Did you recently go over a bad pothole or have your vehicle struck by a rock and end up with a cracked windshield? However it happened, you are now likely trying to calculate whether or not it's safe to continue driving with this new addition to the windshield. It's always a good idea to get any windshield crack or even a chip looked at by a professional, but if you are not sure if you need a full windshield replacement or not, there are some general guidelines you can follow. Here's what you should be looking at when it comes to the unfortunate new crack on your windshield.

Get a Replacement If the Crack Extends Further Than a Few Inches

A tiny crack can usually be dealt with with an auto glass repair kit. An especially small crack is also less likely to develop into a bigger crack in the future. But if this first crack in the glass extends beyond a few inches or approaches the length of a dollar bill or longer, it's not a good idea to let this situation linger. The bigger the crack is, the bigger target the next rock will have to cause some serious damage if the same spot gets hit twice.

Get a Replacement If the Crack Is Deep Enough That It's More Than Halfway Into the Windshield

While the length of the crack across the windshield is an important consideration, you should also take a look at the depth of the crack into the windshield. If it looks like the rock or whatever caused the crack worked its way more than halfway through the glass and nearly busted into the cabin, this is another sign that windshield replacement should be your top priority.

Get a Replacement If the Crack Is in an Especially Bad Spot Like the Edge of the Windshield

One of the worst spots on the windshield to have a crack is right along the edge of the glass. This area of the windshield is critical to retaining its strength. Glass that's cracked in this area could leave you in a dangerous position if you should get into a car accident. A serious blow to a windshield with a big crack along the edge could cause the entire windshield to shatter or cave. You could also consider a replacement if the crack is directly in your field of vision and an auto glass repair kit isn't going to fix it completely.

Contact a professional for more information about windshield replacement.