How Soon Can I Drive the Car after My Car Windshield has been Replaced?

Perhaps the most bitter-sweet truth that car owners are aware of is the importance of a windshield – that one piece of glass that can render multiple safety functions against external elements and impact. However, the bitter part is knowing how easy it is for the windshield to suffer damage – at the hands of flying rocks or tossed debris or more serious causes like an unfortunate accident.

Depending upon the intensity of the damage, chips or cracks may appear on the windshield, leaving it aesthetically and functionally crippled. Most minor chips that do not exceed 40mm in diameter can easily be repaired by trained technicians. However, if your windshield has a crack, then a car windshield replacement becomes mandatory. When it comes to car windshield replacement, a common question for a lot of car owners is “How long will it be before I can drive the car?” The time taken for car windshield replacement includes not just the installation time but also the curing time of the adhesive; together, technicians assign a minimum drive-away time – something which all car owners must comply with for successful replacement.

What is Minimum Drive-Away Time?

The terminology 'minimum drive-away time' refers to the minimum time that your car needs to sit after windshield repair or installation before it can be operational again. This time refers to the duration it takes for the adhesives used for car windshield replacement to cure and harden properly.

The minimum drive-away time depends on several factors, the most important being the type of adhesive and glass used for replacement. Moreover, the outside temperature, weather conditions, and the humidity level also play a crucial role in determining the duration of time it will take for curing or hardening of the adhesive. The adhesive curing time is faster during the summer season owing to the warm temperature and high humidity levels of the air. This means you can use your vehicle sooner. However, as the temperature gradually falls, the adhesives cur

The car windshield replacement technician will take all of these factors into consideration when determining an appropriate drive-away time for your car and will inform you the same.

Dangers of Driving Your Car Immediately after Windshield Replacement

If your windshield technician gives you the 'go-ahead' to drive your car as soon as the car windshield replacement has been performed, you may find complications or defects with the windshield in the long run. Your newly-installed windshield is held in place by the adhesive, which is why you must give it sufficient time to set and dry.

Making haste in driving your car will only lead to more significant problems in the future, such as shifting of the windshield glass. If this happens, you're looking at a mandatory replacement and high costs. A faulty windshield can also easily pop out during an accident, leaving you with no protection whatsoever. Not adhering to the proper minimum drive-away time can also cause the car’s roof to cave in during heavy impact as the windshield renders structural support to your car. Also, a defective windshield will fail to protect passengers from being ejected in case of a head-on collision. And finally, forget about proper airbag deployment at the time of need; an improperly-installed windshield will not facilitate it. Therefore, a faulty, ill-fitted or structurally-weak windshield cannot perform any of the safety functions for which it is installed.

AIS Windshield Experts Advantage

Since the windshield is such an integral part of your car, it deserves the very best of technicians working on it. This is why it becomes crucial to choose only a reliable and reputed windshield service provider. An experienced car windshield replacement company will have high-quality products as well as technicians who are trained to handle windshield replacements with proper precision. When looking for the best windshield service provider to get a car windshield replacement, head to AIS Windshield Experts.

AIS Windshield Experts is India's leading windshield repair and replacement company. We only offer 100% genuine windshield glass sourced from India's leading integrated glass manufacturer - Asahi India Glass Limited. Our expert team uses world-class equipment and follows international-safety protocols for windshield repair and replacement. Untrained hands and incorrect knowledge are the two deadly ingredients to whip a recipe for disaster. However, our technicians are company-trained and hands-on experienced in handling the most complex of car windshield replacement challenges. With us, you'll also get a one-year written warranty on the products used and our workmanship. To know more, check out car windshield replacement.

We also inform you about the dos and don'ts of post-installation usage and the minimum drive-away time so that your newly-installed windshield gives you optimum performance. You can avail our services in-centre or contact us at 1800 102 6364 to get your windshield replaced at your doorstep. We always make your safety our priority.

So, reach out to us today!