regular maintenance checks for your car

If road debris or vandals damaged your windshield, it's a good idea to have it repaired or replaced as soon as you can. Replacing a damaged windshield is important so you stay safer during an accident. Plus, you don't want cracks or chips to distort your vision while you drive. Here are tips that help make your windshield replacement an easier process to go through.

Choose The Most Convenient Service

You might find a mobile windshield replacement service in your area — such as Flash Auto Glass LLC. That could be the most convenient option for you, and it would save you from driving a car with a damaged windshield or paying to have your car towed to a repair shop.

Instead, the mobile truck can come to your home, office, or even the mall parking lot and put your new windshield in. You'll need to allow plenty of time to have the work done and to let the car sit for a while to let the adhesive dry.

If you're on a tight schedule, be sure to ask the windshield replacement service how long it will be until you can drive your car. In some cases, it might be more convenient to drop your car off and pick it up later from the repair shop.

Follow The After-Care Instructions

Once your windshield replacement is complete, you'll need to take care of your windshield for a few days so the adhesive can fully cure. You'll be given a list of after-care instructions that might include things like keeping the tape over the seal for a couple of days, avoiding a car wash, not using a car tarp or cover for a few days, and avoiding contact with the glass until the glass is set.

After a few days, the adhesive and seal should be set and you won't need to be overly cautious with your new windshield. When the adhesive has cured, you can wash and dry your car just as you normally would.

Don't Delay Your Windshield Replacement

If your windshield has a big crack, it might be illegal to drive your car for safety reasons. If that's the case, you could get a fine if you're pulled over by the police. Also, the damage to the glass could escalate if you hit a bump in the road, and then you'll have an even bigger and more inconvenient problem to deal with.

Instead, get your windshield replaced as soon as it's damaged. Your insurance company may even pay for everything. Using a mobile service makes having the work done convenient, so don't delay or the windshield damage might get worse — and then you might need to pay more money to have your car towed to an auto glass repair shop.