How do you break a car window in an emergency?
Reviewed by the Skyview Auto Glass technical team — NWRD-, ASE- and DINITROL-trained technicians · Updated November 2026
Quick answer
To escape a sinking or burning vehicle, unbuckle first, then try a door or window. If a door will not open, strike a side window low in a corner with a spring-loaded or hammer-style escape tool — never the laminated windshield. Some newer cars use laminated side glass that escape tools cannot break, so know your car and keep a tool within reach.
How to break a window to escape
Work through these in order. Seconds matter, so learn the steps before you ever need them.
- 1
Unbuckle and try the door
Release your belt first. Try the door; if it opens, get out. A working door is always faster than breaking glass.
- 2
Try the window
If the door is stuck, try rolling a window down. A window that opens is an easier exit than a broken one.
- 3
Strike a side window
Aim low in a corner of a side window with a spring-loaded or hammer-style escape tool. The corner is the weakest point of tempered glass.
- 4
Clear the opening
Brush the loose glass away from the frame, then climb out carefully. Cover your hands if you can.
Do not strike the windshield
The windshield is laminated glass, so an escape tool will not break it. Side and rear windows are usually tempered, which shatter when struck. Some newer vehicles use laminated side glass for sound; check your doors or manual, because an escape tool cannot break laminated side glass either.
Keep an escape tool within reach
- Store the tool where you can grab it without unbuckling, not in the trunk or glovebox.
- A spring-loaded center punch breaks tempered glass with less force than a hammer.
- Keep a seatbelt cutter in the same spot, since a jammed belt can trap you.
- Check which side windows are laminated when you buy the car, so you know which to target.
- For a child or pet locked in a hot car, call emergency services first rather than breaking the glass yourself.
Know your glass before you need to
Tempered side glass shatters into small granular pieces when struck, which is why an escape tool works on it. Laminated glass, like the windshield, holds together because of a plastic interlayer, and some newer vehicles use laminated side glass as well for sound and security. An escape tool cannot break laminated glass, so the side window you plan to target matters as much as the tool you carry.
Check the glass when you buy the car. A small label in the corner of a side window often reads LAMINATED or shows a different marking than the tempered panes. If your side glass is laminated, plan to target a rear window or another exit, and keep a seatbelt cutter within reach. Knowing which windows will break before you ever need to is the whole point of carrying a tool.
More questions about breaking a car window
Which car window is easiest to break?
A side or rear window made of tempered glass. Aim low in a corner with a spring-loaded or hammer-style escape tool. The windshield is laminated and will not break, and some newer side windows are also laminated.
Can you break a windshield to escape?
No. The windshield is laminated safety glass held together by a plastic interlayer, so an escape tool will not break through it. Target a tempered side window instead.
How does a car window breaker work?
A spring-loaded center punch concentrates force on a tiny point of tempered glass, which shatters. A hammer-style tool relies on a hard striking surface. Both work on tempered glass, not on laminated panes.
Related guides
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- Is it safe to drive with a cracked windshield?
- How does a windshield protect you in a crash?
- Does a cracked windshield affect the airbags?
- Can you sell or trade in a car with a cracked windshield?
- Should you replace the windshield after an accident?
- What should you do if your windshield cracks while driving?
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