Auto Glass Repair vs Replace Decision Calculator

ANA›Life Services Authority›National Calculator Authority›Auto Glass Repair vs Replace Decision Calculator

.calc-container { max-width: 640px; margin: 2rem 0; padding: 1.5rem; background: #fff; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.06); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, sans-serif; } .calc-container h3 { font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.15rem; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-bottom: 0.5rem; border-bottom: 2px solid var(--ac, #3d5a80); } .calc-row { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 0.75rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem; flex-wrap: wrap; } .calc-row label { min-width: 160px; font-size: 0.9rem; color: #333; font-weight: 500; } .calc-row input[type="number"], .calc-row select { flex: 1; min-width: 120px; max-width: 200px; padding: 0.5rem 0.6rem; border: 1px solid #ccc; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 0.9rem; font-family: system-ui, sans-serif; color: #1a1a1a; background: #fafaf8; } .calc-row input:focus, .calc-row select:focus { outline: none; border-color: var(--ac, #3d5a80); box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(26,74,138,0.12); } .calc-row .unit { font-size: 0.82rem; color: #888; min-width: 30px; } .calc-btn { display: inline-block; margin-top: 0.5rem; padding: 0.55rem 1.5rem; background: var(--ac, #3d5a80); color: #fff; border: none; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 0.9rem; font-weight: 600; cursor: pointer; font-family: system-ui, sans-serif; } .calc-btn:hover { opacity: 0.9; } .calc-result { margin-top: 1.25rem; padding: 1rem 1.25rem; background: #f0f6fc; border-left: 3px solid var(--ac, #3d5a80); border-radius: 0 6px 6px 0; display: none; } .calc-result.visible { display: block; } .calc-result-label { font-size: 0.78rem; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.06em; color: #666; margin-bottom: 0.25rem; } .calc-result-value { font-size: 1.6rem; font-weight: 700; color: var(--ac, #3d5a80); } .calc-result-detail { font-size: 0.85rem; color: #555; margin-top: 0.5rem; line-height: 1.5; } .calc-note { margin-top: 1rem; font-size: 0.8rem; color: #888; font-style: italic; } .calc-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 0.75rem; margin-top: 0.75rem; } .calc-grid-item { padding: 0.6rem 0.8rem; background: #f8f9fa; border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid #eee; } .calc-grid-item .label { font-size: 0.75rem; color: #888; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.04em; } .calc-grid-item .value { font-size: 1.1rem; font-weight: 600; color: #1a1a1a; } @media (max-width: 720px) { .calc-row { flex-direction: column; align-items: flex-start; gap: 0.3rem; } .calc-row label { min-width: auto; } .calc-row input[type="number"], .calc-row select { max-width: 100%; width: 100%; } .calc-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; } } .calc-chart { margin: 1rem 0; text-align: center; } .calc-chart svg { max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .calc-chart-legend { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; justify-content: center; gap: 0.6rem 1.2rem; margin-top: 0.6rem; font-size: 0.8rem; color: #555; } .calc-chart-legend span { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 0.3rem; } .calc-chart-legend i { display: inline-block; width: 10px; height: 10px; border-radius: 2px; font-style: normal; } .calc-related { max-width: 640px; margin: 2rem 0 1rem; padding: 1.25rem 1.5rem; background: #f8f9fa; border: 1px solid #e8e8e8; border-radius: 8px; } .calc-related h3 { font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1rem; color: #1a1a1a; margin: 0 0 0.75rem; padding-bottom: 0.4rem; border-bottom: 2px solid var(--ac, #3d5a80); } .calc-related-list { list-style: none; padding: 0; margin: 0 0 0.75rem; display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 0.4rem 1.5rem; } .calc-related-list li a { font-size: 0.88rem; color: var(--ac, #3d5a80); text-decoration: none; } .calc-related-list li a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } .calc-browse-all { margin: 0.5rem 0 0; font-size: 0.9rem; font-weight: 600; } .calc-browse-all a { color: var(--ac, #3d5a80); text-decoration: none; } .calc-browse-all a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } @media (max-width: 720px) { .calc-related-list { grid-template-columns: 1fr; } }

Auto Glass Repair vs Replace Decision Calculator

Determine whether your windshield or auto glass damage should be repaired or fully replaced based on damage characteristics, location, and cost analysis.

