Repair Your Chip – and Feel Good Doing It

You’ve cut back on red meat, bought an EV, and finally installed solar panels. But there’s another simple way you could be doing your bit for the future of the planet — and it could be literally right in front of you, on your windscreen.

When a Small Chip Becomes a Bigger Problem

We’ve all been there. You’re driving along when a stone flicks up from the road — ding. Or maybe you notice a tiny chip on your windscreen and can’t quite remember when it appeared. You tell yourself you’ll get it sorted… and then life happens. With work, family and everything else competing for attention, a small chip hardly feels urgent.

But a chip can turn into a crack at any time — often when you least expect it. A sudden temperature change, a rough patch of road, or even closing your car door a little too firmly are just some of the ways damage can spread. Once a crack forms, you’re no longer looking at a quick repair, but a full windscreen replacement.

Why Acting Early Pays Off

Fixing a windscreen chip as soon as you spot it is faster, simpler and more wallet‑friendly. In fact, your chip repair may even be free if it’s included in your car insurance policy.

By repairing early, your existing windscreen stays in place, with the damage filled with a strong, high-performance resin used by O’Brien AutoGlass. This avoids the extra time and cost of fitting a replacement — and for vehicles equipped with ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), it may also help you avoid the need for recalibration.

Plus, with O’Brien AutoGlass, you can choose to have a technician come to you at home or work, or visit your nearest service centre.

Better for the Planet

Repairing your windscreen instead of replacing it is also the more sustainable and eco‑friendly option — by far. By choosing repair, you help reduce waste, conserve resources and prevent unnecessary carbon emissions. 

As Australia’s leading windscreen repairer, O’Brien AutoGlass confirms that fixing a chip rather than replacing a windscreen saves 66kg of CO₂, or reduces emissions by around 80%*. That’s roughly equivalent to driving 270 kilometres in a petrol car, or charging your smartphone more than 5,300 times!^ 

A repair also creates up to 3,000 times less waste than discarding and replacing a windscreen.

Committed to Recycling Windscreens

Sometimes, a windscreen replacement is unavoidable — and when that happens, you can still make a responsible choice. 

At O’Brien AutoGlass service centres, old windscreens are collected and responsibly recycled through specialised recycling partners, rather than being sent to landfill. Laminated automotive glass can be processed and repurposed into products such as road base, insulation, pool filters, bottles and jars — and even new windscreens.

So if a full replacement is required, you can feel confident that your old glass is being handled with care for the environment.

Spot a Chip? Think O’Brien. 

With 69 local service centres across Australia, supported by a national network of authorised dealers, an O’Brien chip windscreen expert is there to help — wherever the road takes you.

A Simple Fix With a Big Upside

Next time you notice a chip, don’t wait. Give O’Brien a call and get it fixed. Repairing early helps protect your windscreen, save money and support a more sustainable future. A small fix today can make a big difference tomorrow.

Remember, You Can Save with NRMA and O’Brien

My NRMA Rewards members save 20% off the O’Brien recommended price for windscreen repairs, replacements and recalibrations.# Book online at obrien.com.au/mynrma or call the O’Brien 24/7 Customer Service Team on 1800 575 050 and quote your NRMA membership number.

Roadside Assistance members on Complete Care, Ultimate Care, or Everyday Care with Windscreen Plus add-on get one free chip repair (and 50% off additional chips repaired at the same time) plus 30% off windscreen repairs, replacements and recalibrations with O’Brien as part of their cover each subscription year. Check your cover by calling 13 11 22.

TERMS:

*Estimate tool has been verified by Bureau Veritas to be conformant with ISO 14067. Data from 5 Belron countries including Australia in 2022.  

^Source: epa.gov greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator

#Applicable to after-market glass and in-house recalibrations only.  Not applicable for After Hours fees or any other offer.