How Long Does Windshield Replacement Take?

Chip and Crack Repair: About 30 Minutes

A windshield chip or crack repair is the fastest service we do. The process:

1. Clean the chip — remove loose glass particles and debris (2–3 minutes)
2. Inject resin — structural resin is drawn into the chip under vacuum pressure (5–10 minutes)
3. UV cure — a UV lamp hardens the resin to the strength of the surrounding glass (5 minutes)
4. Polish — the surface is polished flush and inspected (5 minutes)

Total: 20–35 minutes. You can drive immediately after — there is no wait time for chip repairs. The resin is fully cured before we pack up.

Full Windshield Replacement: 60–90 Minutes

A full windshield replacement takes longer because the urethane adhesive that bonds the glass to the frame needs time to set before the vehicle is safe to drive. The process:

1. Remove the old windshield — cut through the old urethane seal and extract the glass (15–20 minutes)
2. Prep the frame — clean the pinch weld, remove old adhesive residue, prime the frame for new bonding (10–15 minutes)
3. Apply urethane adhesive — the new adhesive bead is applied in a continuous line around the frame (5 minutes)
4. Set the new glass — the new windshield is positioned, aligned, and pressed into place (5–10 minutes)
5. Cure to drive-away strength — the urethane cures enough for safe driving (30–60 minutes depending on temperature and adhesive type)

Total on-site time: 60 to 90 minutes. Hot weather speeds cure; cold weather slows it. We use fast-cure urethane formulations in colder months to maintain safe drive-away times.

ADAS Calibration: Add 30–60 Minutes

If your vehicle has a forward-facing camera or radar sensor mounted behind the windshield — standard on most 2018+ vehicles — it needs to be recalibrated after replacement. The windshield is part of the optical path the camera uses. There are two types of calibration:

• Static calibration: done on-site with calibration targets placed in front of the vehicle. 30–60 minutes while the vehicle is parked. We do this on-site at your home or office.
• Dynamic calibration: requires driving the vehicle at highway speed while a technician monitors the system. 20–45 minutes of drive time. We handle this in our service area.

We confirm which type your vehicle requires before we start — and whether your insurance covers it (it usually does). See our full ADAS calibration guide.

When Can You Drive After Windshield Replacement?

The short answer: usually within 1 hour of the glass being set. Modern fast-cure urethane adhesives reach minimum drive-away strength in 30–60 minutes under normal conditions (above 50°F). We tell you your specific drive-away time before we leave — it's based on the adhesive type and the temperature that day.

After you drive away:

• First hour: avoid highway speeds if possible — the urethane is still gaining strength
• First 24 hours: no car washes, no pressure washing, avoid slamming doors
• After 24 hours: full cure, normal use

Mobile vs. Shop: Does Location Change the Time?

No — the process and timing are identical whether we come to your home, office, or parking lot. Mobile service doesn't mean slower service. The only variable is weather: extremely cold temperatures (below 20°F) can require a slightly longer cure period for the adhesive. We account for this automatically.