Windshield crack repair can't wait. Auto glass replacement and repair should be done ASAP to prevent damage from spreading, ultimately risking your safety and creating higher costs for repair solutions.
If you think small cracks and chips don't matter when it comes to your automotive glass, you may want to reconsider. While you are correct in believing that a tiny crack or small chip isn't going to obscure your vision or create any major problems for your vehicle, it's not safe to assume that those flaws are going to stay little. In fact, you're actually better off presuming that the damage is definitely going to spread. Knowing that the problem is only going to get worse means that immediate repairs just make sense!
You've heard that even small dings and cracks in your windshield glass can grow, but that's a rare occurrence, right? Actually, no. The Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA) reports that auto glass chips are likely to spread 80% of the time at temperatures of 14 degrees Fahrenheit, and 60% of the time at 32 degrees. That's because as your windshield chills down, it minutely changes shape, and as it does so, that chip can turn from a tiny ding into an extended crack. And it's not just cold temperatures you have to worry about; the same types of flexing occur within your windshield on hot days, leading to similar damage. Even the contrast between hot automotive glass and cold blasts from the A/C can set off cracks. Additionally, rough roads, speed control devices like humps and bumps, and other irregular driving surfaces can jar your windshield enough to transform that minuscule flaw into a crack.
Most drivers realize that a major crack or spiderweb in their windshield is a danger: from blocked vision to the weakened glass itself, these hazards are relatively apparent. So, knowing that small flaws will soon be these types of major concerns, you're going to want to get your windshield glass fixed right away. There are a couple of options when it comes to windshield glass repair and replacement, and as long as you don't wait until the problem is catastrophic, you should be able to opt for more affordable fixes over a complete replacement windshield.

Windshield repair, available either through your local auto glass shop or as a DIY kit from an automotive supply store, involves injecting a clear-drying epoxy into the chip or crack. This type of windshield chip repair fully seals and supports the windshield, filling the void for a smooth, practically invisible repair. Once fixed, the chip or crack should no longer be able to spread.

Windshield replacement is a more invasive and expensive proposition that will need to be handled by your area auto glass specialists. Replacement windshields are required if the damage from the chip has spread, there are several chips/cracks nearby, or if holes are present. If you're not certain whether you'll need a complete replacement or if a repair would suffice, be sure to have your auto glass shop take a look. Inexpert or incomplete windshield repairs will provide no protection from spreading damage, so it's important to only attempt repairs if they'll get the job done right!
So when gravel, foul weather, or other accidents lead to chipped or cracked automotive glass, don't just let the little damage slide--since even small auto glass problems are practically guaranteed to become big ones, it's worth your while to contact your local auto glass specialists now to get the problem fixed ASAP.