Replacement of the backlite
Is your backlite broken? You have to act quickly !
All over Europe, the 1,629 Glassdrive stations can repair your vehicle as quickly as possible to make it safe and allow you to get back on the road in complete peace of mind.
A sense of urgency generally grips drivers who find the backlite of their vehicle broken: the passenger compartment is no longer protected against the risk of intrusion and driving becomes, if not impossible, then at least very uncomfortable because of the discomfort caused by the intrusion of violent draughts, the intensity of external noise, the entry and stagnation of polluting particles, or the infiltration of rainwater in bad weather.
Driving with a broken glazing also represents a real danger for all the passengers of a car who are exposed to the flow of projections likely to hit their back or head.
If necessary, Glassdrive offers damaged drivers a rapid and temporary repair service to enable them to remain mobile, while our teams receive the part intended to replace their damaged window.
Our objective: to reassure you by providing an immediate and perfectly reliable solution, wherever your vehicle is immobilised. At your home, in your company's car park or directly in one of our repair centres, our technicians are entirely at your disposal!
What does Glassdrive offer in the event of a broken backlite ?
If your glass surface cannot be replaced immediately, and you wish to continue using your vehicle in complete safety, our Glassdrive teams offer to apply a plastic adhesive film to the inside of your glazing to temporarily seal the break, allowing you to drive in the best possible conditions and discouraging offences.
Unlike the windshield, the vast majority of backlite, like the sidelite made of toughened glass, an ultra-resistant material that shatters into small, non-cutting pieces under the effect of a forceful impact.
These safe shattering characteristics protect the people in the vehicle from serious cuts when the glass shatters. However, because of its more brittle characteristics than laminated windshield glass, whose plastic layers between the glass cushion the breakage, toughened glass that has been hit by an impact or crack, even if slight, cannot be repaired. It is therefore necessary to opt for a pure and simple replacement of the equipment: the teams rely on stocks that are replenished daily and on efficient logistics to receive a product that complies with the qualities and technical specifications of your original glass the day after we contact you (or within 48 hours at the most).
Glassdrive are a multinational brand. Saint-Gobain is a world producer of glass and equips one in two vehicles in Europe with its Sekurit brand. Saint-Gobain has developed, with its Sekurit Service brand, an ultra-efficient logistics system that delivers a wide range of 15,000 spare parts to the automotive glazing expert centres, which enables the xx centres to solve your incident quickly and with parts of the same quality as the original.
Replacing a backlite typically takes around 3 hours. The process includes removing the old glass, cleaning up shattered pieces, and reinstalling the new one, along with any wipers, GPS, or electronic connections. Our team also ensures everything is working properly before finishing the job.
Unlike the windshield, the vast majority of backlite, like the sidelite made of toughened glass, an ultra-resistant material that shatters into small, non-cutting pieces under the effect of a very hard impact.
These safe shattering characteristics protect the people in the vehicle from serious cuts when the glass shatters. However, because of its more brittle characteristics than laminated windshield glass, whose plastic layers between the glass cushion the breakage, toughened glass that has been hit by an impact or crack, even if slight, cannot be repaired. It is therefore necessary to opt for a pure and simple replacement of the equipment: the Glassdrive teams rely on stocks that are replenished daily and on efficient logistics to receive a product that complies with the qualities and technical specifications of your original glass the day after we contact you (or within 48 hours at the most).
Glassdrive is a brand of Saint-Gobain. Saint-Gobain is a world producer of glass and equips one in two vehicles in Europe with its SEKURIT brand. Saint-Gobain has developed, with its Sekurit Service brand, an ultra-efficient logistics system that delivers a wide range of 15,000 spare parts to the automotive glazing expert centres, which enables the Glassdrive centres to solve your incident quickly and with parts of the same quality as the original.
Replacing a backlite generally requires 3 hours of work, the equivalent of half a day: like the windshield, the rear window is fixed to the vehicle pillars using PU (polyurethane) glue, which requires minimal drying time. The removal and installation phases are of course completed by an extremely thorough cleaning operation inside the passenger compartment to remove all pieces of glass.
This task, which is also carried out in the boot and inside the boot door, leads the Glassdrive teams to dismantle the tailgate trim and, if the car has one, the spoiler, a small wing positioned in the extension of the roof.
The installation of the new glass obviously involves the reinstallation of the wiper, after checking that it is working properly, and the reconnection of all the electronic elements: GPS, alarm, radio, demisting device.
Glassdrive's advice on how to avoid a new incident involving your backlite
To prevent theft, ensure nothing inside your vehicle is visible, especially through the back and side windows. Even small items left on display can attract burglars. Tinted windows not only offer UV protection and privacy but also help deter criminals. It's legal to tint back and side windows without restriction, but the windshield must allow at least 70% of light to pass through. Many Glassdrive centres offer tinting services.
When transporting large items in your car, ensure they're secured to avoid damaging the windows, especially during sudden stops. This applies to items inside or outside the vehicle, like bicycles on a rack. Make sure they're properly secured to prevent impacts. Also, beware of flying debris, like stones from mowers, which can damage your windows.
In addition to the comfort they provide by filtering ultraviolet rays, and the privacy they offer passengers in the rear, tinted windows also have the advantage of diverting the attention of malicious persons. It should be remembered that these thermoformable solar protections (they fit the curvature of your glasses perfectly) are authorised on the backlite and sidelite, with no restriction on tinting. However, for the windshield, the level of Visible Light Transmission (VLT) must reach a minimum of 70%.
The majority of Glassdrive centres offer the tinting film installation service.
Carrying bulky objects and equipment in the passenger compartment of your car is a potential source of impact that can cause damage to the window: when placing furniture, a bicycle or long tools (ladder, stepladder) in the boot or on the folded bench seat, make sure that the load is securely fixed, does not prevent the tailgate from closing and does not hit the glazing at the first sudden braking action.
The same care should be taken when transporting equipment on the outside of the vehicle, especially at the rear, where many drivers carry their bicycles on a bicycle rack: it is recommended that the installation instructions be followed carefully so that the two-wheeler is properly secured to its support, is not in direct contact with the tailgate, and thus avoids the end of the handlebars hitting the window in the event of shocks.
Also, watch out for flying stones that threaten the window panes of a vehicle parked near a mower in action along a road, or simply when you are mowing your own lawn and your car is often parked not far away.
How does insurance work in the event of glass breakage at the backlite ?
Most car insurance policies cover the cost of replacing a broken backlite under the glass breakage guarantee. However, if the damage is due to a break-in or vandalism, other guarantees may be needed. Glassdrive, as a partner with many insurers, handles the entire claims process for you. Our advisers contact your insurer to confirm your coverage, and with our third-party payment system, you only pay the excess if your policy requires it—no upfront costs.