Chips you don’t gamble with

Kwik-Fit is warning motorists against using the credit crunch as an excuse for not repairing a chip in their windscreen, as their money saving strategy could well cost them more in the long run.

Research from the company found that 10.5 million drivers have amassed around 15.4 million chips in their car windscreens that they’ve not bothered to repair. That’s enough chips to cover the area of 19,000 garden greenhouses.

Kwik-Fit says that most insurance companies will repair a chipped windscreen for free and without denting the drivers’ no-claim status. However, it warns that once a chip starts spreading across the windscreen it becomes increasingly difficult to repair leaving no option but to replace the entire windscreen, and most insurers require that motorists pay an excess on their policy to fix it.

To help, Kwik-Fit’s windscreen repair service is guaranteed to last the lifetime of the vehicle. Taking under half an hour to do, the repaired section will be stronger than the undamaged glass. For the minority of motorists whose windscreen isn’t covered by insurance, Kwik-Fit’s glass repair costs £44.95. All repairs are acceptable for MOT tests.

David White, customer services director commented: “Even though money might be tight, there’s really no reason to put off repairing a chipped windscreen. Motorists seem to forget that most insurers will repair a chip for free, but charge to replace the entire windscreen. So putting off repairs is clearly a flawed way of economising.”

Drivers who are in any doubt about the condition of their windscreen can visit any of 570 Kwik-Fit centres for a free check. All Kwik-Fit glass technicians are specially trained and all work is carried out in accordance with the British Standard windscreen repair guidelines.