Because sunroofs and moon roofs are frequently an optional (and more expensive) feature, insuring a car with one typically costs a little more than insuring the same make and model without one. Another factor that influences the cost of insurance is the safety features of your vehicle and how well it performs in a collision. Because sunroofs and moon roofs are constructed of glass, they are more likely to shatter or break in an accident, therefore insuring them can be more expensive.
How do sunroofs perform in a rollover crash?
The greatest way to avoid a rollover accident is to avoid driving while distracted. The second requirement is a sturdy roof. In a rollover incident, two types of sunroofs operate differently:
- Because practically the entire roof is glass, panoramic roofs do not fare well in rollovers. The glass could shatter or be damaged in a collision, but the biggest issue is that anyone not wearing a seatbelt could be flung out of the vehicle and through the broken sunroof.
- Because the window aperture is smaller than that of panoramic roofs, pop-up or embedded roofs fare better in rollover crashes than panoramic roofs. Furthermore, much of the roof is still the vehicle’s solid framework and is reinforced by structural roof bows, providing a stronger barrier in the event of a rollover.
Rollover collisions are uncommon, but fatal. Rollovers account for fewer than 1% of all incidents, but nearly a third of all fatalities, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Is it true that sunroofs can spontaneously shatter or explode?
Surprisingly, this one is correct (albeit rare). A total of 859 complaints regarding spontaneously exploding sunroofs were recorded by Consumer Reports. There are 35 automakers represented on the list, with 208 different car models. Despite the fact that the occurrences date back to 1995, more than 70% of them happened after 2011. While a spontaneously shattering sunroof is far less common than a tire blowout, it nonetheless offers a significant safety risk.
What can go wrong with my sunroof?
This one goes in the “obvious but true” category: Glass is a delicate material. Glass can break, crack, or leak no matter where it is on your car or how wonderful the views are. As a result, the more glass on your vehicle, the more likely you are to submit a glass claim with your insurance company.
- Glass claims are fairly common due to chips or cracks. According to the HLDI, they account for around two-thirds of all comprehensive claims. (Comprehensive insurance covers you for anything other than a car accident.) Glass claims have become more expensive over the last five years. According to the HLDI, the average cost of settling a glass claim in 2018 is $350, which is $75 more than the average cost in 2010.
Other prevalent types of damage from sun roofs, moon roofs, and panoramic roofs, according to Harold Singh, material damage claims quality control manager at Erie Insurance.
- Water leaks can occur for a variety of causes, including poor seals, improper installation, or simple blockages. Drainage channels in a typical sunroof allow water to flow away from the sunroof. Debris, such as dirt or tree pollen, might clog the sunroof’s attached drain tubes, allowing rainwater to pour into the cabin.
Note: Consult an insurance specialist, such as an ERIE agent, to learn what damage is and isn’t covered in the event of a sunroof leak. Clogged drains are usually considered normal wear and tear, so your motor insurance may not cover the cost of repair.
- Collisions: Even minor collisions can result in shattered glass… and sunroofs. “When the airbags are activated, the pressure within the vehicle is often high enough to detach the sunroof,” Singh adds. “The tempered glass on the windows is also brittle, shattering into hundreds of little pieces and opening up the roof, posing a danger if the occupants aren’t wearing seatbelts.”
Pros:
- Sightseeing The most obvious benefit of having a sunroof in your vehicle is the increased views of both the sun and the stars, as well as improved airflow on those lovely summer days when all the windows are rolled down.
- Improved Cell Phone Service Although less noticeable, having a sunroof can improve cell phone reception in regions where it is inconsistent or difficult to maintain. Because staying entirely enclosed can impair service capabilities, having an open sunroof can help you get better coverage on your phone.
- Aesthetically pleasing While this is only on the surface, a sunroof is a very attractive addition to any vehicle. Most drivers want their car to have a sleeker, more futuristic look, whether it’s an SUV, sedan, or sports car, and a sunroof is a terrific way to achieve that.
Cons:
- Expensive If you have a vehicle with a sunroof, it can be very costly to repair or replace if the sunroof becomes damaged or broken. Installing a replacement sunroof is particularly challenging, and a badly built sunroof can result in leaks and excessive wind noises while driving.
- Reduced Internal Space Having a sunroof might result in less interior headroom, which can be a problem when traveling with taller people. It does not effect every driver, but it is a significant factor to consider for taller drivers.
- Excess Weight Adding a sunroof to your car might add 30 to 40 pounds of extra weight and tension. This may impair fuel consumption and put additional pressure and strain on your vehicle’s components, necessitating more maintenance.
- Additional Mechanical Issue A sunroof is another technological component that is prone to failing or leaking, as well as requiring costly maintenance or repair.
- Irrelevance A sunroof is nothing more than an expensive automobile adornment that looks cool and adds nice views and sunlight. It can be advantageous if it fits your style and preferences, but it is relatively ineffective in terms of practical function.
