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Auto Glass FAQ - Windshield Questions Answered | Midtown Glass Atlanta
Windshield Repair/Replacement
13 questions in this section
How do I know if I need a windshield repair or a complete replacement?
Chips smaller than a quarter can usually be handled with a windshield repair, which keeps the factory glass and the factory bond. Long cracks, several impact points, or damage sitting in the driver's line of sight point to a full replacement. Send a photo or bring the car by and we will tell you which one it is.
How much are windshield replacements?
Windshield replacement starts at $199 and moves with the vehicle and what is built into the glass: rain sensor, heated wiper park, acoustic interlayer, heads-up display wedge. Cars with a camera behind the glass also need recalibration, which runs $150 to $400. The prices page lists the flat rates and we quote your exact windshield on the phone.
How much is windshield repair?
Windshield repair starts at $49 for a chip or a short crack. Some comprehensive policies waive the deductible on repair, which is worth checking before you pay out of pocket. See the prices page or call and we will look at your coverage with you.
Can a small windshield chip be repaired?
Usually, if it is under the size of a quarter and away from the edge. Resin is injected into the break and cured under UV light, which restores strength and stops the chip crawling into a crack. Heat, cold and a hard pothole all push a chip to spread, so the sooner it is done the better. Book a windshield repair and we will fit you in.
How are windshield chips repaired?
Windshield chip repair means drawing the air out of the break, injecting resin under vacuum and pressure, then curing it with UV light and polishing the surface flat. The repair restores the strength of the laminate and improves the way light passes through the damage. You will still see a faint mark where the impact was. That is normal.
Are windshield cracks repairable?
Short cracks often are, through our windshield repair service, as long as they are a few inches at most and clear of the driver's sightline. Once a crack reaches the edge of the glass or runs long, the laminate has lost too much strength and a windshield replacement is the safe answer. A technician can tell you in a couple of minutes.
How long does it typically take to replace a windshield?
The physical windshield replacement takes 60 to 90 minutes on most vehicles. Safe drive-away time adds another 1 to 4 hours while the urethane reaches full strength. Plan on two to three hours from drop-off to keys if your car also needs camera recalibration.
How long after windshield replacement can I drive?
Safe drive-away time after a windshield replacement runs 1 to 4 hours, depending on the adhesive, the temperature, and the humidity. Modern airbag-compatible urethane needs that window to reach crash-safe strength. Your technician gives you the exact clock at the end of the install, and we do not release a vehicle before it has cured.
Can I drive immediately after a windshield replacement?
No. The urethane in a windshield replacement needs 1 to 4 hours to reach safe drive-away time. Drive before that and the glass can shift in a collision, which also affects how the passenger airbag deploys against it. Your technician tells you the exact time before you leave.
Can I drive on the highway after windshield replacement?
Yes, once safe drive-away time has passed, typically 1 to 4 hours after a windshield replacement depending on adhesive, temperature and humidity. The Downtown Connector puts more wind load on the glass than surface streets, so the cure matters more, not less. After your technician clears the vehicle, normal highway speeds are fine.
What can you not do after windshield replacement?
After a windshield replacement, skip the car wash and the pressure washer for 24 hours, avoid slamming doors (the pressure spike pushes on a green bond), and leave any retention tape where the technician put it. Cracking a window an inch on a hot day helps. The rest is normal driving.
What should I do immediately after my windshield is damaged?
Keep the temperature swings small: no blasting defrost on a cold morning, no ice water on hot glass. Stay off the worst of the intown potholes if you can. Then contact us so we can look at it while it is still small, because a chip caught early is usually a repair rather than a replacement.
Can I repair my windshield myself, or should I hire a professional?
Drugstore kits can stop a small chip spreading, but they cannot pull a vacuum on the break, so the resin rarely fills it completely and the mark stays obvious. A professional windshield repair uses vacuum-and-pressure injection and a proper UV cure, and it keeps your warranty intact. Contact us and we will book it.
