IT IS A GIVEN I should not have to say that you should go in dressed nicely with some sort automobile windshield chip repair of logo on your shirt or hat that shows you are serious and you are a professional.
Insurance companies are more susceptible to cover the windshield if it is on the driver's side or if it is a more intense crack because it is more important to get it done in that case. They do not want any obstructions of view in the line of vision for the driver.
If you do decide that windshield replacement is your best bet, you have a few choices. First of all, make sure you check to see if your insurance covers it. In a lot of instances it does. The problem is that many policies have a deductible that is higher than the cost of the replacement or repair job. If that is the case, you will have to pay for it yourself.
Now you have 3 options. You can pay out of pocket, you can have your insurance company cover the cost, or you can do the repair yourself. The cost out of pocket will vary from $30-$60, depending on the company you chose. Filing with insurance is easy because it is no cost to you, and the auto glass repair company deals with the paperwork. You can also attempt the repair yourself, but if you do not feel comfortable, i would suggest calling a professional. There is a good step by step windshield repair Instructable available, as well as other information online.
Still no big deal? In some states it's illegal to drive with a crack in the windshield that is in the driver's line of sight. In other states it's illegal to drive with a cracked windshield at all. I'd call that a big deal.
The entire cost can be paid out of pocket to avoid involving the insurance company or a person can choose to go through the claims process. When going through the insurance company, the deductible often needs to be met before the insurance company will take care of any costs and there is a chance that a driver's rates will go up in the next year.