Quick Summary:
- Pull over safely, inspect the chip, and check driver visibility.
- Photograph the damage, odometer, surroundings, and full windscreen immediately.
- Call the rental company and follow their repair or swap instructions.
- Protect yourself at return with dated photos and written incident notes.
A windscreen stone chip on I-15 can feel dramatic, especially in fast-moving Las Vegas traffic. The key is to slow down your decisions, not your reactions. You need to stay safe, avoid turning a chip into a crack, and create a clear record so the return process is straightforward.
This guide is written for car hire drivers in Las Vegas, with a simple decision path: can you keep driving, what to document, who to contact, and what to do before you hand the keys back.
Step 1: Make the situation safe first
If a stone hits your windscreen, your first job is to keep control of the vehicle. Avoid sudden braking or swerving. Signal and move to a safe place off the I-15 flow. If you are near an exit, it is often safer to continue calmly to the next exit than to stop on a narrow shoulder. Choose a wide shoulder, a service area, a well-lit car park, or a fuel station.
Once stopped, turn on hazard lights. Check for injuries if anyone was startled or if glass has shed into the cabin. Most chips do not cause loose glass, but a severe impact can.
If you collected your vehicle at the airport, you may want to keep your rental documents and insurer details to hand. Hola Car Rentals publishes useful location pages for planning and policies, including car rental at Las Vegas airport and car rental in Las Vegas.
Step 2: Chip vs crack, decide if you can keep driving
Not all windscreen damage is equal. Use this decision guide before you drive any further than necessary.
Green: Usually safe to continue carefully
You can typically keep driving to a safer location, your hotel, or an approved repair point if all of the following are true:
Small chip, no spreading: A chip that is small and not forming a line is less likely to fail suddenly.
Not in the driver’s primary view: If it is outside the area you look through to see the road, it is less likely to create a dangerous distortion.
No edge involvement: Damage near the edge of the windscreen spreads more easily due to body flex.
No water or dirt intrusion: If it is clean and dry, it is more likely repairable.
Even in the green category, treat it as urgent. Heat, cold air-conditioning, and vibration can grow a chip into a crack. Keep speeds moderate and avoid potholes and harsh bumps.
Amber: Drive only if essential, head to assistance
Be cautious and contact the rental company immediately if:
Chip is larger or has legs: Star-shaped chips with radiating lines often spread.
Damage is near your line of sight: Any distortion where you look through to drive can be unsafe, especially at night.
Rain, washer fluid, or dust gets into it: Contamination reduces repair quality and can worsen the fracture.
Wipers drag over the damage: This can catch and extend the chip.
If you must drive a short distance to a safer place, avoid slamming doors and avoid extreme temperature changes inside the cabin.
Red: Stop driving and request guidance immediately
Do not continue normal driving if any of the following apply:
A crack is present: Any line crack can run rapidly, especially in desert temperature swings.
Crack reaches the edge: Edge cracks are structurally risky and can compromise the windscreen.
Visibility is affected: If you are distracted by glare, haze, or a line in your view, treat it as unsafe.
Glass is shedding inside: This is rare, but it indicates significant impact.
In the red category, move only as needed to get out of danger, then stop and follow the rental provider’s instructions. If you are unsure, assume red until you have spoken to the company.
Step 3: Prevent a chip becoming a crack
Once you have stopped safely, you can reduce the chances of the damage spreading before you get professional direction.
Do not pour water on it to “test” it. Temperature shock is a common reason chips run.
Keep the cabin temperature steady. If it is very hot outside, avoid blasting cold air directly at the windscreen. Use moderate air-conditioning and point vents away from the glass.
Avoid high-pressure washers and do not pick at the chip.
If you have clear tape, you can lightly cover the outside surface to keep dirt out, but do not force anything into the chip. Do not put tape inside the driver’s view if it distracts you.
Drive smoothly. If you must continue, avoid sudden braking, rough surfaces, and high speed vibration.
Step 4: Take the right photos immediately
Good photos protect you when the vehicle is inspected later, especially if the chip worsens after you reported it. Take photos as soon as it is safe, before the light changes or the damage spreads.
Take these photos in this order:
1) Wide shot of the entire windscreen from outside, showing the chip location.
2) Close-up of the damage in focus, from a few angles.
3) A reference-size photo using a coin or your fingertip near the chip, without touching it.
4) Driver’s perspective photo from the driver seat, showing whether it affects visibility.
5) Odometer and dashboard to timestamp your journey stage.
6) Context shot of where you are such as a nearby sign, exit number, or fuel station branding.
7) Full exterior walkaround in case there are other marks from the same incident.