Type of Damage

-- Select -- Chip / Bull's-eye Crack Star Break Combination Break Edge Crack Floater Crack

Damage Size (inches)

Damage Location on Windshield

-- Select -- Driver's Critical View Zone (directly in line of sight) Driver's Peripheral View Zone (edge of driver's view) Passenger Side Within 2 inches of windshield edge Center / Top (non-critical)

Number of Cracks / Impact Points

Glass Depth Penetration

-- Select -- Outer layer only (surface chip/crack) Through to inner layer (deep crack) Unknown / Not sure

Estimated Repair Cost ($)

Estimated Replacement Cost ($)

Insurance Deductible ($) (0 if no insurance / waived)

Vehicle Age (years)

Does vehicle have ADAS / camera mounted on windshield?

-- Select -- Yes (requires recalibration after replacement) No

Calculate

function autCalc() { // --- Clear errors --- var errorIds = [ 'aut-damage-type-err','aut-damage-size-err','aut-damage-location-err', 'aut-num-cracks-err','aut-depth-err','aut-repair-cost-err', 'aut-replace-cost-err','aut-deductible-err','aut-vehicle-age-err','aut-adas-err' ]; errorIds.forEach(function(id){ document.getElementById(id).textContent = ''; });

var resultDiv = document.getElementById('aut-result'); resultDiv.style.display = 'none';

// --- Get values --- var damageType = document.getElementById('aut-damage-type').value; var damageSizeRaw = document.getElementById('aut-damage-size').value.trim(); var location = document.getElementById('aut-damage-location').value; var numCracksRaw = document.getElementById('aut-num-cracks').value.trim(); var depth = document.getElementById('aut-depth').value; var repairCostRaw = document.getElementById('aut-repair-cost').value.trim(); var replaceCostRaw = document.getElementById('aut-replace-cost').value.trim(); var deductibleRaw = document.getElementById('aut-deductible').value.trim(); var vehicleAgeRaw = document.getElementById('aut-vehicle-age').value.trim(); var adas = document.getElementById('aut-adas').value;

// --- Validation --- var valid = true;

if (!damageType) { document.getElementById('aut-damage-type-err').textContent = 'Please select a damage type.'; valid = false; } if (damageSizeRaw === '' || isNaN(parseFloat(damageSizeRaw)) || parseFloat(damageSizeRaw) 0 favors REPAIR; Score 0 ? deductible : replaceCost) + adasRecalibCost; // If deductible >= replaceCost, insurance doesn't help; pay full replacement if (deductible >= replaceCost) { effectiveReplaceCost = replaceCost + adasRecalibCost; }

// Cost Savings from Repair var costSavings = effectiveReplaceCost - effectiveRepairCost;

// Cost ratio: how much cheaper is repair vs replace (as %) // costRatio = (replaceCost - repairCost) / replaceCost * 100 var costRatio = replaceCost > 0 ? ((replaceCost - repairCost) / replaceCost * 100) : 0;

// Add cost factor to score if (costRatio >= 70) { repairScore += 2; } else if (costRatio >= 40) { repairScore += 1; } else if (costRatio 0; var recommendation = ''; var confidenceLevel = ''; var confidenceColor = '';

// Normalize score to percentage confidence // Max possible score: 3+3+3+3+3+2+2+2 = ~21; Min: -3-3-4-3-4-1+0 = ~-18 var maxScore = 21; var minScore = -18; var normalizedScore = (repairScore - minScore) / (maxScore - minScore) * 100; normalizedScore = Math.max(0, Math.min(100, normalizedScore));

if (hardReplace) { recommendation = 'REPLACE'; confidenceLevel = 'High Confidence'; confidenceColor = '#c0392b'; } else if (repairScore >= 8) { recommendation = 'REPAIR'; confidenceLevel = 'High Confidence'; confidenceColor = '#27ae60'; } else if (repairScore >= 3) { recommendation = 'REPAIR'; confidenceLevel = 'Moderate Confidence'; confidenceColor = '#2ecc71'; } else if (repairScore >= 0) { recommendation = 'REPAIR (Borderline)'; confidenceLevel = 'Low Confidence — Consult a technician'; confidenceColor = '#f39c12'; } else if (repairScore >= -4) { recommendation = 'REPLACE (Borderline)'; confidenceLevel = 'Low Confidence — Consult a technician'; confidenceColor = '#e67e22'; } else { recommendation = 'REPLACE'; confidenceLevel = 'High Confidence'; confidenceColor = '#c0392b'; }