ADAS Calibration & Insurance
5 questions in this section
Does my car need ADAS calibration after a windshield replacement?
Most vehicles built from roughly 2016 onward carry a forward-facing camera behind the windshield running lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise. Move the glass and you move the camera's reference. We run ADAS windshield calibration to manufacturer spec and tell you before booking whether your specific vehicle needs it.
How much does ADAS calibration cost?
ADAS windshield calibration runs $150 to $400 depending on the vehicle and whether the procedure is static, dynamic, or both. It is performed with manufacturer-spec targets and equipment, then documented for your records. Insurers that cover the windshield replacement generally cover the calibration with it.
Will I owe a deductible on a windshield insurance claim?
It depends on your policy. Georgia is not a zero-deductible glass state, but many comprehensive policies waive the deductible on windshield repair (chips and small cracks), and some carriers offer full glass coverage that also waives it on replacement. We bill your insurer directly and confirm your exact out-of-pocket cost before we start. Call (404) 873-6991 and we'll check your coverage.
Are windshield replacements covered by insurance?
Comprehensive coverage usually pays for windshield replacement, and a glass claim is generally treated as no-fault. What you owe is the deductible your policy sets, since Georgia does not require carriers to waive it. We read the policy before we touch the car, bill State Farm, GEICO, Progressive, Allstate, Liberty Mutual and USAA directly, and handle the claim paperwork.
Do you use OEM or aftermarket windshields?
Both, and the choice is yours. OEM glass matches the vehicle exactly and is the safer pick on ADAS-equipped and luxury cars. Good OEE glass meets the same DOT and FMVSS 205 requirements and costs less. We explain the difference for your specific car and quote both. Every windshield we install carries our lifetime workmanship warranty. See how the job runs on our windshield replacement page.
Auto Glass
8 questions in this section
Is same-day service available for auto glass repairs?
Often, yes. Chip repairs are usually done while you wait, and common windshields can go in the same day when the glass is on hand at Glen Iris. Call (404) 873-6991 before you drive over and we will check the shelf for your auto glass job.
Do you offer emergency auto glass repairs?
Yes, during shop hours. Urgent windshield repair and replacement covers the mornings after a break-in or a rock strike that left you unable to see. We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, and we work urgent jobs into that day where the schedule allows, at the shop or through mobile service.
How much do auto glass replacement services cost?
Auto glass replacement depends on the vehicle and the opening. Windshields start at $199, and cars with a camera behind the glass add $150 to $400 for recalibration. Car door and side glass and back glass are quoted per vehicle because the parts are not interchangeable. The prices page has the flat rates.
How much do auto glass repair services cost?
Auto glass repairs such as a chip or a short crack start at $49. Some comprehensive policies waive the deductible on repair, so it is worth a phone call before you pay for it yourself. The prices page has the rest.
How long does it take to complete auto glass replacement?
Most auto glass replacements take 60 to 90 minutes on the bench. After that, safe drive-away time runs 1 to 4 hours while the urethane reaches crash-safe strength. Door glass and back glass are tempered rather than bonded, so those jobs finish faster.
How long does it take to complete auto glass repair?
Auto glass repairs, meaning chips and short cracks, typically take less than 30 minutes: vacuum, resin, UV cure, polish. Most people wait for it. Walk to Ponce City Market and it is done before your coffee is cold.
Will my insurance cover auto glass repairs?
Comprehensive coverage generally includes auto glass repairs, and some carriers waive the deductible on chip repair specifically. Georgia is not a zero-deductible glass state, so it comes down to the policy in front of you. Get in touch and we will read yours and tell you what you will owe.
Will my insurance cover auto glass replacements?
Most comprehensive policies cover windshield and window replacement, subject to your deductible. We confirm the number with your carrier before any work starts and file the claim for you. Contact us with your policy details and we will check it.
Mobile Services
8 questions in this section
Is mobile auto glass service as safe as in-shop repairs?
