3 Steps to deal with an act of vandalism – Broken Windshield

Forced Intrusion in a car is a common societal problem and it must be tackled with care. More than anything else they’re a nuisance and impose added expenses. The first thing you must do, if your car has been subject to vandalism, is to inform the police. The second thing you must do is notify the Insurance company so that that they can assist you with the replacement process. You may even contact a reputed glass dealer who will help secure your car and provide a cashless claim apart from getting you a replacement. Here are a few things you can and should do if the windshield of your car has been severely damaged due to an act of intrusion:

1.Inform the Police
It is the very first thing you must do in such an event. It is important for you to not lose your calm and wait for the officers to arrive. They will ask you about the event and create a first information report (FIR) to register the case. Make sure to provide them every bit of detail you have so that they can investigate the case properly. Finally, ensure keeping a copy of the FIR.

2.Contact the Insurance Agency
If the windshield has been damaged heavily, it will require a replacement at the earliest. Call an executive of the insurance company and find out if you are entitled for a claim and for what percentage of the Ford, Maruti or Toyota windshield replacement price will be reimbursed to you, if yes. The amount will depend on the type of policy you own. You will have to make a list of missing items as well to be included in the overall report to file a claim. In most cases, an agent will approach you and ask you necessary questions about the incident to establish legitimacy of the situation.

3.Assess the damage

It might be that more than just the windshield has been damaged by the act of vandalism, such as the body of the car. The event of the cover for repairs will depend on the policy you own; you have nothing to worry about if you own a comprehensive insurance.  Depending on the policy and the service center you might or might not be able to get all kinds of damages fixed at a single service center.

A few things to remember

• Whatever you do, don’t drive the car unless you’re taking it to the replacement center. It is extremely dangerous to drive a vehicle with a broken windshield. 
• There might be chance that the damage might not be substantial and you might be able to get a repair. Ask the service center to analyze the damage thoroughly before they suggest a replacement
• While filing the claim, consider the amount of the deductible and the effect on the subsequent premium
• Make sure to park your car indoors or monitored parking spots to avoid such an event in the future

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A few tips to Weather Proof your Windshield

Extreme weather conditions can significantly affect the windshield of the car. Hot, wet or gritty climate affect the integrity of your car’s windshield glass and make it more prone to cracks/damage.

There are several ways to weather proof the car windshield and ensure optimum visibility even in extreme weather conditions. Before knowing the ways of weather proofing, it is important to know why it is needed in the first place. The first reason is that it provides structural stability to the vehicle. Secondly, it keeps the passengers in the car safe, no matter what the weather. Thus, it ensures a comfortable drive for everyone. Here we have listed a few tips for weatherproofing to protect a Ford, Chevrolet, Maruti or Toyota windshield replacement price in the long run:

Inspect

The first thing you need to do is inspect the windshield for any damage like cracks or chips. If you see even a small chip or crack during inspection, make sure you get it repaired immediately. The repair should only be done by professionals. The reason you should repair the windshield immediately is that dirt and debris can settle in the crack and turn them bigger if they are left untreated.

Apply Rain Repellent 

The major reason for accidents in the rainy season is low visibility. To ensure your safety while driving in the rainy season, you need to treat your windshield with a rain repellent. You can apply it yourself, but it is always better to take help of professionals as they are experts in doing that. By doing so, you’ll be able to maintain the visibility even when there is heavy rain.

Use good wipers

Another thing that blocks the view while you are driving are the scratches or streaks caused the car wipers. Installing good blades will not only help in wiping away the rain water quickly and effectively but protect the windshield from damage as well. It will go a very long way when you are out in adverse weather conditions.

Get de-frosting/fogging products

There are many people out there who have never heard of this product. But the fact it is very handy when the weather conditions outside are less than ideal. We all know how difficult and time-consuming it is to get the fog off the windshield. This product will help get rid of the fog quickly and thus help you drive safely in harsh weather.

If you are not able to understand anything related to your car’s windshield or how to prepare it for extreme weather, the best way is to get in touch with auto glass dealers for assistance.

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4 Common Methods of Windshield Defogging

Visibility is the foremost function of windshields and a foggy windshield defeats that purpose. With the oncoming of winter, windshield defogging is required every now and again. Additionally, the levels of smog and pollution in Indian cities reduce visibility and the range of the sight of the driver.

Manual cleaning, for that matter, is tedious and doesn’t clean the windshield thoroughly. This poses a credible hindrance while driving on foggy days. The fog can also be harder to displace as it might freeze when exposed to colder temperatures.

With innovations in the automotive industry, the solutions to windshield fogging are simple and many. With appropriate methods, you can ensure that the windshield doesn’t incur harm due to fluctuating temperatures and need for car windscreen repair doesn’t arise.

Air Conditioner

The simplest trick to demist a windshield quickly is to switch on the car heater. The dry hot air from the heater reduces the moisture, but it is logically not an option during summers.

The windshield can be defogged with the use of cool air as well. Mixing the outside air with the heat and humidity of the interior can prove beneficial when you lower your windows. However, it can be uncomfortable for the passengers during winters and needs to be done at repeated intervals.

Ventilation

Roll down the windows for the circulation of the air. It is not the quickest way to defog the windshield, but you can depend on its efficacy. The drop in temperature acts on the moisture inside the cabin and dissipates fog gradually.

Defroster/Defogger

Modern day cars are equipped with defoggers/defrosters. This feature dissipates the fog quickly without causing discomfort to the passengers. Defoggers work on a simple theory: the rear windshield has an arrangement of thin thermal lines which heat up the glass with the push of a button. They completely remove the fog without any effect on the glass whatsoever.

However, the defogger cannot be employed on the front windshield for obvious reasons. The lines are a possible obstruction to the driver’s line of sight. Moreover, it takes more time to defog, which may not be ideal while travelling.

Manual Cleaning

Manually scrubbing or mopping the windshield removes fog but only temporarily. If, however, you wipe the windshield with soap water, the windshield will remain unaffected by fog for a while. Glass dealers and experts also suggest the use of cleaners available in the market.

Both are more of prevention techniques, while regular cleaning is beneficial for the windshields. A clean windshield is extremely important and can completely eliminate the need to defog glass.

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