How do you cover a broken car window?
Reviewed by the Skyview Auto Glass technical team — NWRD-, ASE- and DINITROL-trained technicians · Updated November 2026
Quick answer
Cover a broken car window with heavy plastic sheeting and painter’s tape until the glass can be replaced. Clean and dry the paint around the opening first, tape from the inside edge outward so the cover sheds water, and keep the car out of the rain. This is a temporary fix only — tempered door, vent, or quarter glass is replaced, not repaired.
How to tape up a car window
Work from the inside so the cover presses against the frame and sheds water off the outside.
- 1
Clean and dry the paint
Wipe the paint and trim around the opening so the tape sticks. A wet or dirty surface lets go overnight.
- 2
Cut heavy plastic sheeting to size
Cover the whole opening with overlap on all sides, using heavy plastic sheeting rather than a trash bag, which tears.
- 3
Tape from the inside edge out
Press painter’s tape onto the paint first, working outward, and smooth it down so there are no gaps for water.
- 4
Keep the car out of the rain
Park under cover if you can. A temporary cover holds weather out, but it is not a seal.
A temporary fix only
A shattered door, vent, or quarter window is tempered glass, so it cannot be repaired — the whole pane is replaced. The cover buys time; it does not fix the glass. Book the replacement soon, because tape and plastic let go in heat and wind. See our broken car window guide for what to do next.
What to put over a broken car window
- Heavy plastic sheeting, thick enough not to tear.
- Painter’s tape, which holds without damaging the paint when you peel it off.
- A dry, clean surface so the tape sticks.
- A covered parking spot if one is available.
More questions about covering a broken window
How long can I drive with plastic on my car window?
Only as long as it takes to book the replacement. Painter’s tape and plastic hold for a short time, but heat, wind, and rain loosen them. A shattered pane is replaced, not repaired, so schedule the job soon.
Can I use duct tape instead of painter’s tape?
Painter’s tape is the safer choice because it peels off without lifting the paint. Duct tape holds harder but leaves residue and can pull paint off when it bakes in the sun.
Should I cover the window from the inside or the outside?
From the inside, so the cover presses against the frame and sheds water off the outside. Taping from the outside lets wind catch the edges and peel it back.
Related guides
More in Car windows, back glass and sunroofs
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