Autoglass®

The UK's leading vehicle glass repair and replacement company with branches around the UK plus a mobile service. Listen to commercial radio and you can't help hearing their "Autoglass® repair, Autoglass® replace" radio ads promoting the benefits of windscreen repair. And now they are on TV too.

They can repair or replace any glass on any make or age of vehicle and their service is available 24/7/365.

You can book a windscreen repair or vehicle glass replacement online.

Autoglazing

A smaller vehicle glass company that claims to offer nationwide coverage, based out of Huntingdon.

Auto Windscreens

RAC Autowindscreens is the No. 2 windscreen services company after Autoglass® in the UK. Owned by Aviva the insurance group of which Norwich Union Insurance is a part.

AutoWindshields

Based in the North West of England, AutoWindshields UK Limited is also known as Glassforcars.com

Belron®

Parent company of Autoglass®, Safelite in the USA and Carglass® in much of mainland Europe.

Bodyglass

Body glass refers to the side windows in a vehicle such as the driver or passenger window or quarterlight.

Carglass®

Sister company to Autoglass® - found throughout much of Europe.

Chip

A stone chip or rock chip in your windscreen. Starts when a stone or other road debris impacts your windscreen at speed causing localised damage.

Left un-repaired a chip can quickly turn into a crack as a result of vibration, extremes of temperature or just as a result of moisture and dirt getting into it.

Chips can be repaired and repair is usually free, saving you the cost of a new windscreen.

Find out more at the Car Windscreen Services site.

Cracks

A crack in your windscreen means a new replacement windscreen usually. The best way to avoid getting a crack in your screen is to make sure you get a chip repaired before it has time to turn into a cracked windscreen.

Defrosting car windows

Don't pour boiling water on a frozen windscreen (unless you are trying to wreck it). Buy a decent ice-scraper and a container of windscreen de-icer.

Gavin

The Brummy hero of the Autoglass® radio ads. And now also the TV ads.

Glass Medic

The windscreen repair system used by the likes of Autoglass®.

Heated rear window

Also know as the rear window, rear windscreen, back window or sometimes just as a 'heated rear'.

Insurance excess

The cost of any work that is not covered and that you have to pay for yourself. For replacement vehicle glass the excess is typically in the region of £50-75 but check your motor insurance policy to see what the exact excess figure is. A very small number of companies such as Tesco charge a £10 excess for windscreen repair.

Laminated glass

Most windscreen are now made from laminated glass which is two layers of glass with a layer of special plastic in the middle.

In the event of damage to the windscreen, the plastic helps to hold things together. However, side and rear windows are made of toughened glass which when damaged usually breaks into thousands of tiny fragments.

Mobile service

Something which many windscreen service companies offer. A technician and van will come to the location of your choice be that your home, office or other handy place such as a car park.

MOT test

Windscreens are part of the MOT test and a chipped or damaged screen can cause your vehicle to fail its test.

If you have a chipped screen make sure you get it repaired before you put your vehicle through the test. Repair is free and could help prevent you failing the MOT and the cost of a re-test.

Side window

The windows on the side of a vehicle (as opposed to the front windscreen or rear window).

Trim

The bits of plastic and metal fitted round the windscreen or other glass on certain vehicles for enhancement and embellishment.

Vehicle glass

Any of the windows on a car or other vehicle.

Windscreen

Known as a 'windshield' in the USA, most modern windscreens are laminated - i.e. two layers of glass with a special plastic interlayer bonded in between. This makes the windscreen very strong and better able to resist penetration by objects such as stones (from outside) and passengers (from within).

Windscreen price quote

If you are not covered for glass damage by your car insurance policy then you will have to pay the cost yourself. None of the windscreen service companies publish prices on their websites so if you are looking for windscreen prices you will have to use their online inquiry forms or call them with your details.

Windscreen repair

A process by which certain windscreen services companies such as Autoglass® inject a special resin into a stone chip in the windscreen which is then cured with UV light. This returns the windscreen to almost as good as new condition. If a windscreen can't be repaired, it has to be replaced.

Windscreen repair is usually free of charge as the insurance company picks up the tab. However, recently a small number of motor insurers have started charging a £10 excess despite windscreen repair being the greener and cheaper alternative to windscreen replacement.

A repair typically takes just 30 minutes approximately.

More information is available at CarWindscreenServices.co.uk.

Windscreen replacement

Usually necessary when the windscreen is cracked, windscreen replacement involves cutting the windscreen out of the body of the car and fitting a new one.

If you have insurance, then the most you will usually pay is your glass excess and claiming doesn't usually affect you no-claims bonus or premium.

Windscreen wipers

Check them regularly and renew them when they wear out. When they are worn out they will screech, judder or leave streaks on your windscreen.

Autoglass® sell new wipers and fit them for free - just call in at one of their branches.

Zones

The 'A' zone is the area 29cm wide on the front windscreen immediately in front of the driver, centred on the steering wheel. Damage to the windscreen in this are bigger than 1cm could cause your vehicle to fail its MOT test.