The 5 Types of Windshield Chips (And Which Ones Can Be Fixed)

When Patrick gets a call and someone says they have a chip in their windshield, the follow-up questions are always about size and shape. Those two things tell us a lot about whether the damage is repairable. Here is a breakdown of the most common chip types you will run into, what they look like, and which ones can typically be fixed.

1. The Bullseye

A bullseye chip is a circular piece of damage that looks like the rings of a target or, if you have ever thrown a stone in still water, like the ripple pattern. There is a clear center impact point surrounded by one or more circular rings in the glass.

Bullseye chips are among the most straightforward to repair. The circular pattern means the damage is self-contained, and the resin fills it cleanly. As long as the diameter is about the size of a quarter or smaller, a bullseye is almost always repairable.

2. The Star Break

A star break looks like a starburst or a snowflake. There is an impact point in the center and cracks radiating outward from it, usually between three and eight lines. The lines can be short or they can extend an inch or two out from the center.

Star breaks are also typically repairable. The resin fills both the center impact and the radiating cracks. The key is the total size of the damaged area. A star break that fits within the size of a half-dollar coin is usually fixable. One that has cracks extending three or four inches in multiple directions starts to push the limits.

3. The Combination Break

A combination break is exactly what it sounds like: a bullseye pattern with star break cracks radiating outward. These are common when the impact was significant. The circular ring pattern is visible, and there are also cracks extending beyond it in one or more directions.

Combination breaks can still be repaired in many cases. The key factors are the overall size and how far the longest cracks extend. If the whole area of damage is still within roughly quarter to half-dollar size, repair is usually possible.

4. The Half-Moon

A half-moon chip is a partial bullseye. Instead of a full circular ring, the impact created a semicircular pattern. This happens when the angle of impact was not perfectly straight-on. It looks like a crescent or half-circle.

Half-moons are generally repairable. They behave similarly to bullseye chips in terms of how the resin fills the damage.

5. The Long Crack

A long crack is a line in the glass extending more than about 6 inches. It may have started as a chip and spread over time, or it may have appeared from stress without a visible starting point. Long cracks move across the field of the windshield rather than radiating from a single impact point.

Long cracks are typically not repairable. Once a crack extends past a certain length, the structural integrity of the glass has been compromised in a way that resin cannot fully address. A crack that runs from near one edge toward the center, or that crosses the driver's line of sight, almost always means replacement.

The General Rule

• Bullseye, star break, combination, and half-moon chips are usually repairable if caught early and sized appropriately.
• Chips that are quarter-sized or smaller have the best odds of a clean, successful repair.
• Chips in the edges of the glass or directly in the driver's line of sight are harder, even if the type is repairable.
• Cracks longer than 6 inches are generally not repairable.
• When in doubt, describe what you see or send a photo. A phone call is free.

The sooner you call after noticing the damage, the more likely repair is still an option. Patrick has been doing this for 25+ years across Citrus, Marion, and Hernando County. He will give you a straight answer.