By A1 Cash for Cars Team · Last updated: 13 November 2026
A1 Cash for Cars is a licensed motor dealer with a yard at 60 Bowhill Rd, Willawong. We assess and buy unwanted, damaged, unregistered, scrap and non-running cars, utes, vans and 4WDs across Greater Brisbane, including cars with cracked or chipped windscreens.
Yes, you can sell a car with a cracked windscreen in QLD. The crack doesn’t stop a sale, but it can stop a safety certificate, attract a defect notice and lower what buyers offer. This guide covers the inspection rules for windscreen damage, insurance, repair versus selling as is, disclosure and the TMR paperwork.
Key takeaways
- A cracked windscreen doesn’t stop a sale. If a registered car is defective, Queensland lists repairing it, selling to a dealer, selling to a dismantler or selling it unregistered as your options. (Queensland Government)
- Where the crack is matters. Queensland’s Light Vehicle Inspection Manual sets limits for damage in the driver’s half of the area swept by the wipers, and a crack in the inner layer of a laminated windscreen is a reason for rejection. (Department of Transport and Main Roads)
- No safety certificate when you sell to a licensed dealer. Vehicles that are unregistered, or traded to licensed motor dealers, don’t need one. (Queensland Government)
- Check your insurance first. Some comprehensive policies include or offer windscreen cover, but optional cover generally has to be in place before the damage happens. Read your own policy.
- Be honest about the damage. Private sellers aren’t bound by most consumer guarantees, but what you say about the car still needs to be true. (Queensland Government)
Can you sell a car with a cracked windscreen in QLD?
Yes. No Queensland rule stops you selling a car with a cracked windscreen. What changes is the path. A registered car sold privately needs a current safety certificate, and windscreen damage can fail that inspection. You can repair or replace the glass, sell to a licensed motor dealer or a dismantler, or sell the car unregistered.
The Queensland Government’s selling a used vehicle page says the easiest way to sell is to a licensed motor dealer. If a registered vehicle is “in an unsafe condition or otherwise defective”, it lists four options:
- Repair all the defects, then sell it with a safety certificate.
- Sell it to an auto dealer.
- Sell it to an auto parts dismantler.
- Sell it unregistered.
A small stone chip and a long crack across the driver’s view are very different problems. The first may be repairable and may not affect a sale much. The second usually means a replacement windscreen before a private sale. If the crack came with other damage from a crash or a storm, our guides to selling an accident-damaged car and selling a hail-damaged car may fit better.
Will a cracked windscreen pass a safety certificate in QLD?
It depends on the size, type and position of the damage. Queensland’s Light Vehicle Inspection Manual focuses on the primary vision area, which is the part of the windscreen swept by the original wiper blades. Damage there that impairs the driver’s vision fails, and the driver’s half has specific size limits. The approved inspection station decides.
The Queensland Light Vehicle Inspection Manual (effective 7 July 2026) is what approved inspection stations use when issuing safety certificates. Its windscreen and glazing section lists these reasons for rejection for light vehicles:
| Manual item | What it says (summarised) |
|---|---|
| Primary vision area damage | Reason for rejection if the primary vision area is cracked, scored, chipped, badly sandblasted or otherwise damaged so as to impair the driver’s vision or damage the wiper blades |
| Driver’s half of the primary vision area | Reason for rejection if the driver’s half (the right half on a right-hand-drive car) has bull’s-eyes or star fractures more than 16mm in diameter, or cracks more than 150mm long, which either penetrate more than one layer of glass in a laminated windscreen or interfere with the driver’s vision |
| Inner layer | Reason for rejection if the interior surface of a laminated glass windscreen is cracked |
| Missing windscreen | Reason for rejection if a windscreen has been removed and not replaced |
| Obstructions | Reason for rejection if anything fitted to the windscreen or vehicle obstructs the driver’s vision through the primary vision area, or non-transparent stickers or posters interfere with the driver’s vision |
| Side windows | Reason for rejection if windows are cracked or broken |
| Repairs | Reason for rejection if a windscreen isn’t repaired in accordance with the relevant Australian Standards or the repair material manufacturer’s instructions, or a repair shows significant optical defects that would distort or distract the driver’s vision |
| Replacement glass | Reason for rejection if replacement glass isn’t an approved type of safety glass marked with the standard it was made to, or isn’t etched or indelibly printed with the glass manufacturer’s information |
| Wipers and washers | Reason for rejection if wipers don’t work at all speeds or don’t park correctly, wiper rubbers or arms are in poor condition, or a required washer system doesn’t work |
Put simply, a small chip outside the wiper area is treated very differently from a long crack in front of the driver. We can’t tell you whether your windscreen will pass, and neither can a photo. Only the approved inspection station’s examiner can make that call on the day.
