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How do you cover a broken car window with plastic?

My car was broken into a few days ago and my window was shattered. Luckily they didn't take anything of value, but I can't afford a new window at the moment. I need to tape it up—I've just never had to do this before and I'm not sure how to do it safely. How do I cover the broken window with plastic?

avatar
Emily Maracle · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“I’m sorry to hear about your window! It’s stressful when something bad happen and you can’t fix it. Thankfully, you’ll only need two supplies for a temporary fix.
To fix a broken window with plastic, you’ll need heavy-duty plastic and waterproof tape, both of which you can find at home improvement stores. That should be all you need in terms of material! Just be careful not to touch any broken glass, and use gloves while taping it up.
Since you don’t think you can afford to fix the window, you should check with your
car insurance company
. If you have
comprehensive coverage
, you may be able to have the window repaired by submitting a claim.
If you don’t, that’s okay! You’ll just want to be sure that the plastic will hold until you can replace it.
Keep in mind that safety should be the primary concern here. A plastic window covering does not protect you from flying debris and is illegal in most states. If you need to use this stopgap, make sure the plastic is not obstructing your line of sight.
Once your window is taken care of, consider adjusting your insurance coverage. If you live in an area where theft is common, having comprehensive and full glass coverage on your policy may be helpful.
One easy way to make sure you have the coverage you need is by using the
Jerry app
. Jerry is a licensed insurance broker that gathers personalized quotes and delivers the best deals to your phone in minutes for free. If you find a plan that you’d prefer, we’ll even help you switch!
Best of luck with the window, and hopefully you’re able to get it properly repaired soon.”
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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