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Can you go through a carwash with a cracked windshield?

I’ve got a crack in my windshield. Problem is, it snowed a few days ago, and my car is covered in road salt. I really want to run it through the car wash. Can you go through a carwash with a cracked windshield?

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Rachel Rigolino · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
When it comes to whether you can go through a carwash with a cracked windshield, the answer is: it depends.
  • If you have a small chip that’s been sealed, you may be fine. Technically, even a tiny sealed chip can spread if the car wash applies too much pressure to the windshield during the washing process. But, a touchless wash and tiny chip should be okay.
  • An unsealed chip or crack may spread. You run a higher risk of problems if the chip or crack is unsealed.
  • Water damage to chip or crack. When you go through a carwash, you risk water getting into the chip or crack. This can result in your having to replace the entire windshield.
The bottom line is this: You may be better off going through a self-wash car wash where you can avoid your windshield but still spray off the salt.
Before you actually take your car through a carwash, you’ll want to figure out whether your car insurance will cover a cracked windshield. If it doesn’t, and you’d like to have comprehensive protection in the future, consider using
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