A Few Reasons Why That Cost is Rising
Over the last couple of years, we Americans have found ourselves paying increasingly higher prices for just about everything, from gasoline to eggs in the supermarket, and a lot in between.
Unfortunately, despite our efforts to keep our costs down for our customers, inflation is also affecting the cost of windshield replacement, and there are several things that are contributing to this situation.
Two Main Reasons Why Replacement Costs Have Gone Up
The Advanced Driver Assistance System
Known for short as ADAS, this is the electronic system incorporated into or around your windshield that controls many of your vehicle’s systems, especially its safety features. That means your windshield is no longer just protecting you from rain, flying debris, and bug spatter. It’s also controlling many of the most important components of your vehicle. These include
- Automatic emergency braking
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear parking assist
- Lane change warning and lane keep assist
- Adaptive cruise control
When your windshield is replaced, there’s a chance that the sensors in and around the windshield can be misaligned, compromising the effectiveness of these safety features and putting you and your passengers at risk.
Recalibrating all these sensors so that they operate as they should requires a great deal of skill on the part of the installer. And this recalibration process is the main factor driving up the cost of windshield installation in the past few years.
The rising cost of repair materials
This is the second factor contributing to the cost of windshield replacement. As an example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data compiled in January 2022 showed that during the previous 12 months, the price of vehicle parts increased by 5.2%. In contrast, the prices for adhesives and sealants used in windshield replacement increased by 14.2%.
Protect Your Windshield!
While we’re always ready to repair or replace your windshield, we want to suggest a few ways you can protect it and keep your chances of suffering serious damage to a minimum.
- Keep your distance from the vehicles in front of you.
- When possible, try to use routes where there is less traffic.
- Avoid gravel roads and those with a lot of loose debris, or drive slower when you’re on these roads.
- Try to protect your windshield from the summer heat by parking in a garage or a shaded area.
- When you have a damaged windshield – chips or cracks – get it repaired before the damage spreads and forces you to replace the windshield.
Expert Windshield Replacement and Windshield Repair in Chicago
Whatever your windshield needs may be in Chicago, Frank’s Auto Glass is the place to come for the highest quality replacement and repair services. Know that family budgets are often strained today, we do everything possible to keep repair costs to a minimum, and if you can’t come to us, we can come to you with the very best mobile auto glass service available in Chicago, IL.
We service all makes and models, domestic and foreign, and all our auto glass work is backed by a 1-year warranty.
Whether it’s replacement or repair, at Frank’s, we’re ready to assist you. To schedule either in-shop or mobile service appointments call us at (773) 488-7700 or you can contact us online.
Don’t let that windshield damage get worse. For auto glass repair or auto glass replacement, contact Frank’s Auto Glass today!
