It goes without saying that a driver needs to be able to see well in order to drive safely. Because of this, there are certain laws and rules that govern the quality that a vehicle’s windshield must be in. Cracks occurring in windshields are sometimes not allowed, but they sometimes are. Where the crack occurs, the severity of the crack, and the state that you are driving in determine whether or not the windshield needs to be replaced.
Cracked windshield laws are some of the more important rules of the road, because they make sure that drivers have a clear and safe view from their vehicle. However, cracks and chips are not the only windshield problems that drivers need to be concerned with. There are other windshield laws that govern what objects can be on the windshield, what tints are allowed, among other things.
The windshield rules and regulations vary depending on what state your vehicle is in, so it’s imperative that you learn about your local cracked windshield laws. This not only helps ensure that you drive in safe vehicle conditions, but it can keep you from getting a pricey fix-it ticket. To make sure that you are familiar with all of the windshield laws in your state, check out our state-by-state guide.
Cracked windshield laws in each state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Driving with a cracked or obstructed windshield may be dangerous, and it may also leave you liable to receive an expensive ticket. Be sure to read up on your state’s windshield laws and rules, and if you have any windshield issues that require inspection, make sure to reach out to a reputable mechanic, such as the ones here at YourMechanic.
