A minor crack in a windshield might not seem like a big deal. If it's in a part of the windshield that doesn't obstruct your view, then there's no rush, right? Unfortunately, that's not true. The crack in your windshield could end up becoming a much bigger problem if you don't get help. Here's what you need to know.

Vibrations

The crack in your windshield might be small for now, but it won't necessarily stay that way. Even a crack in a home window often gets larger over time, but it's much more common to happen in cars. This is because of the vibrations that are constantly running through cars.

From the moment you start up your engine, your car is shaking. As soon as you hit the road, the car is bouncing, shaking, vibrating, and more. These vibrations will get into the crack and will cause it to worsen over time. What starts out as a small crack will likely stretch across your windshield in no time if you're not careful.

Seating

Windshields can be cracked for a wide variety of reasons, but there's no telling right now whether the crack is the only damage that was done to your windshield. Severe damage to a windshield that can cause problems like cracks can also potentially partially dislodge a windshield. When this happens, it will typically stay in position at first, but with the same vibrations mentioned earlier, it can start to shake loose. You could find yourself driving down a freeway at high speeds when your entire windshield suddenly falls forward towards you. This would be a terrifying and extremely dangerous experience to have. Unfortunately, there's not much of a way to tell if your windshield is still seated properly other than having a professional inspect it.

Obstruction

Finally, keep in mind that what you consider to be a small obstruction in your windshield might not receive that assessment from someone else, like a police officer. If a cop determines that your cracked windshield is a danger to you or people around you, you could receive a fix-it ticket and even be told to stay off the road until you have the damage repaired.

The good news here is that most windshield cracks can be repaired, or even a full windshield replaced, in a single day. Oftentimes, you don't even need to leave home to have it done, as the installer will come to you. So at the very least, if you have a crack in your windshield, call someone out to assess the damage and determine if you're at risk.

To learn about windshield repair or replacement, talk to an auto shop near you.