. Stay at the Scene

Whatever you do, do not leave the scene of the accident. Even if it’s a mild fender bender, you could get into major legal trouble, run into insurance issues or even lose your drivers license if you leave. If you are still able to operate your vehicle, pull over onto the shoulder of the road. If your car is inoperable, wait for a tow truck to help you out. If you can’t even get out of your car due to damage, put your flashers on to alert everyone else on the road.

2. Call 911

If the accident is anything more than a fender bender, you should either call an ambulance or go to the hospital. Even if you or everyone else involved appears to be okay, injuries don’t necessarily impact you right away. Seeking medical care will also potentially help you when it comes to insurance claims.

3. Call the Police

Once you’ve contacted paramedics or doctors, it’s always a good idea to contact the police. They can help you with controlling traffic if you need it and they can also help mediate the situation. Police officers are able to speak to witnesses in a non-biased manner and help everyone involved in the accident with legal issues. There may be people who have different sides to the story or malicious intentions. It’s just as important for you to tell the truth as it is to stay at the scene. Make sure you don’t exaggerate any details or mention things you don’t remember clearly.

4. Take Pictures

We’re so lucky that in this day and age, the majority of us have smartphones with high-resolution cameras built into them. Take a lot of photos and even videos of the scene of the accident. Take detail shots of any surface injuries or damage to the vehicle. As you’re doing this write down any details that you can remember just in case you forget them later.

5. Get Everyone’s Contact Information

It’s important to talk to the witnesses and other drivers, even if the police officers that respond to your call have everyone’s contact information. Make sure you also collect the following from everyone on the scene:

• Full name
• Phone numbers (work, home and mobile)
• Address
• License plates
• Insurance card (of the other driver)
• Driver’s license and registration (of the other driver)

6. Talk to Your Insurance Provider

Once you’re allowed to leave the scene of the accident, file an insurance claim. Someone from the company may have to see your vehicle even it’s at the repair shop. Make sure you’ve held on to all of your photos from the accident as well as the aforementioned contact information and any bills or reports you received from your doctor so you can pass it along. Every bit of information will help.

7. Repair Your Vehicle

If you have caused damage to your vehicle, get it repaired once all of these steps have been completed. Make sure you have extensive footage of the damage before you have it fixed. Whether your car has been fully totalled or there’s just a crack in the windshield, it’s important to document what needs to be repaired and what has been repaired for insurance purposes. Your insurance provider should give you a damage appraisal and let you know how much will be covered.

If you’ve gotten into a car accident that has damaged your auto glass, contact  York Auto Glass. We offer professional auto glass replacement and auto glass repair services. These services include windscreen replacement, rear windshield replacement and door glass replacement.  We also work with major Canadian insurance providers to make the process of getting your vehicle back to normal as painless as possible. If you’ve gotten into a car accident, North York Auto Glass will expertly assist you through the entire insurance claim process and have your auto glass looking as good as new.

Choosing the right style of car can be very stressful since there is a wide variety of makes, colours, styles and sizes on the market today. Here are a few things to consider that will help you determine which style of car is best for you:

1. YOUR NEEDS

The style of car that is best for you depends on who you are and your own individual expectations. Ask yourself what you want and need from your car:

• Do you want to make a statement?
• Do you like to go for long drives?
• Do you need to transport a lot of goods?
• How many kilometers per kilogram of gas can you afford?
• Do you mainly drive on highways, downtown streets or rural roads?
• Do you drive standard or automatic?
• How many passengers will you typically be transporting?
• Do you need an all-wheel drive?
• What extra features like Bluetooth connectivity, back-up camera do you want?
• What do you need from your car to feel safe?
• What is your parking situation?

Answering these questions will help you decide which style of car is the best for you.

2. YOUR BUDGET

Once you’ve answered the important questions about your car’s functionality, it’s imperative that you sit down and think about how you will finance it. Go through your expenses and see how much you can realistically afford. This will help you determine which style of car is best for you as defining price ranges will likely narrow down your options. A good rule of thumb is a monthly payment on a car should not exceed 15 percent of your monthly pay after taxes. Don’t forget to include 7 percent of your pay to cover gas and insurance.

3. LEASE OR BUY

Leasing and buying each have pros and cons. With a lease, there is little or no money down and lower monthly payments. However, when the lease ends, the search for the best style of car for you will continue. While buying a car is more expensive at first with more money down and higher monthly payments, you have the satisfaction of owning a car.

Here are some more pros and cons to think about when making the decision between leasing and buying:

Leasing

• You can drive a fancier car and pay less.
• You can upgrade to a car with the latest exciting features every few years.
• Repairs are typically covered under the factory warranty.
• You don’t have to worry about trade-in hassles once the lease is done.

Buying

• You can sell the car whenever you want.
• You can customize or modify the car.
• You don’t have to worry about mileage penalties.
• Your car expenses will be lower in the long run.

4. OWNERSHIP COSTS

Some styles of cars may be cheaper to purchase initially but more expensive to own in the long run. Once you decide on the style of car you want, estimate the long-term costs including maintenance, fuel costs, insurance and depreciation.

5. TEST DRIVE

Now that you’ve answered all the questions about finances and functionality, it’s finally time for the fun part. Schedule a test drive with your preferred car dealership. Actually getting behind the wheel is how you really determine the style of car that is best for you. You may think you want a convertible or a sportscar but discover how difficult they are to drive and switch to an SUV.

Car salespeople are also instrumental in helping you determine which style of car is best for you. Present them with as much detail as possible about your wants and needs and they’ll help you make the best choice. You should test-drive at least three different vehicles to get a feel for each car and help you compare and contrast.

6. PICK YOUR CAR

After your test-driving appointment, you should be able to determine which style of car is best for you. If not, sleep on it or do some more research. If you weren’t totally impressed by any of the cars you test-drove, try going to a different dealership or trying out an unexpected style. You really don’t know what a car is like until you’re in the drivers’ seat.

Once you’ve bought or leased the best style of car for you, it’s important to have a reliable repair service in case of emergency. If you’ve gone through the long process of car shopping, you’ll definitely want to ensure it is in tip top shape. If you need windshield replacement or auto glass repair, look no further than North York Auto Glass. Get a quote today.