How does a customer figure out what features their windshield has before booking?

Hey folks! This is Patrick from Chip Happens Auto Glass.

Welcome to another Q&A session where I answer questions from y'all on the internet.

Today's question is:

"How does a customer figure out what features their windshield has before booking?"

Summary:

Patrick explains that customers generally can't determine their windshield's exact features on their own, because identifying them requires specialized tools and software. He recommends simply submitting the vehicle's VIN to the glass shop, which can decode it. While a dealership can provide some information, he notes even they are limited -- they typically know which part applies, not everything built into it. The most reliable approach, he says, is to have an autoglass technician run the VIN through their software, which quickly reveals the vehicle's glass features. In short, the customer submits a request and the shop handles identification, ensuring the correct glass is ordered ahead of time rather than discovering the wrong part on the day of the appointment.

Answer:

Without the specialized tools and software we have access to, it's actually pretty hard for a customer to know exactly what's in their glass. So ideally, you'd just submit your VIN number to the glass shop, and we can decode those things. You can call your dealership and so on to get information, but even they are limited in what they can see -- they tend to know what part it is rather than what's actually built into the part. So the best way to figure out the features in your vehicle, if you're unaware, is to have an autoglass technician run your VIN through their software, and we can get that information pretty quickly. The short story is, just submit a request to us and we'll help you figure it out. That way the correct glass is identified before the appointment, instead of running into the wrong part on the day of the job.