Buying a Windshield or Auto Glass?

Things to Consider Before Buying Auto Glass

About Safe Auto Glass Installation

Many people only look for the lowest price when they shop for auto glass. But there are varying qualities of glass, and levels of installation quality. An improperly installed windshield is virtually useless at protecting you during an accident.

Learn more about safe auto glass installation

Auto Glass Installer Standards and Certifications

Ask your auto glass company if the installer who will be working on your vehicle is certified. Here are some windshield replacement certifications to ask about.

Learn more about auto glass installer standards and certifications

How to Shop for Auto Glass

Many people shop for a new windshield or other auto glass as if it's an in-dash stereo–treating it as a standard part and all they need to do is find the lowest price.

Learn how to shop for auto glass

Insurance Can Help Pay for Auto Glass Replacement

You may not realize that if you have comprehensive auto insurance, there's a component of your policy that can help you pay for a new windshield. In some states, it can even pay for it completely.

Find out if your insurance can help pay for auto glass replacement

Find Auto Glass in a City Near You

Are you looking for auto glass but don't know where to start? Search Glass.net's local pages to find an auto glass shop located near you. Then you can be back on your way in no time.

Find auto glass providers near you

Terms to Know Before Purchasing Auto Glass

There are many new features in today's windshields. Below is a glossary of terms that can be useful in understanding some of these features.

• Acoustic Interlayer - Glass having a thicker than normal vinyl laminate for noise reduction.
• AGRSS - Automotive Glass Replacement Safety Standards. Safety standards widely accepted by the auto glass industry. Visit the AGRSS website.
• Anti-theft - Vehicle glass that is made of laminated glass and tempered glass sandwiched together to help prevent smash & grab theft.
• Butyl - An adhesive/sealant that was the primary material used to bond car windshields in the 60's and 70's. It achieves lap shear strengths of only about 13 psi.
• Diversity Antenna - Combines the reception from two or more antennas on the vehicle. They work together to archive superior radio reception.
• Dot Matrix Shade - The traditional gradient shade band in the laminate is replaced by a dot matrix frit across the top of the windshield. These little black dots are painted onto one of the glass surfaces.
• Electrochromic Mirror - Also known as an auto-dim mirror. A rear view mirror that senses light and automatically dims.
• FMVSS - Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards: ie FMVSS #212 the barrier crash test, and #216 the roof crush resistance test. Visit the FMVSS website.
• Frit - The black painted border around the perimeter of the auto glass. This painted area serves two purposes. First, is aesthetics, it just looks better. Second, it blocks the sun's rays from deteriorating the adhesive that structurally bonds the auto glass to the vehicle.
• Heated Wiper Park Area - A windshield contains heater grids across the lower part of the glass where the wipers rest. Usually visible as a brown or grey lines running horizontally at the base of the windshield.
• Heads up display - Some of your vehicle's key instrumentation is flashed up onto the bottom of the windshield. This allows a driver to check speed, etc. without having to take their eyes off the road.
• Infrared - A term used in the auto glass industry to describe solar coated glass.
• Laminated Auto Glass - A sandwich of two pieces of glass with a PVB layer between them. All front windshields are made of laminated glass. Properly installed windshields cushion an occupant's head during impact, act as a backboard for the airbags, and provide structural roof support in an accident.
• Night Vision - An infrared camera mounted on the vehicle which detects objects further ahead than the headlights reach, and displays the images on a section of the windshield.
• Nonconductive Adhesives - Standard auto glass adhesives are inherently conductive due to the presence of carbon. Nonconductive adhesives are low in carbon and change high frequency antenna impedance. Sensitive electronic signals in some luxury cars require specialized nonconductive adhesives to maintain optimal operating levels.
• O.E.M. - Original Equipment Manufacturer. Learn more about OEM auto glass.
• PVB - Polyvinyl Butyral. The vinyl layer between two pieces of glass that make up the front windshield.
• Rain Sensor - A sensor usually located near the windshield's rear view mirror that senses rain and activates the windshield wipers.
• Safe Drive Away Time - The elapsed time after a front windshield installation that a vehicle would safely pass all the appropriate rollover and roof crush requirements. One hour minimum.
• Solar Absorbing Auto Glass - Auto glass that blocks out harmful ultraviolet and infrared rays thereby reducing the sun's damage and keeping the inside of the vehicle cooler.
• Solar Coated Auto Glass - During the manufacturing process, the inner layer of non-solar glass is coated with UV reflective film before being attached to the PVB and second layer of glass to form the windshield.

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