A customer said, “I see cars driving all over the Rio Grande Valley with blue tape on their windshields. If the glue used to hold down a windshield isn’t strong enough to keep it in place, what good is blue tape going to do?”

He has a point!

What you need to know about windshield “glue” or Urethane.

Windshield Adhesive Urethane is specially formulated to ensure that in the case of an accident, your windshield adheres to the vehicle in accordance with Department of Transportation standards. 

There are several manufacturers of urethane and there are many different types of urethane. Here is what you need to know about urethane (and blue tape) anytime your windshield is replaced. 

#1 – Avoiding Injury and Death in an Accident

Your Windshield accounts for approximately 60% of the structural integrity of your vehicle in a roll-over accident. That means that your windshield, its proper installation and the proper use of urethane are what is keeping your roof from crushing, the passengers from being paralyzed or even worse. 

#2 – Minimum Drive Away Time

Every single type of urethane has a minimum amount of time it must cure for your vehicle to be considered “air bag safe” to drive after a replacement. Why??? Because when a vehicle is in a head on collision, here is what happens:

• The passenger air bag deploys
• The air bag travels to the windshield and “bounces” back to give the passenger protection

If your vehicle is given to you before the urethane has had the minimum amount of time to cure to be air bag safe AND your vehicle is in a collision that causes the air bag to deploy, the airbag may pop your windshield out of your car exposing you and your passengers to the elements, broken glass, etc. Yikes!!!

Unfortunately, the least expensive urethane available takes 8 hours from the time your windshield is replaced to be air bag safe for you to drive. Just in case you didn’t catch that, it means that your vehicle is not air bag safe to drive until 8 hours after your windshield is replaced. 

I don’t want to wait 8 hours to drive my car, do you?

Fix-A-Crack typically uses a 30-minute air bag safe urethane. That means, 30 minutes after your windshield is replaced, your vehicle is air bag safe to drive. 

What does this have to do with blue tape?

When you see a vehicle on the road with blue tape on the windshield, thank the good Lord it’s not your vehicle. The shop that replaced that windshield probably gave it back to the customer before it was air bag safe to drive.  

If you’ve recently acquired windshield damage, you may be wondering if your windshield crack is too big to be repaired. When it comes to windshield repair, there are two standards for repairing windshield cracks, the insurance company’s standards and the Fix-A-Crack standard. Here is an overview of the two.

Insurance Company Windshield Repair Standard

Most insurance companies state that if your windshield damage is greater than 6” (or the size of a dollar bill), it is not repairable, they will not pay for the repair and they will recommend that your windshield be replaced. We do not follow this standard. In fact, Fix-A-Crack is a long-crack specialty repair shop.

Fix-A-Crack Windshield Repair Standard

Fix-A-Crack is a long-crack specialty repair shop. We are known throughout the Rio Grande Valley as the leader in long-crack repair and shops refer their “unrepairable” long-cracks to us. In fact, our owner and lead technician has been invited by industry vendors to teach our techniques to other glass shop owners.

We fix (and warranty) long crack repairs up to 14” long unless the size and location of the crack:

1 – Compromises the structural integrity of your windshield,

2 – Causes a distraction hazard or

3 – Negatively affects safety features such as a Heads Up Display or your forward facing camera.

The Fix-A-Crack Complete Long Crack Repair Process

Our goal is to help you save your windshield. Therefore, we perform what is called a “Complete Long Crack Repair” which involves three steps.

Step 1 – Filling the Impact Point

This is a step most glass shops skip. However, if the impact point is not filled, you may have lines radiate from the impact in other directions. Filling the impact point also stabilizes the remainder of the repair.

Step 2 – Creating a Termination Point

We create a stopping point at the end the line to keep the crack from spreading further. We have a variety of methods for doing this.

Step 3 – Filling the Line

This is not a cosmetic fix. We add specialized windshield resin to the line to give your long windshield crack more stability so that the repair stays intact and does not spread further.

FAQs

1 – How can you evaluate if my windshield crack is repairable?

The best way for us to evaluate your windshield damage is to stop by our shop (304 E. Pecan, Suite P, McAllen, TX 78501) and let us look at it in person. You may also text us a picture of the damage to 956-360-0178.

2 – Will the crack disappear after the repair?

No. Just like your skin has a scar after it heals, your long crack repair will have a “scar” and still be visible, but the visibility will be reduced by about 50%

3 – Is it better to repair my long windshield crack or replace it?

If it is repairable, the answer comes down to your personal preference. We will help you consider variables such as:

• Tolerance of visibility
• Price of repair vs. price of replacement

4 – Do you provide a warranty on long crack repairs? Our customers tell us that Fix-A-Crack offers the best long-crack repair warranty in McAllen, Texas. Contact us for the details.

2 Steps to Insurance Pays Windshield Chip Repairs in McAllen TX is easier than most drivers think — and at Fix-A-Crack Windshield Repair and Replacement, we walk you through the entire process at no cost to you. If you have comprehensive auto insurance coverage, your windshield chip repair may be 100% covered with zero out-of-pocket expense. Thousands of McAllen drivers every year leave money on the table simply because they don’t know how straightforward the insurance claim process really is.

