The short answer
The main types of windshield damage are bullseye chips, star breaks, combination breaks, half-moon chips, short cracks, long cracks and edge cracks. Chips that a quarter can cover and short cracks are usually repairable with resin. Long cracks and cracks that reach the edge of the glass usually mean replacement. Knowing your type helps you judge the urgency.
Chips
Bullseye
A round, dark ring with a cone-shaped crater at the center, where the rock hit. The break is contained in a circle and usually has few loose ends, so a bullseye is one of the most repairable kinds of damage. See bullseye chip repair.
Star break
A small impact point with short legs radiating out like a star. Each leg is a tiny crack, which makes star breaks more likely to spread than a bullseye. Fill them early. See star break repair.
Combination break
A bullseye with star legs coming off it. This is very common. It needs careful filling so resin reaches both the ring and every leg.
Half-moon
A partial bullseye that forms a semicircle instead of a full ring. It behaves much like a bullseye and is usually repairable.
Cracks
Short crack
A single line, often growing from a chip that was left open. While it is short, it can often be stopped and filled. See windshield crack repair.
Long crack
A crack that has run well across the glass. These can’t be reliably stabilized and almost always need a new windshield.
Edge crack
A crack that starts at, or runs to, the edge of the windshield. The edge carries stress from the frame and body flex, so edge cracks spread easily. They usually mean replacement.
Which types can be repaired?
| Damage type | What it looks like | Spread risk | Usually repairable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullseye | Round ring with a crater | Lower | Yes |
| Half-moon | Partial ring | Lower | Yes |
| Star break | Legs radiating from a point | Higher | Yes, if a quarter covers it |
| Combination break | Ring plus legs | Higher | Yes, if a quarter covers it |
| Short crack | A single short line | High | Often |
| Long crack | A line across the glass | Already spread | No, usually replacement |
| Edge crack | Crack at or reaching the edge | Very high | No, usually replacement |
Size and location count as much as type. The quarter test is the quick size check, and repair or replace covers location.
Why the type matters
A windshield is laminated, two layers of glass with a plastic interlayer. Chips almost always damage only the outer layer. The more legs and loose ends a break has, the more places stress can concentrate, and the faster it tends to turn into a crack. See will a windshield chip spread.
We repair all four chip types and short cracks, usually in about 30 minutes at your home or work. We don’t replace windshields or repair long cracks, and we will tell you honestly if yours needs a new one. Text a photo to 760-500-9281 for a quote.
