Aussie driver's simple winter mistake cost $600

And no, the cause isn't what you think it is.

In winter, getting into your car in the morning can be a battle at the best of times.

Everything is frozen or fogged up, and you have to figure out what to do before heading off - otherwise you’re driving blind.

Though the solution may seem clear for some, those of us who are mechanically challenged (i.e. me) are left to decide between hot or cold air, water, or… something else?

Unfortunately for one Adelaide local, that’s resulted in a broken back rear window, and a $600 fee.

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Image: TikTok / @jackson_gilbs22.

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“When it was so cold in Adelaide…”

TikTok user Jackson Gilbert has taken to TikTok this week, sharing how he unfortunately shattered his rear window - doing the exact same thing many of us do on a daily basis.

“When it was so cold in Adelaide that you put your demister on and your window shatters…” he wrote.

“FYI: Insurance won’t cover it. $1000 excess.”

Generally speaking, using the demister alone shouldn’t shatter your windscreen. But, on a very cold day, or if your rear window is already damaged, cracking or shattering isn’t unheard of.

Unfortunately for Jackson, that meant paying a whopping $600 to replace it.

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“That sucks!”

Commenters on the post were shocked to see that this can happen - assuming that something may have been wrong with the glass to begin with.

“Man, there was something wrong with that glass. I can turn my deicer on at -40° and that doesn't happen. No way it gets that cold in Adelaide,” said one person.

“That sucks though man, sorry that happened,” said another.

“Do you guys have different glass down there? Never had this happen in Canada,” another person said.

“Instant change of temps will do that to any glass!”

But, others pointed out that this was a learning experience, recommending that drivers use cold or room temperature water (not hot!) to get rid of any ice before using the demister for remaining fog.

“Instant change of temps will do that to any glass .. cold water slowly bring it up to a normal temp,” one commenter said.

“Well you have learnt, it’s not a defroster. I usually start my car and let it run for a bit and if my back screen is foggy and not icy anymore, then I put the demister on,” another recommended.

“Pour cold water on it, I don’t use demister because that’s ice not fog,” said a third.

Originally published as Aussie driver's simple winter mistake cost $600