Overview: Windshield Repair & Replacement
A stone chip is a repair. A crack that reaches the edge of the glass means a new windshield. Canadian roads hand out plenty of both, because the sand and gravel spread for winter traction get thrown up by every truck ahead of you.
Cold turns small damage into big damage. A chip that sat quietly all fall can run across the glass the first time a defroster hits frozen glass. That's the reason to get chips filled before the first hard frost, not in spring.
Replacement is bonded work, and cold slows the urethane down, so winter jobs usually move indoors. Newer cars with lane keeping or automatic braking also have a camera behind the glass. Recalibrating it needs shop targets or a drive on clear lane markings, which snow doesn't leave you.
Our listings show what each glass shop states on its own website about mobile service, camera calibration and warranties. Check the province and city lists below to see who works in your area.
Cost of windshield repair and replacement in Canada
Ask whether the damage can be repaired before replacing the glass. For a replacement, compare the complete installed price, including any required camera calibration. Passenger-vehicle cash prices before any insurance payment. Repair eligibility and the correct glass are vehicle-specific.
| Service | Budget estimate | Scope and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Repair of one eligible chip | CA$30–150per first chip | Repairable stone-chip damage after inspection of size, depth and location.A crack or damage in a critical viewing area may require a different repair. |
| Additional eligible chip | CA$10–40per extra chip, same visit | Another repairable chip on the same windshield at the same appointment. |
| Replacement without a driver-assistance camera | CA$300–900per installed windshield | Standard glass, fitting materials and labour on a common vehicle without a windshield camera.Heated, acoustic or head-up-display glass can cost more. |
| Replacement including required camera calibration | CA$550–1,400+per completed job | Camera-equipped windshield replacement, with the manufacturer-required calibration included.Premium glass or more complex procedures can exceed this bracket. |
What changes the price
- Chip condition or required glass replacement
- Glass features, brand and vehicle trim
- Calibration procedure, fitting parts and mobile attendance
Ask before you book
- Does the total include the correct glass, fitting parts and required calibration report?
- Is a mobile visit included, and when is the vehicle safe to drive?
- What will I pay personally after my coverage and deductible are applied?
Ask whether taxes are included.
Frequently asked questions
Can this chip be repaired, or does it need replacing?
Size, position and depth decide it. ICBC's free-repair rules in British Columbia make a handy yardstick: damage smaller than a loonie, not a long crack, and a repair that won't leave more than a small mark in the driver's line of sight. Anything reaching the edge of the glass keeps spreading. Cold speeds that up, so a chip you'd fill in August may be a crack by November.
Why does a new windshield need camera recalibration?
The camera behind the glass looks through it, and new glass sits a fraction differently. Lane keeping, automatic braking and adaptive cruise all depend on that view. Static calibration uses targets set up inside the shop. Dynamic calibration needs a steady drive on clear lane markings, which snow and slush can wipe out for weeks. Ask which your car needs before booking a winter job.
How soon can I drive after a replacement?
Once the urethane reaches safe drive-away strength, and the adhesive maker sets that time. Cold stretches it, which is one reason winter replacements happen indoors. Ask the shop for the time before they start. Leave a window open a crack overnight so shutting a door doesn't push on the fresh bond, and skip the car wash for a few days.
Does insurance pay for chip repair?
It depends on who insures you. In British Columbia, ICBC Comprehensive coverage pays for a qualifying chip repair with no deductible at an approved glass shop, while a replacement costs your deductible. In Manitoba, you take the claim straight to a participating shop, and MPI says repair claims won't raise your premiums. With a private insurer, glass usually sits under comprehensive coverage, so ask what a repair costs you.
Is a windshield chip worth fixing before winter?
Yes, and the sooner the better. When the defroster heats the inside of cold glass, that stress runs straight to the chip. Water that gets into the chip freezes and pushes the break wider. A filled chip holds up far better through the season. Until it's done, put clear tape over it to keep water and grit out, and go easy on the defroster.
Can it be done on my driveway?
In mild weather, often. In a real winter, rarely. Urethane needs dry glass and a temperature inside the adhesive's range, so frost, snow and freezing rain push the job into a heated bay. Static calibration needs a level floor and room for targets, which a driveway can't offer. If your car has a camera, expect to drive to the shop even in July.
