Alastair Shephard

Content Writer

Joseph Law

Bumper Content Writer

Having a chipped or cracked windscreen can be anything from a minor nuisance to a big repair bill, depending on how and when you deal with it. 

In this article, I’ll explain what you need to know about windscreen cracks and chips, and how best to deal with them. 

Technically yes you can drive with a cracked windscreen. Whilst the windscreen being cracked will not hinder the function of the vehicle, it could affect your ability to drive safely. 

If the crack is at all obscuring the view of the driver, this can be considered “use of a motor vehicle in a dangerous condition” by a police officer, an offence that comes with 3 penalty points and a fine. 

If the crack is on the passenger side then only use the car for essential travel, but essentially, I would always recommend replacing a cracked windscreen as soon as possible, if

Is it Illegal to Drive With a Broken Windscreen?

The act of driving with a broken windscreen is not specifically illegal, but you could be committing an offence if the damage is affecting your ability to safely drive. 

This could be from something as small as a minor chip if it’s directly in your eye-line.

The MOT rules are quite clear on windscreens, there are two main distinctions, chips vs cracks and the area in which the damage is in.

A crack or chip in the driver's view larger than 10mm is classified as an MOT fail

Any crack larger than 40mm (about the width of a credit card) anywhere on the windscreen will be an MOT fail.

It depends on the chip or crack. Unlike bodywork, glass is not easily repaired, but some damage can be fixed without needing a new windscreen.

Small chips - under 25mm - can usually be repaired, a chip classified as smaller than or approximately the size of a £2 coin. The repair consists of an epoxy resin being injected into the chip, filling it to be flush with the surface.

The chip will also need to be away from the outside edge, at least 7 cm in most cases. The excess is removed and the chip will be practically invisible once completed.

For a windscreen crack to be repairable, it needs to meet a few strict requirements; generally, these are to be at least 7 cm from an edge and less than 4 cm in size. However, in most cases, cracks will not be fixed by most repair companies.

How Much Does it Cost to Repair A Windscreen?

Windscreens are generally quite expensive components to replace, with many modern cars involving active safety cameras and sensors too. If your windscreen has a chip, make sure to get it fixed as soon as possible to avoid higher costs. 

How Much Does A WindscreenChip Repair Cost?

Small chips in your windscreen can be repaired for as little as £40

This will generally be per chip so if you have more than one make sure to factor this in. Chip repairs take around 30 minutes.

You can sometimes see companies offering free chip repair, often in supermarket car parks. 

Usually, these claim the cost from your insurer, so make sure to double-check your policy details before approaching one.

How Much Does Windscreen Replacement Cost?

If your windscreen has a large chip in it, or a crack over 40mm, you’ll need to have it replaced, 

, depending on the car and the features it has (auto-braking and rain sensors can make the job more complex).

As detailed below, you can have your windscreen replaced much cheaper through your insurance, usually, the 

windscreen excess will be around £100 - £130.

It’s actually fairly commonplace for comprehensive policies to cover windscreen replacements, and what’s more, it generally doesn’t affect your no-claims policy.

To have your windscreen replacement covered by your insurance policy, check your policy documents for information on how to claim. This will also detail the windscreen excess you’ll have to pay.

How Much Does a Replacement Windscreen Cost Through Insurance?

Like most costs in motoring, the standard excess cost has risen over the last few years, 

you can generally expect to pay £100 - £150 for windscreen excess from most insurers.

However, this cost is assuming you’re happy to use the insurers nominated provided, to use an unapproved supplier you may find yourself having to pay significantly more. 

Can You Prevent a Chipped Windscreen From Spreading?

Cracks do tend to grow over time, made worse by heat/cold cycles and vibration/impact from driving.

That said, chips can also turn into cracks if left too long, so it’s important to get any chips repaired as soon as possible, ideally with the car having as little use beforehand as possible.