The Queensland Government’s safety certificates page also says:
- The inspection covers the windscreen, along with tyres, brakes, steering, suspension, body rust or damage, and lights.
- You must have a safety certificate before disposing of a registered vehicle, other than to a dealer, and you can be fined over $700 for not having one.
- Vehicles that are unregistered, or traded to licensed motor dealers, don’t need one.
Our guide to safety certificates when selling a car in QLD covers fees, validity periods and exemptions.
Can you get a defect notice for a cracked windscreen in QLD?
You can. Police officers and transport inspectors can stop a car for a random roadside inspection, and if a vehicle or one of its components doesn’t comply with the vehicle standards, they may issue a defect notice, an on-the-spot fine or both. Whether a particular crack leads to a notice is up to the officer.
The Queensland Government’s defect notices page explains what happens next:
| Step | What the official page says |
|---|---|
| Driving after the notice | A dangerous vehicle can be ordered off the road immediately; a vehicle that isn’t dangerous may be allowed to be driven to a specified place, such as home or a repair shop. The notice shows any conditions, and TMR’s own example is a car with defective windscreen wipers being banned from driving in wet weather |
| Fixing the defect | The notice states how the vehicle is defective, what action is needed and the date the repairs must be done by. You can ask the issuing officer or inspector for a time extension |
| Other options | Instead of repairing, you can sell the vehicle to a licensed motor dealer or cancel its registration |
| Clearing the notice | Once repaired, the notice must be cleared as it instructs, which may include an inspection |
| Not complying | Not repairing or clearing the notice by the stated date is an offence and may lead to a fine, a full inspection order or action to cancel the registration |
If you already have a notice, read our guide to selling a car with a defect notice. Don’t keep driving on a badly cracked windscreen that blocks your view while you decide what to do.
Should you repair, replace or sell with a cracked windscreen?
Get the glass assessed first. A small chip may be repairable, while a long crack, damage in front of the driver or a cracked inner layer usually means replacement. Repair or replace if insurance covers it or the car is otherwise worth selling privately. Consider selling as is when the car has bigger problems or you want it gone quickly.
| Option | When it can make sense | Things to weigh up |
|---|---|---|
| Chip repair | Small chip that a windscreen repairer says can be fixed | Queensland’s manual requires repairs to meet Australian Standards and not leave significant optical defects in the driver’s view |
| Windscreen replacement | Long crack, damage in the driver’s view, or a crack in the inner layer | Replacement glass must be approved safety glass with the required markings; ask whether any windscreen camera needs recalibrating |
| Claim on insurance, then sell | Your policy covers glass and the claim is accepted | Check the excess, any limit on glass claims and whether your insurer appoints the repairer |
| Sell privately as is | Buyer happy to take the car unregistered, or to deal with the windscreen | Expect buyers to discount for the glass and anything else wrong |
| Sell to a licensed dealer as is | Older car, other faults or damage, or you want a quick, simple sale | No safety certificate needed; the offer reflects the windscreen and overall condition |
Many newer cars have cameras or sensors mounted behind the windscreen for driver assistance features. Queensland’s inspection manual notes that window tinting must not adversely affect cameras or sensors at the top of the windscreen. If your car has these features, ask the glass repairer whether calibration is needed after a replacement, and keep the paperwork.
