The chip in my son's 2018 ST Line Fiesta has become a crack and by some failure by his father the insurance policy doesn't cover windscreen replacement.

We're near Luton - anyone recommend the best (cheapest) place to get it fixed immediately?

 

Cheers

How far off from the insurance coming to an end?

If it's before your MOT wait until the new policy, make sure you have windscreen cover, then claim

1 minute ago, DaveT70 said:

How far off from the insurance coming to an end?

If it's before your MOT wait until the new policy, make sure you have windscreen cover, then claim

Not until June unfortunately.

Is there any issue with driving long-distance with the crack? Presumably the laminated side will hold it all together and it wont's shatter and be dangerous?

Can't you add it?

then wait a couple of weeks then claim?

Apparently not. 

And he's worried about driving as he has to go 300 miles up to the lake district on saturday

In both the USA and Australia cracked windscreens seem to be a common daily occurrence. Since I have seen some vehicles in both countries that have big cracks in the screen that have been there for at least a few years that I know of, I assume two things. (1), they don't have or don't check the windscreen on an MOT (or whatever they may have) (2) The windscreen is far more robust and durable than the windscreen replacement companies here in the UK would have you believe.

Of course it will have to be replaced before the cars next MOT but I would think it unlikely that you're looking at a catastrophic failure just around the next corner.

   

Laminated windscreens cannot shatter.  That is the point of the lamination.  It will be safe to drive.

Having said that, the windscreen is a structural part on modern vehicles, there would be some loss of structural integrity if the car was involved in an impact.  (Obviously, avoiding impacts is always best practice!)

 

Fun fact, on one of the cars I stripped for parts, I took a lump hammer to the windscreen to see just how strong they are.  I could not get it to create a hole in the screen at all!  Lots of cracks and crazing (which would impair vision) but nothing that could harm the driver.

I'm a woose, only 2 x weeks ago I got a chip in my windscreen and had it repaired within 2 days! Didn't want the 'winter' to make it worse, all that water freezing, expanding, then contracting again. Besides, I was brought up by a 'war' mum who always believes in 'a stitch in time saves 9!'