Unfortunately, it’s near enough impossible to avoid the stone impacts that most often cause windscreen chips and cracks.

If your car is presenting large repair bills, 

 offers a zero-interest option to spread out car payments, from bodywork damage to large mechanical work. Choose from one of our many 

Cracked Windscreens: Is It Safe To Drive, Can You Repair Them & And How Much To Fix

Risse in der Windschutzscheibe: Darf man damit fahren, kann man sie reparieren und wie viel kostet die Reparatur?

Engine failure is one of the most costly issues any driver can face, often resulting in bills higher than the value of the car itself. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, you may be wondering if your car insurance will cover the bill, we explain all in this blog.

If the engine failure is due to age, mileage or poor servicing, your car insurance will not cover the repair costs, this is regardless of the level of cover you have. 

The only instance your insurance might pay to repair a blown engine is if it was the result of a crash, fire or attempted theft.

Will Third Party Insurance Cover Engine Failure?

Regardless of cause, third party insurance will not cover engine failure, that’s because it only covers the other party’s vehicle, but not your own.

Will Third Party Fire and Theft Cover Engine Failure?

TPFT includes cover for your own vehicle in cases of theft or fire damage, so in theory should cover engine failure from either of these events, for a definitive answer contact your insurer.

As theft attempts usually amount to a broken window or damaged ignition barrel, rather than engine failure, many insurers would need strong evidence before they’d pay to replace an engine on this basis. 

Will Comprehensive Insurance Cover Engine Failure?

As comprehensive cover includes damage to your own car, if the engine failure is caused by an accident, the insurer should foot the bill to repair or reimburse you for the costs.

If caused by any other eventuality, it’s unlikely to be covered, read on for more details.

If the engine failure is the result of an accident, and you have comprehensive cover, the insurer is likely to cover the repair or replacement of your car. 

However, unless your car is particularly valuable, most engine replacements bills will deem the car “uneconomical to repair” meaning the car will be declared a write off instead of receiving a new engine.

When Insurance Will Not Cover Engine Failure

Even with the correct maintenance schedule and servicing, an engine can still fail, unfortunately 

insurance policies don’t cover for mechanical failure due to wear and tear.

Manufacturers or after sales warranties are typically used to cover these kinds of damages

Modern engines are finely tuned devices, with many moving parts. They need lubrication via the correct oil, changed at the 

, and effective cooling via their cooling system. 

If either of these are ignored, forgotten or overlooked, the engine may well suffer and fail prematurely.

Ultimately, insurance does not cover against lack of maintenance, 

even warranty companies will need to see evidence of manufacturer-recommended servicing before paying out for such a failure. 

Many cars are scrapped due to faults other than engine failure, such as rust, bodywork damage or simply old age. Even so, helping to prevent your engine from falling prematurely is relatively simple.

 for a reason, oils break down under normal conditions, and lose their lubricating properties. Most cars require an oil change at least every 15,000 miles, some even less. 

Check your service intervals in your manual, and ensure they are not extended. Unless you do mega mileage, I would recommend servicing your car once per year, this way it’s easy to remember and budget for.

As well as changing your oil on time, using the 

 is vital. There are many different types of engine oil, and the manufacturer will generally put this in the service manual, too. 

Alongside the correct oil, the oil filter should be of OEM quality, ensuring the oil is not transporting debris and contaminants around the engine. 

Engines typically operate at around 100 degrees celsius, any cooler and they won’t be operating efficiently, hotter and you run the risk of warping parts or otherwise damaging the engine permanently.

Most cars come with a temperature gauge, check that the needle rises steadily from zero to the mid position after 5-15 minutes of driving, and doesn’t falter up or down during normal driving. If it does, have a mechanic check the cooling system urgently.

How to Claim For Engine Failure on Insurance

Insurers are famously good at negotiating out of paying for car repairs, so an expensive engine repair bill needs to be accompanied with good evidence in order to make a successful claim. 

Use Bumper for your Engine Replacement or Repair

If your engine has failed due to old age or a manufacturing issue, but the car still has life left in it, 

 can help with 0% finance. Offering zero-interest finance, a costly engine replacement can be split into manageable chunks. To get started, find your 

Does Car Insurance Cover Engine Failure?

Every year we have to pay for insurance to legally drive our cars on the road, but what do we actually get for our money? Insurance pays out if we have a crash, but does it also cover repairs caused by wear and tear? We explain it all.

Comprehensive car insurance covers damage to your car through an accident (regardless of fault or how many parties are involved), theft, vandalism, fire, and natural disasters (such as floods or hail). It does not cover any part that failed due to age or normal usage.

If you only have third-party fire & theft, then your car repairs will not be covered in the event of a crash, it only covers damage or loss due to fire or theft, and any other cars involved (third parties).

How Do Car Insurance Companies Decide on Repairs?

After a road traffic collision, the insurer will either send an investigator or take your car away to be evaluated. The insurer will consider the level of damage, the age of the car and the mileage on the car, as to whether they consider it a write-off or not. 

Does it Matter Who's at Fault in an Insurance Claim?

Regardless of who’s at fault, if you have comprehensive cover, you will be compensated for your car and the costs of personal injuries. The fault only determines who's insurer ultimately pays for the repairs.

Not all insurance policies are equal, when buying you can select the level of coverage you need, there are three types of policies to pick from:

This is the minimum level of cover required by law to drive on the road in the UK. It covers any third parties in the event of a crash. This is used to cover costs for someone else’s vehicle or property, it also covers injuries to other people; both in other cars or your passengers. 

Third-party insurance does not cover your vehicle, or injury to yourself in any way. 

Third-party insurance is not commonly available, most insurers offer one of the other two cover levels explained below.

Third-Party Fire and Theft Insurance Cover

In addition to everything on a third-party-only policy; other people’s cars, property or personal injury, TPFT insurance, as it is commonly known covers your car in the event of theft or fire damage. 

This level of cover does not include damage to your car from an accident, nor personal injury sustained to you (the driver).

The highest level of cover, comprehensive cover includes everything from both third party and TPFT, plus damage to your own car, too. Regardless of fault, comprehensive cover will replace or reimburse you for damage to your vehicle, from a small scratch to a complete write-off. 

Comprehensive cover also includes accidental damage, such as scratches obtained whilst parking, or dinging your door on a wall.

Insurers will not cover any damage or injury, regardless of the level of cover, for a number of reasons, these can include:

 You caused an accident - this could be through moving from your lane on a roundabout, pulling out on a car at a junction, or colliding with a slower car in front whilst in traffic.

 If you are deemed to be at fault, your comprehensive insurance will cover the repairs to both vehicles and any personal injuries caused. 

 Any third parties will claim through your insurance to recoup the costs of the incident, including car repair, hire of a car in the interim, and any personal injury claims.

Example 2: An accident where both parties are at fault - 50/50 split liability claim

 Another car is reversing out of a parking space, and you collide with them. Both parties could have prevented the accident. It is decided between the insurers that liability is to be split 50/50.

 Your car and any injuries to persons in it (including you) will be covered fully, with 50% coming from your insurer and 50% from the third party.

50% of the costs of the accident to your car and persons will be covered from the other party’s insurance, and your insurance will cover 50% of the third party’s costs, but none of yours.

If your insurance isn’t covering the cost of repairs, or your car needs maintenance or mechanical work, using Bumper’s zero-interest repair finance is a great way to spread the cost over many months. Find your nearest Bumper 

Does Car Insurance Cover Repairs?

Tyre Tread depth is one of the most important things to check on your car, it can be the difference between having a safe car that can brake and steer in wet weather, and a dangerous one.

This blog will focus on what the term “tread depth” means, how it’s measured and how it can affect the safety of your car.

