So was going along the motorway today when a rock flung by a truck hit the windshield on the drivers side right next to the edge, I now have a 4 inch crack on the outer layer of glass. Don;t think it has gone all the way through as I can't feel anything on the inside of the window, but having rung autoglass to get an estimate of repair cost was told it's too big to repair and replacement would be anywhere from £250 and way higher.

Has anyone got an idea of price and whether long cracks are worth trying to repair?

A long crack won't repair and will fail the MOT. But your insurance should cover windscreen replacement at no cost to you (excess does not usually apply for glass damage).

Suppose I'll be ringing Admiral on monday to find out. I'm fully comp but with voluntary excess of £500. Not sure if it applies to windshields as well. Also will have to see if it will affect my no claims, otherwise I may just pay out myself. cheaper than paying the increase in insurance

there is normally a lower excess on glass (£50-£75), check your policy, also beware insurers normally have a preferred glass repairer, and unless you use them they may not cover the full bill

also beware, when the remove the black plastics at the side of the screen they have a tendancy to break, so make sure they bring them as well

Had to get the screen replaced on my Roomster when it was less than a month old. The only unexpected thing to happen was a connector under the bonnet got knocked during the replacement and this disabled the reversing lights whilst telling me the bulbs had blown. Had to take it to a dealer to find the fault as changing the bulbs had no effect.

Not sure which screen type you have but if it is 1 with the embedded aerial (black line in the middle) make sure you get a like for like replacement.

I had a similar experience about 6 months ago - driving on M11 when a rock about the size of my fist was thrown up by truck in front and smashed into the windscreen. Very scary, as I saw it coming for the last 20 feet or so! Made a huge impressive star-shaped crack in the middle of the screen.

I called my insurer (also Admiral) and they put me on to National Windscreens. I had to pay the excess of £75, but no forms to fill in or anything.

Thanks for all the advice - rang Admiral first to ensure it wouldn't count against no claims and after a very unhelpful chat with someone in India(?) finally got confirmation.

So National Windscreens booked for Friday, fingers crossed it doesn't rain and they don't break any parts. I don't think mine has embedded aerial, it has a large aerial on the front end of the roof - which incidentally has been acting up, perfect reception until i turn the key and then it goes all static.

£75 excess and no option of paying more and getting it done at dealer.

How good are these pattern part windscreens? Is there any sense in planning on ordering an original from Skoda and eventually replacing it?

I also thought of all the things that might go wrong, but in the event none of them did: no broken glass to grind into the carpet, no globs of surplus sealant hanging around, no broken parts, no leaks. The fitter was quick and courteous, and even rescued my tax disk and parking permit and fixed them back exactly where they had been previously. He'd definitely done it all before!

The only slight irritant was that it took them three days to get the replacement screen - it had to be the right tint and had an embedded aerial. I've no idea if it came from Skoda or not, but I wouldn't dream of trying to replace it. As far as I'm concerned it's identical to the original. (By the way, I'd take note of Hertsnminds' point about the aerial in the screen. Mine has that fine black line down the middle of the screen even though there's a roof aerial too. Have a careful check before Friday. It would be a shame to get a new screen fitted and then discover you'd further undermined radio reception.)

Had mine replaced recently via National through Admiral too. National were great, I hate Admiral with a passion already and will be moving away from them at next renewal. Cost me the £75 excess, too.

The windshield swap went ok, aside from them not showing up on time it was fine.

Verified that mine has no aerial, the fitter did the whole thing in about a half hour, with no broken parts.

(Had some idiot swerve into me today and whack off the driver mirror, knocked off all parts including the mount, then as i went to go collect the parts a truck drove over them and wiped any salvage fantasies - but that's another issue - run of bad luck seems to be the order of the day)

National DID ring me up today and try to sell me insurance as my renewal is due, but with 650 from Admiral and their offer of 2300, I think I'll just use them for what they do best.