Questions to ask before you spend money:
- Is it a chip or a crack, and where is it? Damage in the driver’s view is the main concern for an inspection.
- Can it be repaired, or does it need replacing? Get the repairer’s answer and quote in writing.
- Will insurance cover it, and what will you pay? Check your excess and policy terms.
- What else is due? Tyres, brakes, wipers, servicing and rego renewal add to the cost of keeping or selling the car privately.
For a broader decision framework, read repair or sell your broken car in Brisbane.
Does car insurance cover a cracked windscreen before you sell?
It might. Some comprehensive policies include windscreen and window glass cover, and others offer it as an optional extra, often with limits such as one excess-free glass claim per period of insurance. Optional cover generally has to be on the policy before the damage happens. Check your own policy and product disclosure statement before deciding.
Two large Queensland insurers describe glass cover like this:
| Insurer | What its own pages say |
|---|---|
| RACQ | Its Comprehensive Car Insurance page lists an optional excess-free glass repair benefit: one excess-free windscreen or window glass claim during the period of insurance (RACQ). RACQ’s guide says this applies only where the damage extends through the entire thickness of the glass (RACQ) |
| Suncorp | Windscreen and window glass cover is optional on Comprehensive Extras and automatically included on Comprehensive Advantages. Optional covers can’t be added after an incident to cover that same incident (Suncorp), and Suncorp appoints the repairer for glass claims (Suncorp) |
These are examples, not recommendations, and policies change. Your certificate of insurance shows what you’re covered for. If the crack is part of a larger claim and the insurer is assessing the car, sort that out before you sell. Our guide to written-off cars and total loss claims explains what happens when an insurer decides not to repair.
Do you have to tell a buyer about a cracked windscreen?
Don’t hide it or play it down. Queensland says a private seller isn’t bound by consumer guarantees, but anything you tell a buyer still needs to be true. Licensed dealers and other businesses must not make false or misleading claims. Show the crack in your photos, describe where it is and share any repair quote.
| Situation | What the official guidance says | What it means for the windscreen |
|---|---|---|
| Private one-off sale | Most consumer guarantees don’t apply to one-off sales between 2 people where the seller isn’t running a business (ACCC); the buyer gets no statutory warranty or cooling-off period (Queensland Government) | You don’t guarantee the car, but describe the crack accurately and answer questions honestly |
| Private sale disputes | Private sales are usually a verbal contract, which is hard to prove; Fair Trading suggests buyers who lose money get legal advice (Queensland Government) | Your ad and messages become the record, so mention the damage in writing |
| Business or dealer sale | Claims must be accurate and based on reasonable grounds, and in some circumstances silence can be misleading (ACCC) | Dealers can’t wave away known damage |
Practical ways to stay on the right side of this:
- Photograph the crack clearly from inside and outside, rather than choosing angles that hide it.
- Say where it is in your ad. For example: “Crack across lower passenger side of windscreen. Replacement quote available.”
- Don’t say it will pass a safety certificate unless an approved inspection station has issued one.
- Mention any related damage, such as wiper problems or a windscreen camera warning.
This is general information, not legal advice. Our guide to disclosing faults when selling a car in QLD goes into more detail.
How does a cracked windscreen affect your car’s value?
It usually lowers what buyers will offer, because they have to allow for a repair or replacement and, for a private buyer, a safety certificate. How much depends on the size and position of the damage, the car’s age and condition, and whether the windscreen has cameras or sensors. A repaired chip hurts value far less than a large crack.
