New York Cracked Windshield Laws

New York cracked winshield usage is governed by the state's Code. All relevant laws, rules and regulations pertaining to cracked windshields and windows in New York are provided below. Make sure to examine the regulations carefully and repair your window cracks or replace cracked windows.

Obstructed windshields, cracked windshields, windshield replacement and other laws and regulations are different for every state. Cracked windshield laws in New York prohibit driving vehicles where driver’s view of the road is obstructed.

Can I drive with a cracked windshield in New York?

New York laws prohibit driving with windshields which have cracks, chips, discoloration or other defects that impair driver’s view of the road. Stickers or other objects may not be attached to car windshields if they prevent clear view of the road.

Furthermore, cracks of 11 inches or longer are not allowed in area cleared by windshield wipers.

It is up to each individual police officer to determine if your view of the road is impaired or obstructed. It is recommended to repair cracks or replace windshields immediately.

Other laws and regulations:

  • Obstructed windshield regulations: No sign, poster, or other non-transparent material allowed on windshield unless required by law or DMV.
  • Replacement windshields: Replacement windshield glass must be of the same kind and quality, and any repairs should restore vehicle to its original state.
  • Windshield wipers: Vehicles must be equipped with windshield wipers in good working conditions. Cracks which prevent wipers from operating correctly may be illegal.
  • Windshield insurance: Insurance companies may offer policies with no deductible window replacement. See: Can insurance company pay for windshield repairs.

Your vehicle will not pass yearly vehicle equipment inspection in New York if:

  • Any window is broken or has exposed sharp or jagged edges.
  • Your windshield has a crack longer than 11 inches with any part of the crack in windshield wiper path.
  • Your windshield has a star crack longer than 3 inches in diameter.

Federal cracked windshield regulations

Federal regulations require drivers to have a clear vision of the road. Windshield cracks or chips smaller than ¾-inch in diameter are permitted if they are not located within 3″ of another crack.

Any cracks or chips or other damage which can potentially obstruct clear view of the road must not be within critical vision area, defined as area directly above the steering wheel, two inches from the top and one inch from sides.

Our information about New York cracked windshield laws was last updated in 2023 and checked in 2024. In case any info we provided is not up to date or correct be sure to contact us so we can revise it. Thank you!

We always advise checking with your local law enforcement or other relevant agencies. New York cracked window laws or windshield obstruction regulations in certain cities or counties may be different from state legislation. While we do our very best to advise whether it is legal to drive with cracked windshield, we can not be held liable for any potentially incorrect or misinterpreted info. Very often it is up to individual police officers to determine if your clear view of the road is obstructed.

State of New York Info

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. New York is the 27th-most extensive, the 3rd-most populous, and the 7th-most densely populated of the 50 United States. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east. The state has a maritime border with Rhode Island east of Long Island, as well as an international border with the Canadian provinces of Ontario to the west and north, and Quebec to the north. The state of New York is often referred to as New York State to distinguish it from New York City.

Capital: Albany

Population: 19,570,261

Area: 54,556 sq mi (141,300 km2)

Cities ▼

Cities in New York: New York City, Albany, Buffalo, Syracuse, Brooklyn, Rochester, Yonkers, Ithaca, Niagara Falls, White Plains, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Binghamton, Poughkeepsie, New Rochelle, Troy, Utica, Amityville, Town of Hempstead, Lake Placid, Plattsburgh, Huntington, Newburgh, Levittown, Scarsdale, Watertown, Great Neck, Elmira, Tarrytown, Cooperstown, Middletown, Garden City, Brookhaven, Islip, Smithtown, Canandaigua, Sleepy Hollow, Woodstock, Amherst, Bronxville, Babylon, Long Beach, Clifton Park, Glens Falls, Nyack, Mount Vernon, New Paltz, Town of Oyster Bay, Beacon, Rhinebeck

Counties ▼

Counties in New York: Albany, Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Nassau, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, St , Lawrence, Steuben, Suffolk, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westchester, Wyoming, Yates

Wikipedia

State website



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