Will Insurance Cover A Cracked Windshield?

If your car’s windshield cracks or breaks, it might be covered by your insurance. Depending on the source of the damage, your cracked or broken windshield may be covered by:

• Another driver’s liability coverage
• Your comprehensive coverage
• Your collision
• Your glass coverage

Liability insurance covers damage caused by one driver to another person and their property. The policyholder is protected from paying out of pocket for medical bills or vehicle repairs. If your windshield is cracked by someone else, their insurance policy will cover the cost of a new one.

Comprehensive coverage will pay for damage that isn’t caused by another driver. If your windshield is cracked by a falling branch, flying rock, vandal, or another covered peril, then your comprehensive coverage will protect you from having to pay for the replacement yourself.

Your policy’s collision coverage pays for damage that you cause, including glass damage. You can choose to file a claim with your auto insurance company to fix your windshield if you’re in an at-fault crash, or you can pay the bill out of pocket instead.

In some states, you can purchase a glass coverage add-on to your comprehensive auto insurance. This will allow you to avoid a deductible when filing glass-related claims under your comprehensive policy.

Should Insurance Be Used To Replace A Windshield?

If your car’s windshield is damaged, you may want to consider repairing it yourself rather than filing an insurance claim. Even if the damage is covered by your auto insurance policy, it could cost more to have your windshield replaced as part of a claim than it would if you paid for the repair out-of-pocket.

If you’ve made claims before, your auto insurance will be more expensive. Windshield damage can affect your premiums and cause them to be more expensive in the future. Because making claims causes your rates to increase, you should factor in the future cost of coverage when deciding whether to make a claim on a broken windshield.

If you use your car insurance to replace a cracked windshield that costs less than your deductible, you may end up paying for the damage out of pocket. A car insurance policy’s deductible — the amount you have to pay when you make a comprehensive claim — can be anywhere from less than $100 to more than $2,000. A claims settlement would come from the cost of replacing your windshield minus your deductible.

If you have a $500 deductible, you’ll have to pay at least $500 out-of-pocket in order to replace your car’s windshield. Even if the damage is only $600, the insurance company will only pay out $100 (the damage minus your deductible). In this scenario, it’s better to pay the $600 yourself than pay an additional $500 in insurance premiums in addition to the original $500 deductible.

What Is The Cost Of Windshield Replacement With Insurance?

The cost of fixing a broken windshield with insurance depends on several factors, including the cost of your auto insurance and whether or not you have to pay a deductible each time you file a claim.

If you live in Florida, Kentucky, or South Carolina, you don’t have to pay a deductible when you repair glass damage. And if you live in any of the other states listed below, you could able to avoid a deductible on glass-related comprehensive claims for an increase in your premium. These states are-

• Arizona
• Connecticut
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• New York

Although comprehensive insurance covers the cost of repairing most glass damage, people with deductibles will have to pay out-of-pocket to fix a windshield. Typically, someone with a $500 or $1,000 deductible would pay the full price of a windshield repair before insurance kicked in.

What Does It Cost To Replace A Windshield Without Insurance?

It typically costs less than $400 to replace a windshield. Policygenius found that the typical cost for a windshield replacement is $390 per year. However, depending on a number of factors it could cost less than $100 or more than $1,000 to repair or replace your windshield.

The following factors may affect the cost of replacing a damaged windshield:

• Not only can service providers charge different prices for the same job, but different areas of the country have different pricing levels.
• Newer vehicles often include a variety of important sensors, heads-up displays, and other technology built into the glass, which can make for costly repairs.
• Because of the size and style of classic cars, sports cars, and luxury vehicles, custom windshields are often made for them.
• Some classic, sports, and luxury vehicles have custom windshields that are built to fit the size or style of the car.
• When you replace a rear windshield, it might just be cheaper if there is no wiper assembly, but often cars have rear windshield wipers or other things that can increase the cost.
• When replacing your windshield, consider choosing used glass. This can help reduce the cost of the replacement.
• A small chip may be an easy fix, but a large crack or shattered glass will require a full replacement and will cost more.

How To Make A Claim For Windshield Damage?

When you have a damaged windshield, the process is the same as filing other types of insurance claims. To make a claim, you’ll contact your insurance provider by calling an agent or submitting your claim online. While providers have different rules for how quickly you’re required to contact them after a loss, it’s important to act quickly when damage occurs.

When you make a claim, your insurance company may require an inspection by a shop of their choosing. Depending on your provider, you may have to have the damage repaired by these shops — though some insurers allow you to work with service providers of your choice.

It’s best to stay in contact with your insurance company throughout the claims process. Save all of your receipts and document your communications so you can be sure the insurance adjuster has all of the necessary information. If you dispute the claim, later on, having a record of everything will help you resolve it quickly.

Does Insurance Cover A Windshield Chip?

Windshield damage, even if it’s only a small chip, is covered by car insurance. However, if you want to avoid the higher premiums that come with making a claim, you should pay for the repair yourself. The damage will also likely be cheaper to fix than a larger crack.

Is Windshield Damage Covered By A Car’s Warranty?

If your windshield has cracks that are the result of manufacturing errors, or stress fractures that aren’t related to an impact on the glass, it may be covered by your car’s warranty for a limited time. However, cracks caused by rocks or wear and tear wouldn’t be covered under the same policy. It’s important to fully understand your warranty details so you can know what repairs will and won’t be covered.

Can I Use A Windshield Crack Repair Kit Instead Of Filing A Claim?

Don’t attempt to fix your windshield on your own. Use the services of a professional. Nonprofessional repair kits could cause more problems if the damage isn’t repaired correctly, and if you don’t follow instructions precisely the glass won’t be clear again.