We don’t publish typical price reductions, because they vary too much from car to car. These are the factors that tend to matter:
| Factor | Why it matters to a buyer |
|---|---|
| Chip or crack, and its size | A small repairable chip is a minor job; a long crack usually means a new windscreen |
| Position on the glass | Damage in the driver’s view is the main concern for a safety certificate |
| Driver assistance cameras or sensors | Some buyers will ask whether a replacement needs calibration |
| Age, kilometres and general condition | The same windscreen cost matters more on a car worth less overall |
| Registration and safety certificate status | A registered car with a current safety certificate is easier to sell privately |
| Other faults or damage | Several problems together push buyers towards a parts or wreck value |
If your car is older or has high kilometres as well, our guide to selling an old or high-kilometre car in Brisbane explains what else buyers look at.
What paperwork do you need to sell a car with a cracked windscreen?
The same paperwork as any sale. You need photo ID, proof you own the car or can sell it, and the right registration step. In a private sale of a registered car, give the buyer a current safety certificate and transfer the rego. Selling to a licensed dealer, no safety certificate is needed, and the dealer notifies TMR.
| How you sell | What happens to the registration |
|---|---|
| Private sale, registered | Transfer the rego out of your name online or complete the Vehicle Registration Transfer Application (F3520). TMR recommends completing Part B and having the buyer sign it on the day of sale. The buyer must transfer within 14 days; if they don’t, you should lodge Part B or transfer online yourself |
| Private sale, unregistered or for parts | Cancel the registration first and surrender standard plates, unless you’re keeping personalised plates. An unregistered vehicle permit can’t be issued for a vehicle that isn’t safe to drive |
| Sale to a licensed motor dealer | No safety certificate. Under section 43 of the Vehicle Registration Regulation 2021, a dealer who acquires a registered vehicle must notify TMR within 14 days. Keep your signed paperwork |
Some states use a separate “notice of disposal”. In Queensland, the seller’s step is transferring the registration out of your name online or completing Part B of the F3520, which TMR says costs the seller nothing; the buyer pays the transfer fee and duty (Queensland Government). Until the transfer is recorded, you remain liable for tolls and fines on a car registered in your name (Queensland Government). Cancelling current rego may produce a partial refund less a cancellation fee (Queensland Government).
If there’s finance on the car, sort it out before you sell. A PPSR search shows whether a security interest is recorded against the VIN and costs $2 online. Our guides to PPSR checks, selling a car with finance owing and transferring registration after selling walk through each step.
How does selling a car with a cracked windscreen to A1 Cash for Cars work?
Call or request a quote with the car’s details, where the crack is, its size and any other damage. We assess it from what you tell us and make an offer. If you accept and the car can be reached safely, we agree a time, check ID and ownership, complete the paperwork, pay as agreed and take the car.
What to expect:
- Quote. Call 0400 119 641 or request a quote. Tell us the year, make, model, kilometres, where the crack or chip is and roughly how big, any other damage or faults, and your suburb.
- Booking. If we accept the car and can reach it safely, we agree a time. Collection depends on ownership, location, safe access and the vehicle’s condition, and we don’t quote blanket fees or promise every address in this guide.
- On the day. Photo ID, an ownership check, seller paperwork, payment as agreed and loading of the vehicle in line with its condition.
- Afterwards. Remove your toll tag, update Linkt, stop any rego direct debit and check the registration has left your name.
Have these ready before you call or hand over the car:
- Year, make, model and kilometres. The basis of any quote.
- Photos of the windscreen. From inside and outside, so the size and position of the damage are clear.
- Any glass quote or insurance details. Help us give an accurate offer and avoid a changed price on the day.
- Other damage or faults. Wipers, warning lights, dents or mechanical problems all affect the offer.
- Whether the car starts, drives, rolls and steers. Affects how the car is loaded and moved.
- Photo ID, registration details and proof you can sell. Licensed dealers record the seller’s identity.
- Finance and PPSR status. Money owing must be cleared before the car is sold.
A1 Cash for Cars is a licensed motor dealer at 60 Bowhill Rd, Willawong QLD 4110. Sellers to A1 don’t need a safety certificate, and we can often collect damaged and non-running cars, subject to ownership, insurer status and safe access. You can check our licence on the Office of Fair Trading licensing register.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell my car privately with a cracked windscreen?
