A comprehensive auto glass inspection is part of Utah’s state-mandated vehicle safety testing program.
Your car’s windshield plays an important role. It helps keep your car stable, holding up your roof in the event of a crash, preventing an inward collapse. It aids with visibility, helping prevent accidents and injuries to yourself and other motorists on the road.
When you visit the Department of Transportation for your vehicle’s safety inspection, an in-depth auto glass inspection is a big part of the visit. Will your vehicle pass?
Utah Safety Inspection Laws
In Utah, vehicles that are 4, 8 and 10 years old must pass safety inspections. Once the vehicle is 10 years old, it must pass a safety inspection every year. The registration must be valid and you must schedule the inspection for within two months of the registration’s renewal.
The auto glass inspection is just part of a comprehensive look at your entire vehicle, but your vehicle can easily fail if it has even a small windshield crack. According to state restrictions, cracks and chips are OK only if they are within the 6-inch border of the edge of the windshield, measured from where the glass meets the edge of the molding and toward the center of the windshield.
The inner part of the windshield is called the acute area. If a crack extends into this area and is longer than 1 inch, your vehicle will fail the auto glass inspection.
Examining Your Windshield
Before you schedule your vehicle’s visit, take a good look at the acute area of your windshield. Use a measuring tape to check the length of each mark. Err on the side of caution. Even though you may hope your vehicle can sneak by, think about why these standards are in place — for your safety. It’s in your best interest to make sure your windshield is solid, clear and secure.
Do You Need Repair or Replacement?
Call a professional auto glass repair company to get their opinion on your windshield. They will have experience helping their customers pass state safety inspections, and they will know if the damage to your auto glass threatens your ability to pass.
They will also be able to give you options: Do you want to repair or replace the windshield? If the damaged can be repaired, this option may be a more cost-effective choice. If it’s too extensive for a repair, you’ll go into your safety inspection with a new, perfect windshield that’s guaranteed to pass scrutiny.
Trust Glasshopper Auto Glass for a professional auto glass inspection, and affordable repair or replacement solutions — we come to you.