Tyre tread is the grooved surface that runs around the perimeter of the tyre, its purpose is to disperse water as the wheel rolls along the road. 

Not having tread would mean the tyres would struggle to get traction, and braking and steering would be extremely difficult, especially in wet conditions. The risk of understeer and aquaplaning would be significantly increased.

As the tyres do their job, the forces from accelerating, steering and braking wear away the outer layer of rubber. As the grooves that create the tread are only around 1 cm deep, at some point the tread will be worn away completely, leaving a smooth surface. 

The remaining depth of these grooves is referred to as the Tyre Tread Depth, and there is a legal limit at which the tyres must be changed.

Keeping track of the wear level of your tyres is something every driver should know how to do. Not only is it dangerous to drive on worn out tyres, but it can land you with some pretty hefty fines too. There are a few ways to check tyre tread depth:

If your tyre tread is deeper than the border, you don’t need to replace your tyres yet. If the edge of the border is visible, your tread depth is below 3mm and should be replaced soon.

Tread depth gauges are readily available from car accessory retailers and even most petrol stations or supermarkets. They are basically a small sliding ruler, with an arrow that allows an accurate measurement to be taken. 

Follow the instructions for your particular depth gauge, again measuring each tyre in at least two places, and all tyres on the car - even the spare if you have one.

As well as the two methods above, a quick and simple method is to check the tyre’s wear indicators or wear bars.

Look for a bar inside the tread grooves, that runs across the width of the tyre. If this bar is level or flush with the outermost tread surface, your tyres need to be replaced. 

 Many tyre brands have a small mark on the sidewall showing where the wear bars are, Michelin has a little Michelin Man symbol, and other brands such as Continental have the letters TWI in line with the bars. 

Tyres with less than 1.6mm of tread are illegal and should be replaced. The general guidance is to replace tyres when they have less than 3mm of tread - this is where the 20p coin trick comes in handy.

Driving with tyres worn below the legal limit can result in a fine of up to £2,500, and 3 penalty points, per tyre! That along with the reduced control and braking distance, means keeping on track of your tyre wear is by far the most cost-effective solution.

Why Do You Have To Check Tyre Tread Depth?

We’ve discussed what tyre tread is, and how to check it, but why should you regularly check your tyres?

As we’ve touched upon, the link between tyre tread depth and vehicle safety is significant. Tyres need to be able to disperse standing water from puddles, rain or poor road conditions. If they can't, the grip is easily lost.

This can be catastrophic if you need to brake or turn whilst driving on wet roads, worn tyres also make aquaplaning much more likely - this is when your car rides over the surface of standing water rather than pushing it aside, resulting in a total loss of control.

Cost Implications of Not Monitoring Your Tyre Tread Depth

Aside from reducing the likelihood of having an accident, there are other areas where checking your tyres can save you money.

Like any maintenance on your car, being able to plan it in advance can allow you to shop around, finding deals or better places to buy from. Needing tyres urgently is a good way to end up paying a premium for them.

, we’ve partnered with hundreds of tyre garages across the UK, allowing you to spread out the cost.

Further to that, If you’re caught driving on the road on tyres below the legal limit you may well face a significant penalty of up to £2,500 per tyre, as well as an increase to your insurance premiums in future years.

What Is The UK's Legal Tread Depth?

With modern cars being safer than ever, some buyers tend to overlook the safety ratings, but you may be surprised to know that not all cars meet the highest safety standards as assessed by the Euro NCAP organisation. 

In fact, there are some cars released very recently that have fallen short, with some very poor ratings. In this blog, then we’ll take a look at which cars on sale today are the safest, ranging from family hatchbacks to SUVs.

BYD Seal - £42,985 - Euro NCAP Rating: 5*

A new player in the market, BYD are making some of the most innovative, and safe, electric vehicles. The new SUV; the Seal is no exception. It received a 5-star Euro NCAP rating, with great accident ratings.

 comes with emergency braking assist that registers not only pedestrians and other cars, but motorbikes and vulnerable road users. It also comes equipped with side, chest and pelvis airbags for front passengers. 

