Larger and deeper cracks in the glass that extend to the edges of the windshield are more likely to need replacement than small, shallow chips away from the edges. If the damaged part of the windshield is in the driver's view, the windshield will need to be replaced, even if the crack or chip is small. Generally, if the crack is longer than a dollar bill, the glass will need to be replaced, and anything smaller can usually be repaired.