Can You Drive With a Cracked Windshield in Ontario?

There is no specific Ontario law that creates an outright ban on driving with a cracked windshield. The relevant standard is whether the damage impairs the driver's vision. A small chip or crack in the passenger-side corner may be tolerated, while a large crack running across the driver's line of sight is a different matter entirely.

A police officer who believes your windshield crack impairs your vision can issue a notice requiring you to have the vehicle repaired. The officer does not need to write a ticket immediately. The notice sets a deadline by which the repair must be completed. Ignoring the notice can result in further penalties.

If your vehicle is required to undergo a provincial safety standards inspection (for example, when registering a used vehicle or after certain collisions), a cracked windshield that impairs the driver's view will result in a failed inspection. The vehicle cannot be certified until the windshield is repaired or replaced.

Driving with a visually impairing crack can affect your insurance claim if you are involved in a collision. An insurer may argue that your impaired vision contributed to the crash. Most comprehensive auto insurance policies in Ontario cover windshield repair or replacement, often with a zero or low deductible, so there is little financial reason to delay the fix.

Small chips and short cracks (typically under 15 cm and away from the driver's line of sight) can often be repaired with resin injection. Larger cracks, cracks in the driver's direct line of sight, or cracks that reach the edge of the glass generally require full windshield replacement. Act quickly because temperature changes can cause small cracks to spread rapidly.