Tiny chip on windshield - worth repairing?
 

Yes, I think you should get it fixed.

The point of getting a small chip repaired is so that it will not spread and then it becomes a long and big crack. This will interfere with your outward vision potentially. So the purpose is to arrest any crack or chip from spreading.

Most insurance companies in the US will waive the deductible and you basically will get it fixed at no charge. Safelite (a national company) usually does an excellent job and will stand behind it's work nationwide.

Just remember even though it costs you nothing with your insurance as I had mentioned above, your repair history will be on some "loss/claim data nationwide" database for all interested party who has access. Meaning other insurance companies and (car dealerships) can see it. The auto wipers on my LX570 went bad and took it to a Lexus dealership under warranty. They immediately looked online and knew I had something done with the windshield. They questioned whomever replaced my windshield may have damaged the auto wipers' sensors? I told them to look again and they apologized that it was just a chip repair and not a replacement.

Or you can do it yourself. I have done in the past on a much older car.

Check it out on YouTub:

If it were me, I would get a "kit" and give it a try, only to avoid the hassle and nuisance of making the appointment, rides, payment, insurance company, etc.

But if a pro needs to look at it, knowing what I know now, I would NEVER EVER let Safelite do the job. Find a local glass company.

As someone with like 10 of these chips of various sizes on his windshield (and have been there for over a year), I can tell you that you shouldn't have to worry.

1. I've replaced my windshield three times now. Only the largest hits actually spread. I've been in 90-100 F weather and high 20s F with full heat blasting the windshield (which is how the cracks spread the fastest), and again, only the big ones spread (at least in my experience). If there are no cracks spiderwebbing out, I think you're fine leaving it as is. If they start spreading, go get it fixed. A larger version of yours cost me $65 at Safelite to repair.

2. I've had this same experience with Lexus windshields and the ones Safelite sells.

3. While most insurance companies USED to offer these repairs for free, it seems few do now. State Farm, my insurance company at the moment, cancelled this service two years ago.

4. Across all 4 windshields I've had, I let chips stay unless they spider out. Of all the chips I've had on each one, only two have ever spidered out and kept going. And those two, again, were the large ones. I have quite a few "chips" or "holes" with no cracks coming out (spiderwebbing as I call it) and those always stay that way.

5. Just for information: Lexus charged me $1200 or so for a windshield. Safelite charges around $500 for one (and an extra $10 for the one with the wiper de-icer). My mechanic has a local guy that does his replacements, and they are like $200 (he did not check for my specific car so maybe that might be an estimate). The cheap class is Chinese made, and meets the minimum requirements. The Lexus one is made in Japan and as I understand it, will much more likely survive an impact of a person or animal at high-speed than the cheap stuff. Lexus' supplier just goes through a more rigorous manufacturing process to harden the glass I believe.

Oh, and 6. Yes, when you fix a tiny chip, it will still look like that.

I was going to say, just leave it.

that's just a pit. it won't grow.

a line may grow though. at that point, i'd rather use that "repair" money towards a replacement windshield and i'd just roll the dice and see if it grows and replace it then and only then. (may take years)

if it's longer than a couple inches, it would bother me enough to just replace the windshield.

Also another point is these cars are not ferraris. aka not show cars. we bought them because they're economical. so to replace something for as minor as a pit isn't very economical. Get mileage out of your hybrids. don't spend unless you have to. or unless the damage is completely hideous (smashed headlight, torn off bumper etc)

For example i bought my car with brand new cheap chinese tires on the front. they get the job done. they're not eco tires, they're not name brand. but they're new. the stock michelins were just worn enough at 40k where the dealer replaced them with cheapies. i pondered replacing them with some name brand tires but honestly it's not worth it money wise. I wouldn't buy them new personally but chinese tires are now decent enough. people run them into the ground just as any name brand tires. so i decided to just wear them out before replacing them. that could take quite a while! A proper set (being savvy) is about $220 installed. That's 7 tanks of gas. or 3,500 miles of fuel. All so i can say i have name brand tires.

now i'm not normally that cheap. given the choice i won't do that. but the choice was made for me.

I have a much bigger chip on my windshield to the left of the driver. It was caused by a rock coming down from a pathway above the freeway I was on.. It's been a couple of months and it hasn't changed in size at all. It gets annoying looking at it, but i've learned that it doesn't bother me anymore .