Repair Standards & Best Practices

The Dollar Bill Test: DIY Windshield Damage Assessment

By Windshield Advisor Team
9 min read
March 9, 2026

Key Takeaways

  • Use a dollar bill to quickly assess crack length and determine urgency of professional evaluation
  • The 6-inch dollar bill length represents the typical threshold where cracks transition from easily repairable to borderline
  • Professional assessment required even for damage passing dollar bill test due to location and depth factors
  • The dollar bill test works best for linear cracks - use quarter test for chips and circular damage
  • Immediate documentation with dollar bill as size reference helps track propagation and supports insurance claims

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