Did you know an improperly installed windshield could detach from your vehicle during a collision or interfere with proper airbag deployment? It’s true — and if that happens, you and your passengers are at risk for severe injury.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of shady auto glass replacement businesses that are perfectly willing to put your safety at risk by performing poor-quality work. And if you don’t know how to tell the difference between the good guys and the bad, you could end up in trouble.
At Only 1 Auto Glass, we want you to stay safe on the road. Below, we’ve created a brief guide you can use to ensure you get a high-quality windshield replacement.
Find a Certified Auto Glass Replacement Shop
Going to a certified auto glass repair shop is the most important thing you can do to ensure your windshield replacement will be performed properly. How do you find out which shops are certified? Head on over to Safewindshields.org and type in your zip code. The site will locate all the certified shops in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area (Only 1 Auto Glass is one of them!), so you can choose from several reputable establishments.
Choose Quality Over Price
While you can get used auto glass from a salvage yard or opt for the lowest-priced replacement windshield you can find, it’s important to understand you typically get what you pay for. Keep in mind, too, that aside from your seatbelts, your windshield is the primary safety restraint your vehicle has. This is not an area where you can afford to cut corners.
As you weigh your various auto glass repair shop options, avoid making price the sole determiner of who you choose to work with. Keep in mind, too, that if you’re only selecting from certified windshield replacement shops, their prices will likely fall very close to one another on the cost spectrum.
It’s in your best interest to contact at least three different shops for estimates, and be sure to ask the following questions when you call:
● Do you use OEM glass for windshield replacements?
● How long do you recommend letting my vehicle sit after the installation is finished?
● Do you offer workmanship warranties?
If any of the shops tell you it’s fine to drive your vehicle immediately after a windshield replacement, don’t hire them. Your car or truck should sit for at least an hour to allow the sealant and adhesive to cure. And, if you encounter shops that don’t warranty their work, keep looking until you find ones that do.
Auto Glass Repair Shop vs. Dealership: What’s the Better Option?
If there are so many shady auto glass repair companies out there, wouldn’t it just be safer to head to the dealership since you know they’ll do the job right? While you can certainly take that route, doing so may not be in your wallet’s best interest.
If you own a new-model vehicle, you may learn that you can’t get the replacement windshield anywhere but the dealership, and in that case, you’re without options. But if you have an older model vehicle and head to the dealership for a windshield replacement, there’s a high likelihood you’ll end up paying a huge markup for the service.
Schedule Your Windshield Replacement With Only 1 Auto Glass
At Only 1 Auto Glass, our installers are certified by the Auto Glass Safety Council and extensively trained in proper windshield replacement technique. If you need a new windshield, get in touch with us today to schedule an appointment at one of many Twin Cities locations. Give us a call at 651-789-1111 or request a free estimate online, and we’ll get back to you right away!