Be Smart With Cars

When dealing with broken auto glass, the steps that you do and do not take can have a huge impact on the longevity of any repairs, as well as your safety while on the road. That is why it is so important to familiarize yourself with the do's and don'ts of auto glass replacement:

The Do's

Do avoid driving until the glass is repaired or replaced. Even if the damage to your auto glass appears minor, driving your vehicle under these conditions can cause the damage to spread or the glass to shatter while you are on the road. Not only will this result in the need for more costly repairs, but it will also put your safety and the safety of other drivers at risk.

Do wait at least one hour before driving after having new glass installed. It can take this long for the sealant around your new auto glass to set. A failure to wait for this to occur could result in your new glass shifting out of place while on the road. The most important thing to remember about this fact is that not all sealants will cure at the same rate.

Consequently, while some people will be good to go after an hour, others will need to wait several hours before they can resume driving. To figure out where you fit into this spectrum, be sure to follow the advice of your installation contractor.

The Don'ts

Don't go through an automatic car wash for at least a week after having your glass installed. While the sealant surrounding your glass will be dry enough to drive after as little as one hour, it can take as long as a week for these sealant to cure completely. Subjecting this sealant to the water pressure used in an automatic car wash could prevent it from drying properly and ultimately result in the loss of your new window.

Don't wait to have your glass fixed due to an insurance claim. While most insurance claims will require approval before you are able to proceed with repairs, this is not the case when dealing with broken auto glass. This is because replacing broken auto glass is typically classified as an emergency repair that must be completed immediately in order to prevent additional damage. Consequently, submitting a copy of your insurance policy to the repair shop at the time of repair will typically be all it takes to use your insurance coverage on these emergency repairs, even if the claim for damages has yet to be approved.

To learn more, contact a company like All Auto Glass with any questions you have.