Side and Rear Window Replacement: What to Expect

Why side and rear glass behaves differently from a windscreen

Side and rear windows are normally toughened glass, not laminated like a windscreen. Toughened glass is designed to break into small, blunt pieces instead of sharp shards, which is why it ends up as a heap of crumbs when someone forces their way in or a stone hits it from the right angle.

That is also why it cannot be repaired. A chip in toughened glass cannot be filled the way a windscreen chip can, so side and rear glass replacement is the usual answer once the window is damaged.

After a break-in: first steps

If your car has been broken into, check what has been taken and tell the police and your insurer in the way that suits your situation. That part is separate from the glass, and we will not offer advice on claims here. For the car itself, the priority is making it secure and weatherproof until the new glass is in.

Try not to drive with a missing window for any distance, and do not run the electric window up and down if the glass is broken, because loose fragments can jam the mechanism. Leave the door trim alone and avoid sweeping glass into the door cavity.

• Photograph the damage before anything is moved, if you may need it later
• Do not operate the window switch with broken glass still in the door
• Take care when handling the edges and small pieces
• Keep the car out of the rain where possible

Glass clean-up and what is inside the door

Broken toughened glass does not just fall on the seat. Tiny fragments end up inside the door, down in the window channel, in the carpets and between the seats. A proper job includes removing as much of it as is practical so that it does not rattle, scratch the new glass or turn up months later.

Once the old glass is out, the technician can see what else was damaged. The window regulator, the mechanism that raises and lowers the glass, can be bent or its clips broken in a forced entry. Rubber seals and channels may also be torn. These are worth checking at the start so there are no surprises when the new glass goes in.

Rear screens, heating elements and wiring

Most rear windows carry thin heating lines baked into the glass to clear mist and ice. A replacement needs the right glass with matching elements, and the electrical connections have to be reattached so the demister works as it should. Some rear screens also have an aerial, a wiper opening or a high-level brake light fixed to them, and these need transferring across.

On hatchbacks and estates the rear screen sometimes opens with the tailgate, so the seals and the surrounding fittings matter. If the tailgate has been bent or the screen was shattered by an impact, the surrounding panel should be checked as well.

• Check the demister lines work after fitting
• Ask whether the aerial or rear wiper parts need moving over
• Make sure the seal is sitting evenly all the way round
• Look for any water leaking in after a rain shower

Temporary protection and booking it in

While you wait, a sheet of heavy plastic and good tape on the outside is a reasonable stopgap, though it will not last at speed and can damage paintwork if left on for long. Park somewhere sheltered and do not leave valuables in the car.

At Banks of the Tyne in Hebburn we replace side and rear glass, so when you get in touch tell us the make, model and year, which window it is, and whether it has heating, tinting or extras. That lets us confirm the right glass and explain what is involved at the estimate, including anything else damaged in the door or around the frame.

Frequently asked questions