Does sunroof weaken car?
Second, there is unquestionably a sacrifice in the structural safety of your vehicle. The floor and roof of modern cars are fixed structures that hold everything together. As a result, punching a sizable hole in your roof weakens the top part of your vehicle’s body.
The noise leaks coming in through your roof are the next reason. Installing a sunroof entails adding more seals to your roof, which will eventually lead to noise bleed. By the way, this is when it’s closed; if it’s open, you’ve got a loud air vent right on top of your head.
Another disadvantage is the increased expense and complexity. All of the mechanisms that operate a sunroof must be paid for separately, and the most of these are quite expensive. Because you’ve increased the total weight of your vehicle, your fuel efficiency has decreased marginally. Sunroofs, as you might expect, take up a lot of headroom. It has to fit inside the roof, which means you’ll have to give up some space for your head.
Water leakage through unequal seals and failure of the electric motor system to retract the roof are long-term issues. Because it is an electric moving component, it will undoubtedly fail at some point. It is also a tough and costly operation to repair. The majority of people would simply close it permanently.
A sunroof can have a positive or negative impact on the resale value of your car. If it’s working properly, you might be able to sell it as a benefit, but if it’s not, it’ll be a tremendous endeavor to justify. Most customers feel it’s an expensive component that could fail, leak, or break at any time, and thus is a risk to avoid.
Isn’t it a lot of trouble for something that only seldom serves its purpose? I can’t stress enough how important it is for you to avoid this stupid and costly hole in your roof.
Is a sunroof worth getting?
Panoramic sunroofs are becoming more prevalent in modern cars, and many drivers prefer them. It’s also obvious why they’re so popular. There are several advantages: more natural light, greater sightseeing opportunities, a less enclosed sense, and even the chance to stargaze at night.
Panoramic sunroofs, on the other hand, are not without their negatives, since they can reduce the car’s usability and potentially increase its operating expenses. Continue reading to learn more about if a panoramic roof is perfect for you.
Panoramic sunroofs exist in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they are all big rectangular glass panes that span the majority of the width of a car’s roof. We say ‘usually’ because there are a few outliers, like Tesla’s panoramic windscreen, which merges a windscreen and a sunroof into one large piece of glass that bends up and over the front seats.
Does a sunroof affect performance?
Smaller lateral reinforcing beams span the car’s roof for increased structural integrity, although they only have to cope with a small amount of force due to the main pillars’ dissipation. A sunroof is installed between these beams, basically replacing the sheet metal with a pane of retractable glass.
With this in mind, even during a rollover, a sunroof has no discernible effect on a car’s structural rigidity or strength. During a roll, the pillars and beams absorb nearly all of the forces created. This also means that even in the most difficult cornering maneuvers, the stiffness of a car is unaffected by a sunroof; there will be no discernible flex in the body to justify not having one.
Do sunroofs leak?
Sunroofs have a variety of points where they can leak. Because most sunroofs are designed to leak, they are particularly vulnerable to leakage. There is normally no outside gasket to prevent water from leaking down around the outside corners of the sunroof in order for the glass to lie flush on the roof. Instead, water is caught in channels beneath the glass that run around the exterior borders. Flow holes are normally located in each corner of the channels to allow water to drain out. Tubing runs down and out below the automobile and is frequently attached to these drain holes.
When it rains, a small quantity of water leaks in around the sunroof, but it is captured in the channels beneath the sunroof and drained out beneath the car. If your sunroof is leaking, there are three things to look for. It’s recommended to go through them in order of difficulty.
Do sunroofs make cars hotter?
When shopping for a new car, those looking at a variety of various models may note that some of them have sunroofs. These are effectively windows on your car’s roof. When you have a panoramic sunroof, for example, the entire roof is almost fully see-through.
With that considered, there’s no denying that sunroofs are attractive. They also provide certain useful functions, despite the fact that they are luxuries that aren’t strictly necessary for automobiles.
However, do sunroofs actually make the car hotter, as cool as they are and as excellent as they are at improving the automobile’s total value?
Yes, sunroofs CAN make automobiles hotter because the see-through roof enables more light and surplus heat to enter the vehicle. Consider how a car with a lighter tint job on its windows is usually hotter than a car with a deeper tint job on its windows. Essentially, this is due to the ease with which light may enter the automobile through a sunroof, particularly if it is a panoramic sunroof. Keep in mind that more light equals more heat.
However, you should be aware that sunroofs do not always result in a heated car. While it is true that sunroofs can give a little of warmth to your vehicle, you must keep in mind that this is still reliant on a variety of circumstances.
For starters, if you reside in a warmer and sunnier region with a warm environment practically all year, such as Arizona, Texas, or Florida, you may anticipate a sunroof to make your car seem hotter virtually all year (with the possible exception of winter). Sunroofs, on the other hand, do not necessarily make the car hotter if you live in the frigid northern regions, unless it is in the middle of a hot summer day.
