The short answer
The quarter test is a quick way to tell if a windshield chip can be repaired. Place a US quarter over the damage. If the coin covers the whole chip, including any legs running out from it, the chip is most likely repairable with resin. If it extends past the coin, send a photo for an honest call.
How to do the quarter test
- Park somewhere safe and let the glass cool if the car has been sitting in the sun.
- Find the impact point. Run a fingernail lightly over the outside of the glass. You will feel a small pit where the rock hit.
- Hold the quarter over it on the outside of the windshield, centered on the impact point.
- Look at the edges. Check whether any part of the break, including thin legs or a short crack, shows past the rim of the coin.
- Note where it is. Is it near the edge of the glass, or right in front of the driver? Both matter as much as size.
What the result means
| What you see | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Quarter covers all of it | Most likely repairable |
| Small legs just past the coin | Often still repairable, send a photo |
| Short crack running from the chip | Possibly repairable, see crack repair |
| Long crack or damage at the edge | Usually needs replacement |
The quarter test is a rule of thumb, not a final verdict. Location counts too. Our repair or replace page covers edge cracks and the driver’s line of sight in more detail.
How to take a good photo for a quote
A clear photo lets us quote your repair without a trip out. These tips make the difference between a fast answer and a request for another picture:
- Put the quarter right next to the chip, touching the glass, so we can see the size.
- Shoot from outside the car, a few inches away, with the phone roughly square to the glass.
- Use something dark behind the glass. Open the door and hold a dark shirt or folder inside the windshield behind the chip. The break shows up much better against a dark background.
- Avoid direct glare. Shade the spot with your body, or take the photo in open shade rather than full sun.
- Tap to focus on the chip, not the dashboard or the trees behind it.
- Add one wide shot of the whole windshield so we can see where the chip sits.
Then text both photos to 760-500-9281 and tell us where the car is parked. We repair chips at homes, workplaces, hotels and parking lots across North San Diego County, from Oceanside to Poway.
Passed the test? Don’t wait
A chip that fits under a quarter today may not tomorrow. Heat, cold, a pothole or a slammed door can send a crack out from the impact point. A small chip filled early gives the strongest, clearest repair. See will a windshield chip spread for what makes chips grow.
Until it is repaired, a piece of clear tape over the outside of the chip helps keep dirt and water out. Avoid car washes and blasting the defroster on the glass.
Not sure what kind of chip you have? Our guide to types of windshield damage shows bullseye, star and combination breaks.
