Driving with a cracked windshield in Quebec: what the law says

Short answer: in Quebec, the Highway Safety Code does not ban every crack, but it requires the windshield to meet the visibility standards set by regulation. That regulation prohibits, among other things, cracks that meet and chips more than 12 mm in diameter within the area swept by the wipers. A non-compliant windshield exposes the owner to a fine, and a windshield that seriously reduces visibility is a major defect at a mechanical inspection. Here is what the texts say, section by section.

This guide summarizes the official texts consulted on LégisQuébec on October 21, 2026. The wording below is our plain-language summary. It is not legal advice: the peace officer, or the person performing a mechanical inspection, assesses each case.

What the Highway Safety Code says

Three sections of the Highway Safety Code deal directly with the windshield:

• Section 264: the windows of a motor vehicle must be made of transparent glass, manufactured or treated to considerably reduce brittleness or the danger of shattering.
• Section 265: the windshield and the other windows must conform to the standards prescribed by regulation to ensure good visibility for the driver, and must be free of any material that might reduce that visibility.
• Section 267: a peace officer may require the driver to clean or clear the windshield and windows when obstructing matter reduces visibility, and the driver must comply.

The Code itself gives no crack size. It refers to the standards in the regulation, which are very precise.

The regulation's standards: the 12 mm rule

The Regulation respecting safety standards for road vehicles sets what a windshield must meet:

• Section 59: the windshield must not be tarnished, cloudy or broken in a way that reduces the driver's view of the road or road signs, and no object or sticker that could reduce visibility may be hung on or affixed to it.
• Section 60: within the area covered by the wipers, the windshield must not have cracks that meet or chips more than 12 mm in diameter. That area excludes the zone under the inside mirror and a 75 mm strip at the top and bottom of the windshield.
• Section 61: any loss of transparency must not exceed 10% of the windshield's total surface, nor be in the area covered by the wipers.

In practice, a chip larger than 12 mm, just over one centimetre, or two cracks that cross within the wiper area do not meet section 60. Smaller damage, or damage outside that area, can still be a problem if it reduces the view of the road or road signs: that is section 59. The same regulation also covers the side windows on each side of the driver and the rear window, which must not be tarnished, cloudy, crazed, cracked or obstructed in a way that reduces visibility (section 62).

What are the fines?

The Code provides for two separate offences, each liable to a fine of $100 to $200:

• the owner of a vehicle that does not meet the first paragraph of section 265, that is, the visibility standards for the windshield and windows (section 282);
• the driver whose windshield and windows are not clear of all substances that might hinder the driver's ability to see (section 281.1).

The second offence targets anything that blocks the view. It is a reminder of a familiar Quebec winter habit: clear the whole windshield and all the windows before you leave, not just a small porthole. CAA-Québec also points out that costs are added to the amount of the fine.

Mechanical inspection: minor or major defect

A passenger car does not go through a mechanical inspection every year. The Code does, however, require one for certain vehicles, including those a peace officer designates because there are reasonable grounds to believe they are in a dangerous condition, and certain vehicles that change owners, depending on their model year (section 521).

During an inspection, the regulation sorts defects into two categories:

• a departure from the windshield standards (sections 59 to 61) is, in principle, a minor defect (section 162). The owner receives a notice to have the repairs done within 48 hours; after that, the vehicle cannot be put back on the road without proof that the repair was made (section 531 of the Code);
• a windshield damaged to the point of significantly reducing the driver's view of the road and road signs is a major defect (section 163, paragraph 7). The vehicle cannot be put back on the road until it is shown to comply (section 534 of the Code).

So, can you drive with a cracked windshield?

It depends on the size, shape and location of the damage:

• a small chip outside the wiper area, with no effect on visibility, is not covered by the 12 mm rule of section 60; it may still spread;
• a chip over 12 mm or cracks that cross within the wiper area do not meet section 60;
• a crack that obstructs the view of the road or road signs falls under section 59, wherever it is.

Beyond the law, there is safety. CAA-Québec points out that the windshield plays a key role in protecting occupants and in the proper deployment of the airbags. A crack grows with cold weather, the defroster and potholes: damage that complies today may not comply in a few weeks.

What to do if your windshield is cracked

1. Locate the damage: is it in the area swept by the wipers, in front of the driver's eyes, near the edge?
2. Measure it: a chip larger than 12 mm in the wiper area does not meet the standard.
3. Act quickly: a small chip can often be repaired. At Liqui Pneus, a crack is not repaired: it requires a replacement, on quote. Our guide Repair or replace a windshield explains the criteria.
4. Call your insurer before the work: see our guide Windshields and car insurance in Quebec.
5. Book an appointment: chip repair can be booked online, Monday to Friday, at our Laval shop, with the length and amount shown when you book, and a replacement is done on quote with your VIN. Prices and the process are on our Windshield in Laval page.

See our windshield service in Laval