You’re getting ready to trade in your car or list it on the private market. You’ve detailed the interior, waxed the paint, and topped off the fluids. But there it is—that little “star” crack in the corner of the windshield you’ve been ignoring for six months.
It’s just a chip, right? Not to a buyer.
The “Visual Trust” Factor
When a potential buyer (or a dealership appraiser) sees a cracked windshield, they don’t just see a piece of glass. They see deferred maintenance. Their brain immediately wonders: “If they didn’t bother to fix a $50 chip, did they bother to change the oil? Are the brake pads thin, too?” A damaged windshield is a red flag that can make a buyer walk away entirely.
The Math of the Trade-In
Dealerships are notorious for “over-estimating” the cost of repairs to lower their trade-in offer. While a chip repair might cost you $60 out of pocket, a dealer might subtract $500 or more from your car’s value, citing the need for a full replacement and safety inspections.
Safety Inspections and the Law
In many states, a vehicle cannot pass a safety inspection if there is a crack in the “acute area” (the driver’s line of sight). If your car can’t pass inspection, you can’t sell it legally in many jurisdictions without disclosing it—drastically shrinking your pool of buyers.
The Strategy: Get a few quotes on our platform before you list your car. Often, the cost of a quick mobile repair pays for itself five times over in the final sale price.