When it comes to a hot summer day, the season can also influence whether sunroofs make a car hotter. So, if it’s a hot summer day, you may anticipate your car to feel hotter after the sunroof is opened and the harsh sunshine enters the vehicle. However, in the northern states’ colder regions, this isn’t always the case. If you reside in a hotter climate, the sunroof will make your car quite hot.
Does a sunroof add weight to a car?
5. They are excessively heavy. Sunroofs are periodically removed from Honda vehicles if the added weight of the roof interferes with EPA dyno fuel mileage testing. Sunroofs are so hefty that they might reduce fuel mileage. A standard sedan’s glass panel sunroof will add between 50 and 80 pounds to the vehicle’s total weight. For those who are insane, it’s between 120 and 200 pounds “On expensive SUVs, you’ll find “panoramic” sunroofs.
6. All of that weight is in the incorrect place: it’s at the top of the car, raising the center of gravity. How long has it been since you seen a racecar with a sunroof?
7. They rob you of your headroom. When the roof is open, it has to go somewhere, and that somewhere is frequently directly where the back seat occupants keep their heads. So you not only get a sunroof, but you also get less utility!
8. They’re way too pricey. The cost of sunroofs is skilfully buried in the price of a car “option packages” that combine convenience elements that aren’t always really useful. However, for $1,195, Dodge offers a sunroof as a stand-alone option on the Challenger and Charger. So you’re shelling out nearly $1,200 for a hole in your roof that’s filled with a heavy glass panel that makes the car worse when it’s open and messes up the aerodynamics.
Sunroofs have no redeeming qualities. And I’m not going to stop screaming about it until they’re expelled.
Is a panoramic sunroof safe?
There’s a reason panoramic roofs are so popular, and it’s clear as soon as you step inside a vehicle with one. The inside is brighter, the car feels larger, and depending on where you’re sitting, you can get an extra burst of air and sunshine when the panoramic sunroof is open. The disadvantages are minor, but they can be inconvenient. Any glass roof that opens has the possibility for parts failure as well as leaks. A broad expanse of glass might be heavy and unnecessarily boost the car’s center of gravity. There’s a chance the glass will break, which isn’t typical but does happen. Then there’s solar load: if the glass roof’s inside shade isn’t employed, or if the car doesn’t have one, the sun may quickly raise cabin temperatures to dangerous levels.
Are panoramic sunroofs covered under insurance?
Panoramic roofs provide spectacular views of the sky, but paying for their replacement if the glass is broken is a another story. According to a new HLDI analysis, the high cost of claims linked with these roofs is causing an increase in the severity of glass claims.
Glass claims account for about two-thirds of all claims filed under comprehensive coverage, which covers theft and vehicle damage caused by events other than collisions. While glass claims are widespread, they only account for 14% of all payouts under comprehensive coverage, with an average settlement costing $350.
Glass claims, on the other hand, have become more expensive in the last five years. Since 2010, the average severity of a glass claim has increased by around 27%, or $75. The total of all payments made on claims divided by the number of claims is the severity.
Panoramic roofs, which were first introduced in the early 2000s, are becoming more generally available on both luxury and mainstream vehicles, minivans, and SUVs. According to HLDI, panoramic roofs are available on a quarter of midsize SUVs and more than half of midsize luxury SUVs. Panoramic roofs can be made up of a single glass panel or many panels, depending on the size of the vehicle. The panes lift and slide open like traditional sunroofs in some versions.
HLDI looked at the loss experience of the 201415 Kia Sorento and the 2016 Kia Sportage to see if panoramic roofs were a factor in the growth in glass-claim severity. Because information on the availability of a panoramic roof as standard, optional, or not available is tied to a trim level detectable in the vehicle identification number, analysts chose these midsize SUVs to analyze. Furthermore, these cars lack any accident avoidance sensors fitted on the windshield, which could affect the cost of glass claims.
Glass losses were much higher in Kia SUVs with standard or optional panoramic roofs than in Kia SUVs without panoramic roofs. The frequency of glass claims was 10% greater in automobiles with standard panoramic roofs than in vehicles without such roofs. The number of claims submitted in relation to the number of insured vehicle years is known as claim frequency. The severity of glass claims was 26% higher, and overall losses were 39% higher.
“While this may appear to be a no-brainer,” says Matt Moore, senior vice president of HLDI, “the study reveals that adding glass to automobiles correlates to increasing glass losses.”
The frequency of glass claims was 5% greater, the severity of glass claims was 20% higher, and overall losses were 26% higher for models with optional panoramic roofs than for vehicles without panoramic roofs.
“Based on a small sample of automobiles, this is a preliminary assessment into glass losses for vehicles with panoramic roofs,” Moore explains. “As we gather more data, we’ll continue to investigate the issue on a bigger scale.”
Glass losses in Kia SUVs as a percentage of roof availability, all statistically significant