Volkswagen Golf - £27,035 - Euro NCAP Rating: 5*

 has been a common sight on UK roads for the 50 years it’s been in production, and for good reason. As well as being just the right amount of car for a small to medium-sized family, the Golf has great safety features and ratings.

Achieving 95% for adult safety and 89% for child safety in NCAP’s testing, the Golf is a safe bet in more ways than one. Additional features such as auto emergency braking, that’s sensitive to pedestrians, cyclists and cars, and driver drowsiness alerts contribute to your peace of mind whether on a long drive or the school run. 

Ford Focus - £28,500 - Euro NCAP Rating: 5*

 is very much VW's direct competitor. Whilst starting prices are slightly higher, standard specifications do tend to be higher with Ford vs Volkswagen, for instance, the basic Focus comes with keyless entry and cruise control.

In terms of safety features, the Ford is pipped slightly by the VW, with 84% and 87% in adult and child safety respectively. However, even the basic model comes with side, chest and pelvis airbags.

Volvo XC40 - £35,254 - Euro NCAP Rating: 5*

An article about car safety wouldn’t be complete without a Volvo, the brand has been focused on safety since before most others even considered seat belts a necessity. 

 is Volvo’s smallest SUV, with the XC60 and XC90 being its larger siblings. 

Despite its relatively small size, the XC40 packs in a lot of safety tech, which grants a 97% adult safety rating and 87% child safety, one of the best on this list. 

That’s probably due to it having every airbag available, including knee, side head and pelvis airbags for driver and passenger. 

Cupra Formentor - £34,190 - Euro NCAP Rating: 5*

, so it's a bonus that it also boasts a 5-star Euro NCAP rating too. It has a higher child occupancy rating than most at 89% and a very respectable adult rating of 93%. 

Auto emergency braking is standard, helping to prevent front-end impacts with other vehicles, pedestrians and motorbikes. 

Alongside this, the Formentor comes as standard with e-call, an SOS service that detects serious accidents and phones for help.

Volkswagen Tiguan - £34,075 - Euro NCAP Rating: 5*

Volkswagen’s answer to the small-medium SUV sector is the hugely popular 

. It combines a higher driving position with VW reliability and build quality. Available with a 1.5 petrol, 2.0 diesel or a plug-in hybrid, there should be one to fit your needs. 

The adult occupancy rating is not as impressive as some here, at 83%, but the child occupancy rating of 88% is up there with the best. 

The Tiguan comes with all but knee airbags and has forward collision control as standard. 

In our opinion, it has to be the Mercedes E-Class (£55,120) - Euro NCAP Rating: 5*.

 is ubiquitous with luxury and quality, it stands to reason then that it should also be the safest car currently on sale, receiving incredible ratings of 92% and 90% for adult and child occupancy respectively. 

It achieves this by being able to deploy one or multiple of its numerous airbags, the E-Class ticks every box on this front, from front and side head protection, and knee airbags for the driver and passenger.

All the expected safety equipment is present too, with emergency braking assistance as standard, alongside a very sophisticated lane guidance system and driver drowsiness detection.

Whilst all manufacturers do their best to improve their cars and make them as safe as possible, the more expertise, investment and time a company has, the more safe their vehicles will be. 

Some manufacturers have spent decades perfecting their systems. These are the brands to look for when buying the safest car possible:

The Euro NCAP, or New Car Assessment Programme, is a testing organisation paid for by various governments across Europe. Their mission is to thoroughly and strategically test as many new cars as possible, on metrics such as occupant safety, pedestrian safety and overall safety. 

They do this by crash-testing hundreds of cars every year and using sophisticated monitoring technology to assess the damage to the car, occupants and even third parties, such as pedestrians or cyclists. 

