How to cover a broken car window

It's a stray baseball. It's a fallen tree branch. No, it's someone breaking into your car. A busted window will get anyone's goat. If this happens to you, here are some temporary solutions until you can repair your window correctly.

Gather supplies

Hopefully, you have a few of these items lying around your house.

• Clear garbage bag or plastic sheet
• Duct tape or strong packing tape
• A soft cloth or paper towel
• Scissors
• Gloves

Clean up

Put on the gloves and carefully remove any loose or jagged pieces of glass from the window frame. Use a soft cloth or paper towel to wipe down the area and ensure the surface is clean and debris-free. This will help the tape stick better.

Cut it

Cut a piece large enough to cover the entire window opening if you're using plastic sheeting. With a garbage bag, you can simply cut it open to create a flat piece.

Apply it

Place the plastic over the window opening. Make sure it covers the entire area and extends beyond the edges of the frame. This will help keep out wind and rain until you can fix the window permanently.

Secure it

Using the duct tape, start from one side and press the tape along the edges of the plastic, securing it to the car. Press firmly and cover all edges to create a strong seal.

Check it

The biggest thing to look for is a gap where air or water can enter. If you spot some, add more tape to strengthen any weak spots.

Drive it

These are all temporary fixes until you can find a permanent solution. It's important your vision isn't obstructed for your safety and that of others on the road. The rules of driving with a broken window vary, so check your local laws before taking your car for a spin.

If the damage is more than just a broken window or too expensive to repair, another way to fix the problem is to sell it to Peddle. No matter how big your car headache is, they'll take it away.