Is It Illegal to Drive if My Car Has a Cracked Windshield?
 Written by Preston Micalizio Preston MicalizioPreston Micalizio writes insurance content for SmartFinancial. He brings three years of professional experience writing ... Read more |  Edited by Dan MarticioDan MarticioDan Marticio is the content manager at SmartFinancial and has written 150+ articles across multiple insurance verticals.... Read more |
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One stray rock or falling tree branch is all it takes to potentially crack, scratch or otherwise damage your windshield. A small crack may not look like a big deal initially but it can become much more unsafe over time if left unrepaired. Depending on where you live, your state may have stricter laws on windshield cracks than others, which could result in a ticket.
Keep reading to learn what kind of cracks are illegal, where it’s illegal to drive with a cracked windshield and how a broken windshield could land you a ticket and affect your insurance.
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Key Takeaways
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Can I Drive My Car With a Cracked Windshield?
State and federal law typically dictate whether or not a crack in your windshield prevents you from safely and legally driving. According to federal regulations, if you spot a crack that meets these criteria, you’ll need to get it repaired as soon as you can or risk getting a ticket:[1]
- Crack is larger than 0.75 inch in diameter
- Crack directly blocks the driver’s view above the steering wheel
- There are two cracks within three inches of each other
- Two cracks intersect
While these rules leave some room for cracks that don’t obstruct your vision of the road, some state laws are much more stringent on any cracks. We’ll discuss more about additional state requirements for windshield cracks later on.
What Are the Dangers of Driving With a Cracked Windshield?
A cracked window poses several risks to your safety on the road and they’ll only worsen over time. Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the risks of driving with a cracked windshield:
- Reduced visibility: Cracks can extend across some or all of a windshield, blocking the driver’s ability to see critical areas directly in front of them and resulting in unsafe driving conditions. This can become even worse at night, where vision is more limited and refractions from car headlights and streetlamps can potentially blind you.
- Structural weakness: Windshields provide up to 45% of your car’s cabin integrity and up to 60% in a rollover incident, but cracks can reduce effectiveness, which can be dangerous in a serious accident.[2]
- Damaged safety glass: Windshields are typically made of safety glass, which are two panes of glass adhered together with a resin that helps prevent the windshield from shattering everywhere if it gets cracked in a collision. If the safety glass becomes damaged, the odds of people flying through the windshield in a crash increase if they don’t wear a seatbelt.
- Reduced passenger airbag effectiveness: Passenger airbags bounce off the windshield to help absorb the energy of an impact and cushion a person. If the windshield's integrity is damaged, a rapidly inflating windshield could puncture the glass and not adequately protect the passenger.
Cracked Windshield Laws by State
Aside from federal regulations, some states have additional laws on how cracked your windshield can be to drive legally but may permit cracks if they don’t obstruct your view of the road. Most states don’t list specific laws on windshield cracks and it may be up to an individual police officer’s discretion on whether you receive a citation. Here’s a breakdown of each state and their requirements beyond federal law, if they have any:[3]
|
State |
Cracked Windshield Law |
|---|---|
|
Alabama |
No obstructed view of the road |
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Alaska |
No obstructed view of the road |
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Arizona |
No obstructed view of the road |
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Arkansas |
No obstructed view of the road |
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California |
No obstructed view of the road |
|
Colorado |
No obstructed view of the road |
|
Connecticut |
No obstructed view of the road |
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Delaware |
No obstructed view of the road |
|
Florida |
No obstructed view of the road |
|
Georgia |
No cracks with a starburst or spider webbing effect larger than 3 inches by 3 inches |
|
Hawaii |
No obstructed view of the road |
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Idaho |
No crack that makes it unsafe to drive |
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Illinois |
No crack that impairs a clear view of the road |
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Indiana |
No obstructed view of the road |
|
Iowa |
No obstructed view of the road |
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Kansas |
No cracks that substantially impair the view of the road |
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Kentucky |
No obstructed view of the road |
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Louisiana |
Prohibited:
|
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Maine |
Prohibited:
|
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Maryland |
No obstructed view of the road |
|
Massachusetts |
Prohibited:
|
|
Michigan |
No obstructed view of the road. |
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Minnesota |
No obstructed view of the road. |
|
Mississippi |
Prohibited:
Allowed: Cracks outside windshield wiper area only if they do not obstruct clear view of the road |
|
Missouri |
Prohibited:
|
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Montana |
No obstructed view of the road |
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Nebraska |
No obstructed view of the road |
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Nevada |
No obstructed view of the road |
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New Hampshire |
No cracks, shatters, cloudiness or other distortions |
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New Jersey |
No obstructed view of the road |
|
New Mexico |
No obstructed view of the road |
|
New York |
Prohibited:
|
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North Carolina |
No obstructed view of the road |
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North Dakota |
No obstructed view of the road |
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Ohio |
No obstructed view of the road |
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Oklahoma |
Prohibited:
|
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Oregon |
No obstructed view of the road |
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Pennsylvania |
Prohibited:
|
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Rhode Island |
Prohibited:
Allowed:
|
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South Carolina |
No obstructed view of the road |
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South Dakota |
No cracks, chips or other damages |
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Tennessee |
No obstructed view of the road |
|
Texas |
No cracks that cause windshield to change shape or obstruct view of the road |
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Utah |
Prohibited:
|
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Vermont |
Prohibited:
|
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Virginia |
Prohibited:
|
|
Washington |
No obstructed view of the road |
|
Washington, DC |
No obstructed view of the road |
|
West Virginia |
Prohibited:
|
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Wisconsin |
Prohibited:
|
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Wyoming |
No obstructed view of the road |
How Much Are Tickets for Cracked Windshields?
Ticket fines for cracked windshields can vary by state and level of damage. For example, getting caught driving with a cracked windshield in Pennsylvania typically costs between $50 and $120 in ticket fines, while in Arizona, you could pay a fine as high as $150.[4][5]
Keep in mind that even if you pay the fine for an initial ticket, you may continue receiving tickets until the window crack is repaired.
Will a Fix-It-Ticket for a Cracked Windshield Go on My Record?
Fix-it-tickets are generally nonmoving violations, which typically won’t affect your driving record.[6] However, if you were caught driving with a cracked windshield while receiving a ticket for a moving violation, such as speeding, you may receive a separate ticket that will go on your record.
Will My Insurance Be Affected?
If you fail to pay your fix-it ticket or resolve your damaged windshield before your court date, your insurance rates could be affected indirectly. While nonmoving violations don’t typically impact your rates directly, some courts may suspend your license for not rectifying the damaged windshield. A suspended license may flag you as a high-risk driver and result in increased premiums.
If you fail to pay your ticket fines, the government may attempt to collect that owed money through a collection agency, which could affect your credit score. In many states, insurers use credit scores when determining rates, which and a drop in your score could later increase your auto insurance premium.
How Much Does It Cost To Fix a Cracked Windshield?
Getting a new windshield is generally cheaper for older car models, typically running $300 to $600, while newer cars that use sensors can be pricey, often costing up to $1,000 or more.[7] Repairs for a small crack or chip are often more affordable, costing around $60 to $90.[8]
Windshield replacement is typically covered by comprehensive coverage if it was struck by debris, a rock on a highway or even a deer. If your windshield was damaged during an accident, it would be covered by collision coverage instead.
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Preston Micalizio writes insurance content for SmartFinancial. He brings three years of professional experience writing in various industries, from higher education to e-commerce. He strives to engage with the audience, provide accurate reporting and make complex subjects easily digestible.
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