It's frustrating to find a scratch or crack in your car window that was caused by vandals or accidents while your car was parked in your own driveway. Scratches and tiny cracks in glass can often be filled in and repaired, although the repaired area might remain slightly visible. It might be best to call an auto glass repair service for mobile repairs since driving your car and jostling the glass might cause the glass to break further and crumble out of the frame. Here are some tips for dealing with scratched, cracked, or busted window glass in your car.

Let A Mobile Repair Technician Fill In The Damage

If you don't want to risk making the damage worse, schedule mobile repairs. The technician will determine if the damage can be fixed on the spot, and if so, you can have the work done while your car stays on your property. This usually entails using a product that fills in the crack to stabilize it. The surface of the repaired area is then polished so the glass has a smooth finish. When the filler cures, it may have a slightly cloudy look that makes the crack visible, but when the damage is in a side window, it shouldn't matter. Cracks in window glass are usually filled when possible, even if they're in the windshield.

Have The Window Glass Replaced

If the damage is too bad to fill in, then repairs will require replacing the window glass. You may also prefer getting the glass replaced if you have a luxury car or sports car and don't want any imperfections in the windows. Of course, if the glass is knocked out and crumbled, the only option is to have it replaced. This might be done remotely, or you may need to take your car to the auto glass shop.

If you have to drive your car with bad glass in it, you should prepare the window first. The vibrations from driving or from the wind could cause the glass to fail, so you may want to remove damaged glass yourself first. Wear thick gloves and pull the glass pieces from the frame. The glass will probably come out in fragments that you can throw into a thick plastic bag for disposal. You may want to go to a car wash and use the heavy-duty vacuum to get rid of any pieces that fell in the car or in the carpet.

If you have very far to drive or if it looks like it might rain, it's best to cover the open window if you can. Use clear, thick plastic so your view through the window is not totally blocked. Tape it to the frame without any gaps or the wind may rip the plastic off. Replacing the glass at the shop requires taking apart the door and putting new glass in the track, but repairs shouldn't take too long and then your car window will look good as new. 

Contact a company that offers auto glass repair services in order to learn more.