The Florida windshield replacement law (also known as the Florida auto glass replacement law) is a statute that exempts Florida residents from having to pay for windshield repairs. As a result, if your windshield needs to be repaired or replaced, your auto insurance company is not allowed to charge a deductible. The windshield repair or replacement is provided at no cost to you.
The replacement of a windshield is required under Florida law. Insurance windshield replacement in Florida helps to keep drivers safe. In Florida, windshield repair is simple, so there’s no reason to drive with a cracked windshield.
Cause of Damage
Windshield damage can be caused by criminal acts including as theft. A criminal, for example, might smash your glass to steal anything from your car.
Debris could be thrown onto your windshield by a natural disaster such as a tropical storm or hurricane. A wildfire, on the other hand, can weaken a tree and cause a branch to fall onto your windshield.
Your Coverage
Let’s say you collided with an electric pole and your windshield was shattered. If you only have comprehensive coverage, your insurer is not compelled to pay for collision-related windshield repairs.
Free Windshield Repairs
Insurers cannot levy a deductible for windshield repairs under comprehensive coverage or CAC policies in Florida, according to state law. This means that damage to your windshield caused by anything other than an accident is likely to be covered by insurance.
How much does it cost to replace a windshield in Florida?
In the state of Florida, how much does it cost to replace a windshield? In Florida, a fully replaced windshield will likely cost anywhere from $167.80 to $1646.34 depending on the vehicle size, based on the entire range of values we have in our database for all Florida bids.
Does Florida waive deductible for windshield replacement?
- The only states that eliminate the deductible for windshield repair or replacement if you have comprehensive insurance are Florida, Kentucky, and South Carolina.
- Separate glass coverage is available in Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York, with no deductible on glass claims.
- Glass coverage policies with no deductible are available from several insurers regardless of where you live.
Is car windshield covered by insurance?
If the insured has comprehensive coverage, all automobile insurance policies cover damage to the windshield. Your auto insurance carrier will only cover the expense of replacing your vehicle’s damaged windshield if you have a comprehensive coverage. This occurs because comprehensive car insurance covers a four-loss wheeler’s or damage caused by unanticipated circumstances, as well as the policyholder’s third-party accidental liability.
As a result, any damage to your car’s front or back windshield caused by an accident, natural disasters, or man-made disasters will be covered by your auto insurance carrier. However, even the best vehicle insurance policy will not cover damages to your car’s windshield if you only have third-party insurance coverage. This occurs because third-party car insurance is only designed to cover third-party liabilities, not a vehicle’s own damages.
If your car’s windshield was damaged in an accident caused by another vehicle, the individual who caused the accident will be responsible for the repair. The at-fault driver’s insurance company will cover your windshield damage and pay for repairs or replacement. Remember to file a third-party insurance claim against the driver who was at fault for the collision.
Does PIP insurance cover windshields in Florida?
After undergoing a big modification, a bill that Florida lawmakers hope will cut vehicle insurance premiums is making its way through the Senate.
Florida lawmakers are one step closer to repealing the state’s no-fault insurance regulations. Drivers are currently required to have personal-injury protection coverage. Instead, Florida drivers would be required to carry bodily injury coverage under a bill currently passing through the Senate. The idea, according to Sen. Danny Burgess (R-Zephryhills), is to modernize Florida’s present system.
“The question is whether the present coverage levels are adequate; we know they are not, and that is what this bill aims to solve,” Burgess said. “Let’s take a look at what’s currently available. As a result, Florida’s present no-fault legislation was enacted in 1979 and has not been changed since. So, under the no-fault system, we all have $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP).”
Drivers would be required to obtain insurance with a minimum of 25,000 in bodily injury coverage under the new system.
Sen. Doug Broxson (R-Pensacola) proposed reforms to prohibit unethical actors from inflating windshield repair rates.
“The reality is that in many regions of the state, the good intentions that we had for years of how to have your glass restored have altered substantially,” Broxson said. “Instead of having the cost of the glass replaced, it would be escalated via a mechanism involving multiple parties manipulating the price.”
Currently, policyholders get reimbursed for the cost of replacing a broken or cracked windshield. It was hoped that by doing so, motorists driving with broken or cracked windshields would be less dangerous. However, some unscrupulous individuals are paying consumers to have windshields that are not damaged replaced at a significantly higher rate. When it comes time to pay out the claim, the insurance company may opt to argue the price and thus spend additional money defending a lawsuit.
These companies claim that the additional costs of defending these disputes raises the cost of overall insurance.
