How to Start a Mobile Windshield Chip Repair Business
A small rock chip in a windshield is the kind of problem drivers want fixed quickly, before it spreads into a crack. Windshield chip repair is a compact service business: the equipment fits in a case, the work happens in the customer’s driveway or parking lot, and your garage serves as the base for supplies and practice.
How chip repair works
A repair technician cleans out the damage, mounts a bridge and injector over it, and uses it to work resin into the break. The resin is then cured with a UV lamp, and the surface is finished with pit filler, curing film and polish. GT Tools notes that different resins suit different breaks: thinner resin for tight star breaks, thicker resin for open bull’s-eyes.
What can be repaired
Not every break is a repair job. GT Tools’ guidance is that a chip smaller than a quarter or a crack under about 3 inches is generally repairable when it isn’t in the driver’s line of sight. Damage that reaches the edge of the glass, sits directly in the driver’s view, or spreads in several directions usually calls for replacement. Being honest about this protects drivers and your reputation.
Equipment and startup costs
As of October 2026, GT Tools listed professional kits from about $772 to $882, with a larger machine-based system at $3,255, plus resins at $39–$69 per bottle. A guide from Always Do Better, a web agency for service businesses, estimates $500–$1,500 for an injection kit and UV setup and a realistic total of about $1,500–$5,000 to launch once you add business registration, first-year insurance and a basic website. Practice on scrap glass, such as windshields from a salvage yard, until your repairs are consistently clean.
Pricing and customers
The same Always Do Better guide says chip repairs take about 20–30 minutes and are commonly billed at roughly $60–$150, and notes that many comprehensive auto policies cover chip repair, often without a deductible. Your local market will set the real price, so check what nearby shops charge. Used-car dealers, rental lots and delivery fleets are worth approaching early because they see chipped glass regularly.
Safety and rules
Wear eye protection and gloves when handling resins and drilling into glass, avoid looking at the UV lamp, and work in shade where you can. Business licenses, sales tax and insurance needs vary by state, county and city, and replacement or camera recalibration work can involve extra rules, so check locally or with a professional before you start.
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