// Build notes if (damageType === 'chip' || damageType === 'star') { repairNotes.push('Chips and star breaks are the most repairable damage types.'); } if (damageSize 0) { repairNotes.push('Repair saves approximately $' + costSavings.toFixed(0) + ' compared to replacement out-of-pocket cost.'); } if (location === 'passenger' || location === 'center_top') { repairNotes.push('Non-critical location reduces optical distortion risk from repair resin.'); }

if (damageType === 'edge') { replaceNotes.push('Edge cracks run to the windshield border and cannot be effectively sealed.'); } if (damageSize > 12) { replaceNotes.push('Damage exceeds 12 inches — beyond the capability of any repair resin system.'); } if (numCracks > 3) { replaceNotes.push('Multiple impact points weaken the overall glass structure.'); } if (vehicleAge 0 ? '#27ae60' : (r[1] 0 ? '+' : ''; return '' + r[0] + '' + sign + r[1] + ''; }).join('');

var repairNotesHtml = repairNotes.length ? '' + repairNotes.map(function(n){ return ''; }).join('') + '' : 'None

';
var replaceNotesHtml = replaceNotes.length || replaceFlags.length
? '' + replaceFlags.concat(replaceNotes).map(function(n){ return ''; }).join('') + ''
'None

';

var recColor = recommendation.startsWith('REPAIR') ? '#27ae60' : '#c0392b';

resultDiv.innerHTML = '### Decision: ' + recommendation + ' ' + '' + confidenceLevel + '

' + '' + '#### Score Breakdown (Repair Favorability) ' + '' + 'FactorScore' + '' + tableRows + '' + 'Total Repair Score' + repairScore + '' + '' + '#### Cost Analysis ' + '' + 'Estimated Repair Cost$' + repairCost.toFixed(2) + '' + 'Estimated Replacement Cost$' + replaceCost.toFixed(2) + '' + (adas === 'yes' ? 'ADAS Recalibration (if replaced)+$' + adasRecalibCost.toFixed(2) + '' : '') + 'Your Deductible$' + deductible.toFixed(2) + '' + 'Effective Out-of-Pocket (Repair)$' + effectiveRepairCost.toFixed(2) + '' + 'Effective Out-of-Pocket (Replace)$' + effectiveReplaceCost.toFixed(2) + '' + 'Potential Savings by Repairing= 0 ? '#27ae60' : '#c0392b') + ';">$' + costSavings.toFixed(2) + '' + '' + '#### Reasons to Repair ' + repairNotesHtml + '#### Reasons to Replace ' + replaceNotesHtml;

resultDiv.style.display = 'block'; }

#### Formula & Scoring Model

The calculator uses a weighted multi-factor scoring model to produce a Repair Favorability Score:

Repair Score = Σ(Factor Scores)

Factor Scores: Damage Type Score : Chip/Star = +3/+2; Crack = 0; Combination = -1; Floater = -2; Edge = -3 Size Score : ≤ threshold = +3; ≤ 2× threshold = 0; > 2× threshold = -3 (Threshold: 1 in for chips/stars; 6 in for cracks) Location Score : Center/Top = +3; Passenger = +2; Peripheral = -1; Edge Zone = -3; Critical View = -4 Crack Count Score : 1 = +3; 2 = +1; 3 = -1; >3 = -3 Depth Score : Outer layer = +3; Unknown = 0; Inner layer = -4 Vehicle Age Score : 4–8 yrs = +2; 0–3 or 9–15 yrs = +1; >15 yrs = -1 ADAS Score : ADAS present = +2 (repair avoids recalibration cost) Cost Ratio Score : Savings ≥ 70% = +2; ≥ 40% = +1; 2× repairability threshold

#### Assumptions & References

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References

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