Free mobile service · Northern Virginia, Maryland and DC
Side and back glass
Door glass, quarter glass and rear windows are tempered, so they shatter into small pieces rather than cracking. That means replacement rather than repair, and a thorough cleanup: broken glass gets everywhere. We vacuum the door cavity, the seat rails and the carpet before we leave.
- Most side and back glass done the same day
- We come to you, at no extra charge
- OEM and OEE glass only
- We file the insurance claim for you
- Power window regulators and motors too
- Lifetime warrantyTransfers with the vehicle
- All insurance acceptedWe file the claim
- Free mobile serviceNo travel charge
- Same-day appointmentsMost days
The details
Open only what you need. Call us if you would rather just ask.
What we replace
Door glass, both front and rear. Quarter glass, the small fixed panes behind the doors. Vent glass. Back glass, including heated rear windows and those with an aerial printed into them.
If your back glass has a defroster grid or an antenna, the replacement carries the same, and we reconnect and test it before we leave.
Why it cannot be repaired
Your windshield is laminated: two layers of glass with a vinyl interlayer between them, which is why it cracks but stays in one piece. Side and back glass is tempered instead, heat-treated so that when it breaks it falls apart into small blunt pieces rather than shards.
That is a safety feature, not a flaw. It also means there is nothing left to repair, so tempered glass is always a replacement.
The cleanup nobody talks about
A shattered side window leaves thousands of fragments inside the door cavity, under the seat rails, in the seat belt track and in the carpet. Left there, they rattle, they work their way out for months, and they can jam the window mechanism.
We vacuum the door cavity through the access holes, the seat rails, the carpet and the boot if the back glass went. It adds time to the job and it is the part that separates a proper repair from a quick one.
Power windows
If the window will not go up or down, the glass is usually not the problem. It is normally the regulator, the motor or the switch.
We diagnose and replace all three. If your glass broke because the regulator failed and dropped it, we fix both at once rather than putting new glass onto a mechanism that will break it again.
How long it takes, and security in the meantime
Most side and back glass takes about an hour. There is no cure time to wait out, unlike a windshield, so you can drive as soon as we are finished.
If your glass was broken in a break-in and you cannot leave the car exposed, tell us when you call. We can usually get to you the same day, and we can advise on a temporary cover in the meantime.
Our warranty
Workmanship is covered for the life of the glass, and it stays with the vehicle if you sell it. Leaks, wind noise, rattles, a regulator we installed: call us and we will put it right at no cost.
Glass defects are covered by the manufacturer's warranty, and we handle that claim for you as well.
How it works
Four steps, start to finish
Tell us what broke
Year, make, model, and which window. A photo helps. Most quotes take under a minute.
Pick a time and place
Our Fairfax shop, or we come to your home, office or job site. Same day where we can.
We replace and clean up
New glass, correct seals and clips, then a full vacuum of the door cavity, seat rails and carpet.
Test before we leave
Window up and down, defroster grid, aerial and locks all checked with you there.
Broken side window? We can usually be there today.
More services
Other glass we handle
Questions
Frequently asked
Can a side window be repaired instead of replaced?
No. Side and back glass is tempered, which means it shatters completely rather than cracking. There is nothing left to repair. Only a windshield, which is laminated, can be repaired.
How soon can I drive afterwards?
Immediately. Side and back glass does not use the structural adhesive a windshield needs, so there is no cure time to wait out.
Will my insurance cover a broken side window?
Usually, under comprehensive coverage, and that includes glass broken in a break-in. You pay your deductible, and we put up to $100 toward it. We file the claim for you.
Do you clean up the broken glass?
Yes, and properly. We vacuum the door cavity, the seat rails, the carpet and the boot. Glass left in a door will rattle for months and can jam the window mechanism.
My window will not go up. Is that the glass?
Usually not. It is normally the regulator, the motor or the switch. We diagnose and replace all three, so tell us the symptom when you call and we will bring the right parts.
Can you come to me?
Yes, at no extra charge, anywhere we serve. We need a reasonably level spot with room to open the doors. We reschedule in rain, snow or extreme cold, and you can always bring the vehicle to our Fairfax shop instead.
Broken window? We can usually be there today.
Free mobile service across Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC.