Windshield And Auto Glass Repair

Side and Rear Car Window Replacement: Cost, Wait Times and What to Expect

informational·informational·Published November 4, 2026

How much does it cost to replace a side or rear car window?

In the U.S., shop and price-guide figures for 2025 to 2026 put a side window at about USD 150 to 400 on many mainstream vehicles. A rear window costs about USD 200 to 600, and up to about USD 800 or more with a defroster grid or special glass. The job takes about one to two hours. In Canada, prices differ by vehicle and place.

Sources and prices, as of 2026

The U.S. price ranges come from collision shop, price-guide, car-data and magazine pages dated 2025 to 2026, in USD; most of these pages do not say what their price includes. The glass rule comes from Manitoba Public Insurance, and the insurance facts come from the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, AAA and a U.S. collision repair company. Job times, dry time, glass types and clean-up steps come from glass and collision shop pages in Canada and the U.S., read in 2026.

Side and rear window replacement prices in the U.S., 2025 to 2026

Side and rear window replacement prices in the U.S., 2025 to 2026
Window	Price range (USD)	Note
Side window, many mainstream vehicles	About USD 150 to 400	The most common car window job
Side window, full professional job	About USD 200 to 600	Includes glass, labour, door-panel work and clean-up
Rear window	About USD 200 to 600, up to about USD 800 or more	The top of the range is for a defroster grid or special glass

What raises the price of side or rear window glass

A rear defroster grid, tint or antenna lines built into the glass.
A larger vehicle, such as an SUV or a truck, or a higher-end vehicle.
The make and model of the vehicle.
A power window whose regulator, motor, electrical components or trim also need work, because the job then takes more labour time.

How long a side or rear window replacement takes

On U.S. shop pages from 2025 to 2026, new glass in a door with a manual window costs about USD 150 to 250 and takes about one to two hours. A power window job takes two to three hours or more when the regulator, motor, electrical components or trim also need work. Tell the shop when you book if these parts may also be damaged, so it can plan the extra time.

Why side and rear glass is replaced, not repaired

Manitoba Public Insurance says that tempered glass, which is typically a side window or back window, shatters when it is damaged, and that the only option is to replace it. A windshield is different: minor windshield damage should be repaired. So the price that you get for a side or rear window is the price of new glass and the labour to fit it, not the price of a repair.

What to do right after a side or rear window breaks

1
Protect your hands and eyes
Put on gloves and safety glasses before you touch the broken glass.
2
Clear the loose glass
Remove the loose pieces of glass and other debris from inside the car before the repair work starts.
3
Cover the opening for now
Put a temporary cover over the opening, and book the new glass.
4
Call your insurer or broker
Ask which coverage on your policy pays for side or rear glass, and which deductible applies.

Will insurance pay for a broken side or rear window?

You live in Canada and have comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive insurance covers the cost to repair or replace your car after other types of damage or loss, and you always pay the deductible when you make a claim. Ask your insurer whether your policy includes side and rear glass.

You live in the U.S. and were not at fault.

Comprehensive insurance typically covers car window replacement costs when the driver is not at fault. Check your policy for the deductible that applies.

You compare the quote with your deductible.

If the quote is lower than the deductible, a claim pays nothing. If it is higher, you pay the deductible and the claim pays the rest. For example, a USD 600 rear window quote and a USD 250 deductible means you pay USD 250 and the claim pays USD 350 (600 − 250). See how glass claims work in Canada and the U.S. before you file.

Related guides

Can a Mechanic Charge More Than the Estimate? Your Rights
What you can do when the final bill is higher than the written estimate.
Windshield Chip or Crack: Should You Repair or Replace It?
When the damage is in the windshield, which can be repaired in some cases.
OEM, OEE and Aftermarket Windshields: What Is the Difference?
What OEM, OEE and aftermarket mean when a glass quote names the glass type.

Key Takeaways

Expect to pay for new glass: side and rear windows are typically tempered glass, which is replaced, not repaired, when it is damaged.
Give the shop your vehicle's make, model and glass features, such as a defroster grid, tint or antenna lines, so the quote is for the right glass.
Ask a windshield and auto glass shop for a written quote that lists the glass, the labour, any door-panel work and the tax.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is car side window glass tempered or laminated?

Many car and truck side windows are tempered glass, which is designed to break into tiny glass balls, and other side windows are laminated. Tempered glass usually costs less than laminated glass and is the common choice for side and rear windows, so a laminated side window usually costs more to replace. Ask the shop which type your vehicle has before you compare quotes.

Can I drive with plastic over a broken car window?

Not if the plastic or tape blocks your view: then do not drive the vehicle. Check your view through and past the cover before you set off. Even a cover that leaves your view clear is only a quick fix, not a long-term solution, so it does not take the place of new glass.

Does liability insurance cover a broken car window?

Side glass can fall outside a policy that has liability cover only. Collision or comprehensive coverage is the part of a policy that may pay for it. If you carry liability only, ask your insurer or broker before you book the work, and be ready to pay the full shop price yourself if the glass is not covered.

How soon can I drive after a rear window replacement?

At one glass shop in Canada, a new rear window needs 30 minutes to dry before the vehicle goes back on the road. Ask your own shop for its drive-away time when you book, and add that time to the length of the job, so you know when to pick up the car.