Make sure your phone saves the date and time metadata. If possible, keep the original files rather than screenshots, because originals retain better detail.
Step 5: Who to call, and what to say
Call the number on your rental agreement or the provider’s assistance line. In most cases you should not arrange your own glass repair without permission, because the rental company may have approved vendors, billing processes, and specific documentation requirements.
When you speak to them, be ready with:
Your rental agreement number and the vehicle registration.
Exact location including direction of travel on I-15 and nearest exit.
Damage description chip or crack, size estimate, and whether it is in the driver’s view.
Whether the car is safe to drive based on your visibility and any spreading.
Your photos and willingness to email or upload them.
Ask the agent to confirm the next step in writing if possible, such as an email or a note added to your booking record. Written notes can be helpful if a return agent later sees a larger crack and assumes it was unreported.
If you arranged car hire through a specific provider, it can be useful to check their local info pages for practical guidance, such as Avis car rental in Nevada or Thrifty car rental in Nevada.
Step 6: Repair, replacement car, or continue driving, what usually happens
The rental company will usually choose one of three paths:
Approved chip repair: If it is a small chip, they may direct you to an approved glass partner. Repairs are often quick, and a properly repaired chip is far less likely to crack further.
Vehicle swap: If the damage is in a critical area or a crack is present, they may swap your vehicle at a branch or arrange an exchange point. This is common if the windscreen fails safety criteria.
Continue and report: In some cases, they may advise you to continue driving and report at return, but you should still insist that the incident is recorded now, with your photos attached or referenced.
If you are travelling as a group and using a larger vehicle, note that availability and swap logistics can differ. Hola Car Rentals lists options such as van hire in Las Vegas.
Step 7: Insurance, excess, and payment, avoid surprises
Windscreen damage can fall under different rules depending on your agreement and any cover you added. Some rentals treat glass as part of the general damage process, others have separate glass terms. Your best protection is to follow the reporting process and avoid unauthorised repairs.
Practical steps that reduce disputes:
Keep all receipts if you pay anything on the day.
Ask whether a police report is required. For a simple stone chip, it often is not, but policies vary.
Do not accept roadside “cash repairs”. Aside from quality concerns, they can create billing issues later.
Confirm whether your cover includes glass. If you used a third-party travel policy or card cover, you may need specific documentation to claim.
If you are comparing providers and terms for Nevada generally, Hola Car Rentals also has a broader page on car hire in Nevada.
Step 8: Protect yourself at return in Las Vegas
The return process is where stress can spike, particularly if a chip has grown into a crack after you reported it. Your goal is to show that you acted promptly and followed instructions.
Before you drive to return the vehicle:
Re-photograph the windscreen in good light, both wide and close-up, plus the full exterior walkaround.
Clean the windscreen gently with normal washer fluid. Do not scrape the chip area.
Bring your incident notes including date, time, location, and the name of any agent you spoke with.
At the return lane:
Point out the damage proactively and state that it was reported, with photos taken at the time.
Ask for written confirmation that the incident is logged, especially if the return agent cannot decide charges on the spot.
Do a final timestamped photo set with the car parked in the return area, showing the windscreen and surroundings.
If you are returning at a busy time, allow extra time so you are not rushed into leaving without documentation.
Common mistakes that make windscreen chips worse
These are the avoidable errors that often turn a minor chip into a costly crack:
Delaying the report until the end of the trip.
Hard temperature swings from desert heat to very cold air-conditioning.
Parking in direct sun when shade is available, which heats the glass unevenly.
Following trucks too closely on I-15, especially near construction zones.
Slamming doors which flexes the body and glass.
Stone chips are common in Nevada, and most situations are manageable if you act quickly, document clearly, and follow the rental company’s process.
FAQ
Can I keep driving after a stone chip on the windscreen? Usually yes if it is a small chip, not spreading, and not in your line of sight. If a crack appears, visibility is affected, or the damage is near the edge, stop and contact the rental company for instructions.
What photos should I take to protect myself? Take a wide photo of the entire windscreen, close-ups from multiple angles, a driver’s perspective shot, the odometer, and a location context photo. Re-take photos again at return in the drop-off area.
Should I arrange a repair myself in Las Vegas? Not unless the rental company authorises it. They may require an approved vendor and specific paperwork, and unauthorised repairs can create billing disputes.
Will I be charged even if I reported the chip immediately? It depends on your rental terms and any cover you have, but prompt reporting and clear photos reduce disputes. If the chip spreads into a crack later, your early evidence shows when and how it began.
Do I need a police report for a windscreen stone chip? Usually not for a simple stone strike, but requirements vary by provider and circumstances. Ask the rental company when you report it and note the advice in your records.
