Windscreen chip or crack: will your car fail the APK (MOT)?

A windscreen fails the APK when the damage in the driver’s field of vision is larger than the RDW allows, or when there is a branched crack in that field of vision. The RDW (Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer) is the Dutch vehicle authority that sets the APK requirements. The rule is in article 5.2.42 of the Dutch Vehicle Regulations (Regeling voertuigen). The APK manual of the RDW (in Dutch: APK-handboek) works that rule out in fixed measurements.

The basic rule is strict: the windscreen and the side windows next to the driver must show no damage or discolouration. For the windscreen, an exception with measurements then follows. So small damage is allowed, as long as it stays within the limits. A small chip that falls within the permitted size is not a rejection point. A rejection point (in Dutch: afkeurpunt) is a defect on the inspection report that means the car has failed.

Would you like to know which other parts the inspector checks? Read our APK checklist with all inspection points.

The RDW divides the windscreen into three areas: the direct field of vision, the indirect field of vision and the edge area. Each area has a different limit. This division applies to passenger cars, commercial vehicles and buses up to 3,500 kg and to three-wheeled motor vehicles.

Source: RDW APK manual, passenger cars, windows (article 5.2.42 and the additional requirements for the windscreen)

The centre of the direct field of vision is the point where a vertical line through the centre of the steering wheel crosses the path of the windscreen wiper. On a car with one central wiper, the horizontal tangent to the wiper path counts. In practice, this is the part of the windscreen you look straight through when you drive.

If the damage runs across two areas, the inspector (in Dutch: keurmeester) only assesses the part that lies in the area concerned. Several small areas of damage or air bubbles are also allowed, as long as each one meets the requirement on its own and the driver’s view is not obstructed.

A chip (in Dutch: sterretje, a little star) is a small impact point with short cracks around it. A single crack is a crack without branches between its start and end point. A branched crack splits in several directions. For the APK, that last difference matters.

The inspector first assesses the windscreen by eye. If he is not sure whether the damage is within the limit, he measures it with a measuring device with sufficient range. That is how the RDW manual describes it.

1. He determines where the direct field of vision is, from the centre of the steering wheel and the path of the wiper.
2. He checks whether the damage is in the direct field of vision, the indirect field of vision or the edge area.
3. He assesses whether it is a chip, a single crack or a branched crack.
4. If in doubt, he places a measuring device over the damage to see whether it fits within the circle of 20 or 50 mm.
5. He also checks the side windows next to the driver. These must show no damage or discolouration.

Not sure whether your windscreen will pass the APK? For a quick question or check, you can walk in without an appointment. We then look at the position and the shape of the damage with you. If the windscreen meets the requirement, you can then book your APK online.

Have a chip repaired as soon as possible, even if it is still within the APK requirement now. According to the ANWB, the Dutch motoring organisation, a chip smaller than a two-euro coin can often be repaired well. A crack can no longer be repaired. The whole windscreen then has to be replaced.

1. Do not pour warm water over a frozen windscreen. According to the ANWB, a car window can crack because of the difference in temperature, especially if there is already a chip in it.
2. Call your insurer. According to the ANWB, windscreen damage is usually only covered by a Beperkt Casco policy (limited cover) or an All Risk policy (comprehensive cover). Your insurer will tell you where you can go.
3. Book the APK after the repair. If the damage is already too large or branched, have the windscreen repaired or replaced first and then come in for the inspection.

Market indication according to the ANWB. Read the policy conditions of your insurer for your own situation.

On many modern cars there is a camera behind the windscreen for driver assistance systems, such as lane keeping assist and emergency brake assist. After the windscreen has been replaced, that camera has to be set up again. This is called calibration. According to the ANWB, calibration costs about € 200 if your insurance does not cover it.

So when you have a new windscreen fitted, ask whether the calibration has been carried out. If you see a warning on the dashboard after a windscreen replacement, we read the fault code with car diagnostics and discuss with you beforehand what is needed.

If your car fails on the windscreen, you do not receive a new APK until the windscreen has been repaired or replaced. The inspection report then shows a rejection point for the windscreen. You have the windscreen replaced and the inspector then inspects the car again.

Keep an eye on the expiry date. If the APK expires before the windscreen has been replaced, you are no longer allowed to drive the car on the public road. Read what to do in that case on our page about a failed APK and repairs. Would you like to know how to read the points on the report? See rejection points, repair points and advisory points explained.

As an RDW-approved APK station in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, we inspect passenger cars of all makes. At our garage, the APK costs € 50 for petrol, petrol hybrid and electric cars. You can find more information on our page about the APK for your car.

Yes. According to the ANWB, you can as long as it is a single crack and your view is not obstructed. Do have the chip repaired soon, because a chip can grow into a crack. A crack can no longer be repaired.

No. According to the RDW manual, a single crack without branches is allowed, whatever its length. If the crack splits in three or more directions in the driver’s field of vision, it is a rejection point.

In the direct field of vision in front of the driver, the damage must fit within a circle of 20 mm. In the indirect field of vision on the right-hand side, that is 50 mm. In the edge area of the windscreen, damage is allowed.

Yes. A chip on the passenger side counts if it lies in the indirect field of vision. That is the area on the right-hand side of the windscreen, mirrored from the area in front of the driver. There, the damage must fit within a circle of 50 mm.

No. A repaired chip does not fail as long as the spot falls within the permitted size. It is often still faintly visible. The APK manual makes no separate distinction for repaired damage: the inspector assesses what is visible, using the same measurements of 20 and 50 mm.

Yes. According to the RDW, the side windows next to the driver must show no damage or discolouration. The rear window only counts if the car has no right-hand exterior mirror.

• RDW: APK-handboek, personenauto’s: Ruiten (APK manual, passenger cars: windows) (in Dutch)
• RDW: APK-handboek: Keuringsaspectenlijst (APK manual: list of inspection points) (in Dutch)
• ANWB: Sterretje in de voorruit (chip in the windscreen) (in Dutch)
• ANWB: Autoruit ontdooien (defrosting a car window) (in Dutch)