Alongside physical testing, NCAP delves into the electronic assistance technology of a car, such as emergency braking, stability control and ABS. Once a car has been tested in all aspects, it is given an overall star score out of 5, and ratings for specific categories. 

Most of the occupant safety of a vehicle is derived from the bodywork and structure of the car. In crash protection, slowing the car down as slowly as possible is key, this means absorbing the energy in whatever way is effective. Significant and well-designed crumple zones are the most common way of attenuating the force from a crash. 

However, crumple zones can only go so far, alongside making the body and structure of the car good at absorbing energy, the passenger compartment should remain as intact as possible, to avoid direct impact to the people inside. 

These physical technologies have been around for a few decades now, but in more recent years electronic aids also play a big part in helping to avoid collisions in the first place. Systems such as stability control and emergency braking assist can reduce the likelihood of a crash significantly. 

Hopefully, this has helped narrow down which car is the best bet to protect you and your family should the worst happen. From sophisticated electronics to numerous airbags, the modern safety systems can be bewildering. 

For more information on car safety, we’d recommend checking out the 

 for the latest news on testing and development.

Keep your vehicle safe, reliable and on the road with regular servicing. 

 allows you to split the cost of additional service and repair work into monthly payments at no extra cost to you.

Apply online in just a few clicks and choose from 1000s of dependable garages and dealerships across the country.

The Safest Cars To Buy In The UK

MOT tests are legal requirements for cars and vans over three years (or four in Northern Ireland). They ensure the vehicle is fit for the road and maintained to a safe standard. Regular maintenance is vital to passing.

 or not notice that the certificate has expired, leading you to ask, "Can you drive without your MOT?" 

Whether you want to avoid accidentally driving without an MOT or are worried about driving to your test, we’re here to help. This article covers whether you can drive your car without an MOT, what happens if you fail your test and other MOT-related FAQs. 

 However, it’s not always that simple. 

For example, you can drive to a pre-booked MOT test at an authorised centre. But you can’t pop down to the shops. 

Driving without a valid MOT - What you need to know

Here are a few common scenarios to help you understand when you can or can’t drive without an MOT. 

If you miss your MOT and have an expired certificate, you will be prosecuted if you’re caught driving. 

Book in for an MOT as soon as possible and keep your car serviced to ensure it’s road-safe. 

Bumper is here to help you split with 0% car repair or service finance. 

Sometimes, cars fail the MOT test even though the current certificate is still in date. 

In this situation, only ‘dangerous’ problems mean you can’t drive the car. You can drive the vehicle home and to repairs if it only has minor issues.

 at all times. Your mechanic will inform you if this isn’t the case.

Most cars only require an MOT certificate on their third registration anniversary (In Northern Ireland, four years). So, there’s no need to worry about MOTs for the first three years.

However, if you’ve bought a second-hand car, make sure to check its MOT status and plan ahead for the next test as soon as you take ownership. The next test might be sooner than you expect. 

Faults and vehicle recalls invalidate your current MOT certification. 

Recalls don’t happen without thorough research. If you’re unsure, contact your manufacturer. Otherwise, you should assume the problem is serious and affects the car’s safety.

Still unsure? Let’s take a closer look at the most common FAQs and when it’s fine for your car to have no MOT.

Can I drive my car without MOT if it’s booked in?

Yes, you can drive your car to a booked MOT test if your current certificate isn’t valid. 

However, you should check your insurance before you do so. Some insurers don’t cover driving the vehicle without an MOT, even if it’s just for the next test.

 on how far you can drive without a certificate. But you should always try to book an MOT nearby to minimise the distance. 

Can you drive your car after a failed MOT?

Driving after a failed MOT depends on whether your current MOT certificate is valid and if any major faults were found.

If your car has ‘dangerous’ or ‘major’ issues, you can't drive it until these problems are professionally fixed. 

Advice

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