Rear window replacement in Concord, NC

This page explains why back glass is replaced rather than repaired, what the technician does about the broken glass and the defroster, how long it takes, what to do with the car until the visit, and how a claim usually works in North Carolina.

Why back glass is replaced, not repaired

Impex says that most of the time back glass cannot be safely repaired, because it is made of tempered glass that shatters when it is damaged. Tempered glass is made to break that way: into small, blunt pieces rather than long, sharp shards. That is good for safety, but it means a hole in a back window cannot be filled the way a windshield chip can.

Impex lists the usual causes as road debris, temperature changes, accidents and even pressure changes in the cabin. A stone thrown up from I-85, a branch in a storm, a break-in at a lot near Concord Mills or a hatch closed on something long all end the same way.

Rear window replacement in Concord, step by step

1. The glass is matched by VIN. Back glass differs between versions of the same car: defroster lines, antenna, wiper mount, privacy tint. Impex checks the part against the VIN before it is ordered.
2. The broken glass is cleared. The technician removes what is left in the frame and vacuums the pieces out of the seats, the floor and the cargo area.
3. The frame is prepared. Old adhesive is trimmed and the frame cleaned so the new glass has a sound surface to bond to.
4. The new glass is set. The back glass is bonded into the opening and any trim is refitted.
5. The electrics are reconnected and tested. Impex says its technicians reconnect and test the rear defroster and any other electrical parts during installation.
6. You get the aftercare. Impex asks drivers to avoid washing the car or using the rear defroster for 24 hours while the adhesive cures.

Impex says back glass replacement takes about one to two hours, depending on the make and model.

Pickup trucks and sliding back glass

Pickups bring their own versions of back glass: a fixed pane, a sliding center section, or a heated slider. Each is a different part with different seals and latches, so the VIN check matters even more. If your truck has a slider, say so when you call, and say whether it was the slider or the fixed glass that broke.

Hatchbacks, SUVs and the rear wiper

On many hatchbacks, SUVs and minivans the back glass is the liftgate window, and the rear wiper is mounted through a hole in the glass. The wiper arm and motor cover come off before the old glass is cleared and go back on the new pane, and the washer jet is reconnected. Some liftgate glass also carries a rear spoiler or a third brake light. All of this is why the part is checked against the VIN first: two versions of the same SUV can need back glass with different holes, tabs and brackets.

The quote before the job

Impex says its quotes are fully inclusive, with no hidden fees, upsells, delivery charges, fuel fees or disposal fees. For back glass that matters, because clearing broken glass out of a cargo area is part of the work, not an extra. If you are claiming on insurance, have the policy or claim number ready, and the quote can be set against your deductible before you decide.

Until the van arrives

• Do not drive with the open hole unless you have to: wind and rain come straight in and broken pieces keep falling from the frame.
• Brush glass off the seats with a gloved hand or a stiff brush, and keep children and pets out of the back.
• Cover the opening with plastic sheeting taped to the painted body, not to the glass edge.
• Park under cover if you can, and close the windows and the sunshade.
• Photograph the damage and the scene for the insurer, and if it was a break-in, report it to the police.
• Take valuables, the garage remote and anything with your address out of the car.

The defroster, the antenna and the camera

Most back glass carries defroster lines, and on many cars the radio antenna is printed into the glass too. Those connect to the car through small tabs at the edge of the glass, which is why Impex reconnects and tests them as part of the job. Leave the rear defroster off for the first 24 hours.

A back window does not usually carry the forward camera, which sits at the top of the windshield. If the car has a rear camera near the glass or a third brake light in the pane, mention it when you book so the right part comes. Camera calibration after a windshield is covered on ADAS camera calibration.

Paying for back glass in North Carolina

A broken back window is glass breakage. The NC Department of Insurance lists breakage of glass and missiles or falling objects among comprehensive losses, under Other Than Collision coverage, which pays less any deductible. North Carolina has no zero-deductible glass law, so your comprehensive deductible applies unless your policy has full glass terms. You choose who repairs your vehicle under G.S. 58-3-180.

A comprehensive glass claim is not an at-fault accident, so it adds no SDIP points; insurers may still look at how often you claim. If the window was broken in a theft, your insurer may ask for a police report. Impex says it works with all major insurance providers. See NC windshield replacement insurance for the steps of a claim, which are the same for back glass.

Safety glass and NC law

G.S. 20-135 makes it unlawful to knowingly drive an NC-registered vehicle made on or after January 1, 1936 unless it has safety glass wherever glass is used in its doors, windows and windshield. A replacement back window is safety glass, made for that car. If you add tint afterwards, the rear window falls under the 35% light rule in G.S. 20-127, with exceptions for multipurpose vehicles such as minivans and pickups behind the driver.

Other glass on the car

Back glass is done where the car is parked: in a driveway or garage in Concord, at a work lot, or in Kannapolis, Harrisburg, Midland and Mount Pleasant. A garage is the first choice if rain is due, because the opening is the size of the whole back of the car and the new glass needs a dry frame to bond to. The areas we serve page lists the towns.

If more than the back window is broken, the page on auto glass repair in Concord, NC covers every pane together. For door and quarter windows see door and side window replacement, and for how the van visit works see mobile auto glass in Concord.

What Impex customers say on Google

Impex Auto Glass, Greensboro: 4.9 on Google from 425 reviews (October 2026). Read the reviews on Google. The rating belongs to Impex’s Greensboro shop; Impex has no shop in Concord.

“Service was speedy and friendly. Highly recommend!” Sarah, Google review, October 2025

“I went in for a chip repair. The staff, from the front desk to the repair men, were welcoming, upbeat, friendly and could answer all of my questions. Would highly recommend!” Taylor, Google review, September 2025

Questions people ask