You woke up this morning to a beautiful day, but several hours later ominous clouds begin gathering over your brand-new car. There’s nothing you can do but watch in horror as the skies open and let loose quarter-sized hail all over the place, including your car and its windshield. You aren’t undercover, maybe you’re driving on the highway, and there’s nothing to do but let the storm do its thing.

After the storm passes you examine the damage, and you have several large dents and or a shattered windshield. So now what? It’s never a good time when hail rips through your car’s windshield, but it doesn’t have to be a headache if you know what to do next. Let’s review what happens when hail shatters a windshield and what you need to do to ensure you get it fixed right.

What Happens When Hail Shatters a Windshield and What You Need to Do Next

Don’t Drive

Everyone has the same thought when they have a car with a shattered windshield, “Can I drive my car straight to the collision center with a shattered windshield? I can see out of it, it must be fine.

Don’t do it!

A shattered windshield will be an obstruction with the cracks itself and a shattered windshield will throw off your visual sense of perception when you drive. It’s dangerous. Even if it’s a “small” shatter, NEVER drive a car with a shattered windshield. Depending on the severity of the crack or if the windshield is completely destroyed, you may even be ticketed when driving it even to a repair shop.

Call Your Insurance

Your first step should be to take pictures of the damaged windshield, and then make the call to your insurance agent. You can find out if a shattered windshield is covered under your insurance policy and if they can include roadside assistance to get your shattered windshield as quickly as possible. Once you talk to your insurance agent, they’ll give you instructions on what to do next, such as having it towed to a repair shop.

Get Help

When things are squared away with your insurance, it’s time to get the problem fixed. Ask your insurance agent for recommendations, call on a mobile windshield replacement service, or find a local auto hail center that can get your car towed in and fixed. Some auto hail centers may offer free towing for your vehicle if you use their services.

A shattered windshield is a sad sight to see on your car, but if you know what to do next, the problem will be over. Make the call to your insurance agent, find a mobile windshield replacement service, or have your vehicle towed into an auto hail center. Follow these steps, and you’ll have your car and its windshield fixed in no time with the help of Bear Creek Auto Glass.