Yes, but a registered car sold privately needs a current safety certificate, and Queensland’s inspection manual lists windscreen damage in the driver’s view as a reason for rejection. You can repair or replace the glass first, sell the car unregistered, or sell it to a licensed motor dealer, who doesn’t need a safety certificate.
How big can a windscreen crack be to pass a safety certificate in QLD?
In the driver’s half of the area swept by the wipers, Queensland’s manual rejects bull’s-eyes or star fractures over 16mm in diameter, or cracks over 150mm long, that penetrate more than one layer of laminated glass or interfere with the driver’s vision. Any damage that impairs vision fails. The inspection station decides.
Does a chip in the windscreen fail a safety certificate?
Not always. It depends on the chip’s size and position and whether it impairs the driver’s vision or damages the wiper blades. A chip that has been repaired must meet the relevant Australian Standards and must not leave significant optical defects in the driver’s view. The approved inspection station makes the final call.
Do I need a safety certificate to sell a car with a cracked windscreen to a dealer?
No. Queensland says vehicles traded to licensed motor dealers, or sold unregistered, don’t need a safety certificate. A1 Cash for Cars is a licensed motor dealer, so you can sell to us with a cracked windscreen without replacing the glass or getting a safety certificate first.
Can I get a defect notice for a cracked windscreen?
Yes. If a police officer or transport inspector finds your car doesn’t comply with the vehicle standards, they can issue a defect notice, an on-the-spot fine or both. The notice says what must be fixed and by when. Instead of repairing, you can sell the car to a licensed motor dealer or cancel its registration.
Should I claim on insurance before selling?
Check your policy first. Some comprehensive policies include windscreen cover or offer it as an option, sometimes with one excess-free glass claim per period of insurance. Optional cover generally has to be in place before the damage happens. Compare your excess with the expected drop in value before deciding.
How much is a car with a cracked windscreen worth?
It depends on the size and position of the damage, the car’s age, kilometres and condition, and whether other repairs are needed. We don’t quote typical reductions because they vary too much. For an offer on your car, call 0400 119 641 with the details and photos of the windscreen.
Sources cited
- Selling a used vehicle, Queensland Government
- Safety certificates, Queensland Government
- Vehicle inspection manuals and the Queensland Light Vehicle Inspection Manual (effective 7 July 2026), Department of Transport and Main Roads
- Information Sheet: Replacing or Repairing Windscreens, Vehicle Standards Information, Queensland Government
- Defect notices, Queensland Government
- Transfer registration as a seller, Queensland Government
- Cancelling your vehicle registration, Queensland Government
- Unregistered vehicle permit, Queensland Government
- Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2021, Queensland Legislation
- Buying used cars privately, Queensland Government (Office of Fair Trading)
- Buying goods at private sales or auction, Queensland Government (Office of Fair Trading)
- Consumer rights and guarantees, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
- False or misleading claims, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
- Comprehensive car insurance and Optional benefits in car insurance, RACQ
- Car insurance and Windscreen cover insurance options, Suncorp
- Do a used car or vehicle search, Personal Property Securities Register
- Fair Trading licensing register, Office of Fair Trading
About the author
A1 Cash for Cars Team. A1 Cash for Cars is a licensed motor dealer at 60 Bowhill Rd, Willawong, buying unwanted, damaged, unregistered and non-running vehicles across Greater Brisbane, including cars with cracked windscreens. This guide is general information, not legal, insurance or mechanical advice. Inspection rules, fees, forms and policies can change, so check the linked official pages, your insurance policy or call TMR on 13 23 80. Last updated 13 November 2026.
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Call 0400 119 641 or request a quote. Tell us the year, make, model, kilometres, where the windscreen damage is, any other damage, whether the car is registered and drives, your suburb and access, and any finance or insurer involvement.
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