Don’t let a small chip turn into a full crack. The Rio Grande Valley’s intense summer heat and highway road debris make windshield damage one of the most common vehicle issues in South Texas. The good news is that most insurance policies already cover this — and at Fix-A-Crack, we do all the heavy lifting so you don’t have to worry about that windshield chip.

Read below to see exactly how to get insurance to cover windshield chip repair in McAllen and the surrounding Rio Grande Valley.

Step 1: Verify Your Comprehensive Coverage Includes Chips and we will help with how Insurance Pays Windshield Chip Repairs.

Before anything else, confirm that your auto insurance policy includes comprehensive coverage — this is the coverage that pays for windshield chip repair and replacement claims in McAllen TX. Liability-only policies do not cover glass damage. This is the most important distinction drivers need to understand before filing a chip repair windshield insurance claim in McAllen TX.

Most major insurance carriers active in the McAllen, TX area — including State Farm, GEICO, Progressive, Allstate, Farmers, and USAA — cover windshield chip repair under comprehensive coverage, often with no deductible required for repairs (as opposed to full replacements). Texas law is favorable to consumers when it comes to glass claims, and many policyholders don’t realize their repair could cost them absolutely nothing.

Here’s what to check on your policy:

• Is comprehensive coverage listed? (Not just liability or collision)
• Does your policy include full glass coverage or a zero-deductible glass rider?
• What is your deductible for glass claims? (Chip repairs are often waived entirely)
• Have you filed a glass claim before? (Prior claims do not typically affect your premium)

Not sure about your coverage? Don’t stress. Call your insurance provider or simply hand us your insurance card when you arrive — we’ll verify your coverage for you at no charge before any work begins. Our team at Fix-A-Crack deals with insurance carriers every single day and knows exactly what to look for.

Step 2: Call Fix-A-Crack – Insurance Pays Windshield Chip Repairs – We will help you File Your Windshield Chip Repair Insurance Claim.

Once your coverage is confirmed, Step 2 of filing chip repair windshield insurance claims in McAllen TX is simple: call us. Fix-A-Crack Windshield Repair and Replacement handles the insurance claim filing directly with your provider so you don’t have to deal with paperwork, phone calls, hold times, or confusing online claim portals. We are a fully licensed and insured auto glass shop serving McAllen TX and the entire Rio Grande Valley, and we work directly with all major carriers to get your claim processed fast.

Here’s what our process looks like:

1. Contact us — Call or text Fix-A-Crack at (956) 360-0178 to schedule your appointment.
2. Bring your insurance card — We verify your coverage and file the claim on your behalf at no cost to you.
3. Get your chip repaired — Most chip repairs take 30 minutes or less and are performed on-site in McAllen, TX.
4. Pay nothing — In most cases, chip repair through insurance costs you $0 out of pocket.
5. Drive away — Your windshield is restored, your claim is filed, and your day is not disrupted.

We work with all major insurance carriers and handle the billing directly. You simply show up, and we take care of the rest. There are no hidden fees, no surprise charges, and no runaround. Just fast, professional windshield chip repair covered by your insurance.ps you avoid delays and prevents the damage from getting worse.

Location: 304 East Pecan, Suite P, McAllen, TX 78501 Call or Text: 956-360-0178

Windshield Insurance Claim FAQs – McAllen, TX

1. Do all insurance companies pay for windshield chip repairs? Most A and A+ rated insurance companies will cover windshield repairs if you have comprehensive coverage. However, some companies like AAA and State Farm may have restrictions.

2. How many windshield chips will my insurance pay for? Most insurance companies only cover one chip per claim. Additional chips are usually out-of-pocket. At Fix-A-Crack, when your insurance pays for the first repair, we offer discounted pricing on any extra chips.

3. Is it hard to file a windshield insurance claim? No. Because of our special agreement with insurance companies, Fix-A-Crack can skip the inspection and verification process. We file the claim for you on the spot using our approved system.

4. Will my insurance rates go up if I file a windshield repair claim? It’s possible, but not guaranteed. Insurance companies consider several factors at renewal time, including the number and type of claims you’ve filed. Many drivers find that a small windshield claim has little to no effect on their premiums.

5. How long does a windshield repair take? Most repairs are completed in about 15 minutes.

6. Can insurance cover a crack in my door glass? Technically, laminated door glass can sometimes be repaired, but insurance companies generally do not pay for door glass repairs. We usually recommend replacement because door glass moves up and down.

7. Can insurance cover a crack in my sunroof? If your sunroof is made of laminated glass, it may be repairable. However, insurance companies typically do not cover sunroof repairs. Bring it by and we’ll evaluate it for you.

If your sunroof is made of laminated glass, it may be repairable. Call us at 956-360-0178 or visit our shop (304 E. Pecan, Suite P, McAllen, TX 78501) and let us evaluate it in person. Unfortunately, insurance companies do not pay for sunroof repairs.