Chips occur in your windshield when a pebble or other small item hits your windshield without smashing through it. You may not even notice a small chip in your windshield if it isn't in your line of sight. If you are driving down the road and you hear an impact on your windshield, pull over if you are concerned that your windshield has been damaged. Chips should be repaired to avoid dirt getting into the area and making the damage harder to repair.