If your windshield needs to be fixed or replaced due to a chip or crack, you have the option of choosing the business that will perform the work. We’ve collaborated with providers who can help you with your glass repair or replacement for your convenience. When you choose one of our partner vendors, they will handle your claim and guarantee your repairs for the duration of your ownership of the car.
You will be contacted with following actions if the repair shop you choose is not a Travelers partnered vendor. Your shop will bill Travelers directly for the job regardless of who you choose to fix your glass, and you will only be responsible for any applicable deductible.
The majority of glass damage can be repaired in a location of your choice, such as your home or place of business. You may have to take your vehicle to the glass vendor’s facilities for repair in some cases, depending on the type of vehicle or the extent of the damage.
In general, you won’t have to pay your deductible if your auto glass is chipped or cracked. However, each situation has its own set of circumstances. If a repair fails and the windshield needs to be replaced, a deductible will almost certainly apply. You can also have an insurance with a low or no deductible for glass claims.
Is a windshield covered by full coverage insurance?
If your windshield is broken by a rock or another object, comprehensive coverage may be able to help you replace or repair it. Comprehensive coverage also helps to protect against risks like fire, theft, falling objects, and hail. You may not have to pay a deductible for windshield repair if you have comprehensive glass coverage.
How do I know if my insurance covers my windshield?
If you have comprehensive insurance, you will not be responsible for any repairs because there is no deductible in this scenario. Although comprehensive coverage is an option, most drivers choose to add it to their car insurance policy in order to be covered for windshield glass repairs. If the chip or crack is less than 6 inches long, it can typically be repaired.
The windshield will almost certainly need to be replaced if the crack is larger than 6 inches. Your comprehensive insurance will still cover you if this is the case. You may be required to pay a deductible depending on your state and coverage. For example, if a new windshield costs $800 and your comprehensive deductible is $100, you’ll only have to pay $100 toward the cost of the new windshield.
Is it worth using insurance for windshield replacement?
Yes, if the cost of repairing or replacing your windshield would exceed your deductible if you paid for it out of yourself, you should use insurance. If the deductible is more than the cost of repair or replacement, the insurer will not pay anything, and submitting a claim is worthless. Because of the cost to your insurer, a glass repair claim may result in a minor rise in your premium. However, even if your rate does increase, it will most likely be by about 2%, compared to around 40% for an accident claim.
Comprehensive insurance, which pays for repairs after damage caused by something other than an accident, such as natural catastrophes or vandalism, is frequently covered for glass damage. Deductibles for comprehensive coverage vary by policy, however they can range from $50 to $2,000. Repairing a windshield, on the other hand, can cost anywhere from $100 to $400, depending on the amount of the damage.
Your glass deductible may be lower than your comprehensive deductible in some circumstances. A deductible for windshield repair or replacement is not allowed in Florida, South Carolina, or Kentucky. Drivers in Arizona, Connecticut, Minnesota, and New York can opt for a cheaper deductible for glass repair. And, depending on where you reside, some insurance providers, such as Geico, will eliminate the deductible for windshield repair entirely.
If you decide to repair or replace your windshield with the help of insurance, you should make a claim as quickly as possible. Even a minor chip might get larger over time, so you should repair it before it becomes a safety problem.
How much is a windshield replacement?
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.
Does glass claim raise insurance?
Your insurance company will determine if a glass claim may effect your future auto insurance premiums. In most cases, a glass claim to repair or replace your windshield should have little (if any) impact on your car insurance rates. However, if you have many glass claims in a short period of time, it may affect your renewal rates. If you have more than three glass claims in a three-year period, for example.
If you want to transfer insurance carriers, a history of frequent automobile insurance claims may come back to haunt you. Because insurers submit claims to a database, which other insurers evaluate when you apply for a policy, this is the case. Multiple claims are often viewed by insurers as a higher risk, which could result in higher premiums.
The good news is that regardless of your claim history, you can shop around and compare vehicle insurance prices.
Does insurance cover windshield damage?
While most plans may cover your windshield, we urge that you double-check to ensure which events are covered and that you have coverage for all of your glass. If it turns out that your policy just covers your side windows and not your windshield, it might be a difficult issue.
What to do if you do not have comprehensive insurance
In general, if you do not have comprehensive coverage, your insurance will not cover the cost of replacing your windshield. There are two significant exceptions when liability insurance alone will suffice to fix your vehicle.
If another driver collides with your automobile and is at blame for the accident, you may be covered. When you file a claim against the property damage liability element of the other driver’s auto insurance, your windshield or other pieces will be replaced.
If another person breaks your windshield and you file a claim against their homeowners or renters liability insurance, you may be covered. If they have either of those policies, they will have a liability section that will pay the costs of any items they damage. You’d have to show their insurance company that they were at fault.
If a car is less than 10 years old or worth more than $3,000, we usually advise drivers to acquire comprehensive and collision insurance. Despite the fact that the two forms of coverage might double the cost of your auto insurance, the cost of repairs may be greater than the cost of insurance over five years.
Is a cracked windshield comprehensive or collision?
If your windshield cracks, register a claim as soon as possible and before any repairs are completed. If the damage happens while you’re driving, pull over as quickly as possible and file a claim.
If your windshield is chipped or cracked, file a thorough claim as soon as possible and before attempting repairs.
Important note: You should register a glass claim as soon as possible after the damage happens, and you should file it before any repairs are made. The longer you wait to have the chip or crack in your windshield or window repaired, the more likely it will spread.
When does insurance cover windshield replacement?
In most circumstances, comprehensive coverage is required to cover a cracked or shattered windshield and other types of glass damage, although collision coverage is often applicable in the event of a collision with another vehicle.
When the term “comprehensive” is used: If your windshield is broken by falling debris, colliding with a deer or animal, or other risks, comprehensive coverage will usually cover the cost of repair or replacement.
When collision coverage is used instead of comprehensive coverage: If your windshield is damaged in an automobile accident, collision coverage is used instead of comprehensive coverage.
Important note: If your windshield is broken in a car accident and the other driver is at fault, you have the option of filing a claim against their insurance to cover the expense of replacing it.
Who pays when a rock hits your windshield?
If a pebble flies straight from the back of a track and shatters your windshield, the corporation could be held liable. If you stayed 100 to 150 feet away from the truck and/or can establish that the vehicle was overweight and carrying more rock or gravel than it should have, they could be held accountable.
Does claiming windshield affect premium?
You’re traveling down the highway when “bam!” a stone slams into your windshield, chipping it. You decided to wait a little before mending the windshield because it was only a small chip.
When you drive over a speed bump a few days later, that little chip expands to a 6-inch crack.
The good news is that your windshield replacement or repair will most likely be covered by your motor insurance policy’s comprehensive coverage.