Insurance companies can charge up to a $200 deductible to replace a windshield under Broxson’s proposal. He claims that it would eliminate the advantage that bad actors currently have in supplying a windshield at no expense to the policyholder.
Sen. Audrey Gibson (D-Jacksonville) wondered if the change would make it more difficult for drivers to get their windshields repaired when they see damage. Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) responded to the question.
“It doesn’t work that way. It allows consumers to decide if they want a deductible for auto glass on the front end, when they’re choosing their policy “Brandes stated. “If they choose to have a deductible, the overall cost of the auto insurance policy may be lower.”
Lawmakers adopted the amendment and agreed to another adjustment that would allow low-income persons and full-time students to buy insurance at a discounted rate to aid with costs.
Can a 12 inch crack in windshield be repaired?
It’s possible that you’ve been advised that a crack can’t be repaired. It’s possible that a chip you disregarded spread, or that the damage was instantaneous. A crack in a windshield, whether it’s two or ten inches long or somewhere in between, has always been a main cause for having it replaced.
Short and long cracks can be filled using a specific resin to heal the damage. Our expert technicians employ industry-leading NOVUS technology to restore as much of the windshield’s structural integrity as feasible.
Safety is first in a repair, so make sure the glass is robust enough to meet or exceed all laws. The optical clarity of the windshield is increased with a repair, returning up to 85% of the original optics.
If your car has modern driver aid systems, windshield crack repair is very vital to consider (ADAS). Sensors and cameras may be close to the windshield, requiring recalibration if the windshield is replaced. None of the systems will be touched during the repair.
Chemicals like vehicle wash soap or dirt from the environment can sneak into the fracture, making it more difficult to fix. It’s critical to have the fracture examined before the damage becomes too severe, in order to reduce the chances of anything foreign going inside.
Because there are so many factors, it’s best to go to the nearest branch to have your damage assessed. While repairing can save you time and money over replacing, it may not be the best option for you.
Can you get a ticket for a cracked windshield in Florida?
Driving while speeding, skipping a red light or stop sign, or following too closely can all result in a ticket, but what about driving with a cracked windshield?
Can You Get a Ticket for A Cracked Windshield?
Many drivers are surprised to learn that having a cracked windshield might result in a traffic stop and a ticket. An officer may also judge that the crack in your vehicle’s windshield is too serious to allow you to drive on the road. The following is taken from Florida Statute 316.610:
“It is a violation of this chapter for any person to drive or move, or for the owner or his or her duly authorized representative to cause or knowingly permit to be driven or moved, on any highway, any vehicle or combination of vehicles that is in such an unsafe condition as to endanger any person or property, or that does not contain those parts or is not at all times equipped with such lamps and other equipment in proper condition and adjustment as required in this chapt.”
A cracked windshield may not be directly described as an unsafe condition in this regulation, but it might provide a potentially deadly situation for the driver, their passengers, and others on the road if the windshield entirely shatters or even just obstructs the driver’s view. Because it may be a potentially unsafe state of your vehicle, a law enforcement officer may pull you over and issue a penalty at their discretion. Your automobile may also need to be towed and not driven any further.
What Happens If I Get a Ticket for A Cracked Windshield?
Within 30 days, you must either pay the ticket or present proof that the windshield has been fixed or replaced. In addition to the ticket, if the officer finds your vehicle hazardous for future drive, you will be responsible for having the vehicle towed.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace or Repair My Windshield?
You’re in luck if your auto insurance policy has comprehensive coverage. Your comprehensive coverage includes the cost of windshield repair or replacement, and you won’t have to pay anything out of pocket in Florida. That’s true, there’s no charge for windshield repair; however, you must have this optional coverage to take advantage of it.
If you did not get comprehensive coverage, you will be responsible for the expense of replacing or repairing your windshield. Shop around and get many estimates, just as you would for any other vehicle repair, to ensure you get the greatest cost. Simply put, don’t scrimp on quality; your windshield is a critical component of your vehicle’s safety.
How much is a new windshield?
A windshield replacement will cost between $200 and $400 on average. The cost of replacing your windshield is decided not only by the sort of auto glass company you employ, but also by where your vehicle is repaired. If you plan a mobile appointment while at work, for example, you may end up paying extra out of pocket.
If you drop your car off at a shop, your insurance provider will only pay your expenses. In-shop repairs at an auto body shop are often less expensive than having a mechanic come to you.
Let’s look at some of the other factors that go into determining the cost of a windshield repair.