The sight of a new crack or chip on your windshield can prove frustrating. You may have been driving down the highway when a rock flew into your windshield, or an object may have hit it when you weren't even around. Windshields have two layers of glass, and some cracks only affect one layer. You can replace your whole windshield, or you may be able to repair the crack if it's small enough. Several types of cracks can occur in windshields.
A crack is a line that forms on your windshield. It can consist of a straight line or an uneven one. Cracks sometimes form from a point of impact or from unequal distribution of pressure. If it's a stress crack, it probably starts around the edge of your windshield. A crack can spread across the windshield.
Star breaks occur when an object hits your windshield. Long cracks branch off from the center, where the impact occurred. The star-like appearance gives this type of crack its name. Like a regular crack, it can continue to spread.
This type of crack is circular and has the appearance of a dartboard bull's-eye. It has concentric circles with multiple fractures. A bull's-eye crack can turn into a larger crack or a star break.
A chip can occur when an object hits your windshield. It usually consists of a small indentation that doesn't go through both layers of glass. The simplest type of windshield damage, it can still turn into a crack if not repaired.
