| $ DIY (junkyard window): under $50 | $ $ Standard side window replacement: $100-$400 | $ $ $ Quarter glass window replacement: $100-$500+ |
Imagine if you wake up one day to notice your car has a broken window; that’s probably one of the worst nightmares for any car owner.
The thing is that the driver and passenger windows can break due to many things, accidents in most cases, but robbery attempts are common as well.
In any case, a broken window is a situation that requires an immediate replacement.
Table of Contents
What Are Car Windows Made From?
Car windows are made from tempered glass, contrary to windshields made from laminated glass.
Tempered glass is a type of glass known for being four times stronger than regular glass.
This is important when it comes to safety in case of accidents because the tempered glass will need a powerful hit to break.
If the window breaks, it will break into small pieces, which helps prevent injuries during the car crash.
Why It’s Important To Replace A Broken Car Window?
First of all, car windows are safety measures in case of accidents, but there are other reasons why replacing a broken passenger or driver side window is important:
It prevents rain, snow, and overall weather conditions from getting inside and damaging the car’s interior.
Without a window, there are more possibilities of robbery happening.
If an accident occurs, the protective shield the window represents won’t be there.
These reasons are more than enough to get a side window replacement as soon as it breaks.
What Affects The Costs Of A Side Window Replacement?
Several factors affect the costs of replacing a passenger or driver side window, like the make, model, year of the vehicle, if the window replacement comes from an OEM, aftermarket shop, or a junkyard, the difficulty of the job, and labor costs.
Having a standard passenger or driver-side window professionally replaced can cost $100 to $400, but side windows for rare or luxury vehicles can cost more.
Replacing the quarter glass window, the small triangular-shaped side window can cost $100 to $500 or more; this window is not common, making its replacement price higher.
Replacing a side window is an easy project for DIY, and if you purchase the glass from a junkyard, it can cost less than $50.
Top Companies
You can get your side window repaired by car dealerships, local repair shops, auto glass shops like Safelite, and national auto care chains like Pep Boys and Midas.
The following table shows a comparison of costs from different window repair companies:
| Company | Type of Work | Price Range |
| Safelite Auto Glass | Parts and labor | $180 – $520 |
| Glass Doctor | Parts and labor | $200 – $500 |
| Gerber | Parts and labor | $190 – $530 |
Things To Consider
Before Buying
- First, check your insurance to see if it covers a broken window. Some auto insurances often cover glass replacement. Some do it without a deductible, but others ask for up to a $300 deductible. Check with the Insurance Information Institute to know more about it.
- Check with your car’s owner’s manual to know the type of window your vehicle needs. Make sure the one you get matches your vehicle’s type specifications.
- Getting a new window from a junkyard will lower the replacement costs.
When Buying
- To replace the sidecar door window, it typically needs opening the door panel.
- This job is easy to carry out by car owners as DIY. Here’s a video made by The How-to Guys that shows how to replace a side window.
After Buying
- If not only the glass of the window was broken, but the system got damaged too, then you’ll need a power window repair.
- How Much Does an Acetylene Tank Refill Cost? - May 20, 2022
- How Much Does an Acre of Land Cost? - May 20, 2022
- How Much Does an Acorn Stair Lift Cost? - May 20, 2022