Yes, when the conditions allow it. Our mobile team carries the same glass, the same primer and the same high-modulus urethane we use at Glen Iris, and the same safe drive-away time applies. What we will not do is bond a windshield in pouring rain or on a soaked driveway, because the surface has to be dry for the urethane to grip. On those days we move you into the shop.
How does mobile windshield replacement work?
A technician comes to your address with the glass on the van. The old windshield comes out, the pinchweld is cleaned and primed, the new glass is set in fresh urethane, and you get a safe drive-away time before we leave. We need a flat, legal place to park the van beside the car, which in Inman Park or Virginia-Highland sometimes means the widest spot on the street. Contact us to book mobile service.
Is mobile windshield repair as effective as in-shop service?
For chips and short cracks, yes. Mobile windshield repair uses the same vacuum injection and UV cure as the bench at Glen Iris. The one thing the shop does better is temperature control on a hot afternoon, which is why we sometimes suggest an early slot instead of a 3pm one in July.
How long does a mobile windshield replacement take?
The install runs 60 to 90 minutes depending on the vehicle and the damage. Safe drive-away time then adds 1 to 4 hours before the car should move. Your technician gives you the exact number before leaving, so plan the appointment around the car sitting still for a while.
Will my insurance cover mobile auto glass services?
Usually. Comprehensive policies cover mobile auto glass work on the same terms as shop work, and we do not add a trip charge inside the intown service area. We bill the carrier directly and confirm your out-of-pocket cost first. Reach out with your policy and we will check.
What types of damage can mobile auto glass services repair?
Chips and short cracks in a windshield, plus full replacement of windshields, door and side glass, and back glass. If the damage is small and clear of the sightline, a repair is usually possible. Longer cracks mean a replacement. The technician makes that call on site before starting.
How do I schedule a mobile auto glass service?
Call (404) 873-6991 or use the contact page with your year, make, model, and where the car will be parked. We confirm the slot, order the right glass, and send a technician to you. Weekday mornings book out first, so a day or two of notice helps.
Do mobile auto glass services offer warranties?
Yes. Mobile work carries the same lifetime workmanship warranty as anything installed at the shop, covering leaks, wind noise, and faults in the installation. Glass defects fall under the manufacturer's warranty and we handle that claim for you.
Door Glass, Back Glass & the Shop
6 questions in this section
Someone smashed my car window overnight. What happens now?
Door glass is tempered, so it does not crack, it turns into a pile of pebbles in the door, the seat, and the carpet. We vacuum the shell out, check the regulator and the track for stray glass before anything moves, and fit new car door and side glass. Call (404) 873-6991 early and bring it in. If the car is not driveable, mobile service can come to it.
Do you replace back glass with the defroster grid?
Yes. Back glass is normally tempered and carries the defroster grid, and often the third brake light and an antenna lead. We transfer or reconnect those, clear the pebbled glass out of the cabin and the trunk, and test the defroster before you leave.
How much is door glass or back glass?
Quoted per vehicle, after a free estimate. Prices swing on the year, make, model, and which opening it is, so we will not pretend there is one number. Call (404) 873-6991 with the details or use the contact page and you will have a figure the same day.
Do you tint windows or replace semi-truck windshields?
Not at this shop. Midtown Glass Atlanta handles auto glass on cars and light trucks. Window film, semi-truck and fleet windshields, and home or commercial glass all run through the main Glass Inc shop: window tint, semi-truck windshields, and commercial glass. Same phone number either way.
Are Midtown Glass Atlanta and Glass Inc the same company?
Yes. One company, one address, one phone number. Midtown Glass Atlanta is the intown auto glass shop of Glass Inc at 510 Glen Iris Dr NE, and the Google reviews, the warranty records and the insurance paperwork all sit under the Glass Inc profile.
Where is the shop and when are you open?
510 Glen Iris Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30308, in Old Fourth Ward, one block off Ponce de Leon Ave and a short walk from Ponce City Market and the Eastside BeltLine Trail. North Ave is the nearest MARTA station. We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.