If you have a windshield or car window damage that hasn’t been caused by a vehicle accident, your comprehensive car insurance coverage will reimburse for these repairs. A lot of carriers will also waive or decrease the amount of the deductible for repairing your windshield as well, meaning you won’t have any money due out-of-pocket.
Having to replace a windshield could be a whole other ball of wax which is the reason it is critical for you to get any type of damage fixed at the first sign. Even a tiny nick can turn very quickly into a huge and vastly more costly issue if you don’t act on it. Cracks will grow fast with changes in temperature, by hitting potholes, or by simply driving. These are things that comprehensive coverage will reimburse for your windshield:
- Pebble/rock hitting the windshield
- Vandals
- Windshield coming in contact with an animal
- Falling objects, e.g. a tree branch, breaking the windshield glass
Some vehicle owners only carry liability which is what the minimum insurance coverage is by law for a majority of the states. But this coverage will only reimburse for what happens to someone else’s car. If you need to repair your vehicle’s windshield, you will need comprehensive coverage to do so. If the damage is due to a car accident, the collision aspect of your insurance coverage will reimburse for it. Unless the fault lies with the other driver, at which point their liability will kick in.
Repairing Or Replacing Your Windshield
Your car’s glass is among the most common damage reported in auto insurance claims with millions of these claims reported each year and nearly all of them being for windshields, making it highly likely that at a future point you will have some type of unfortunate encounter with your windshield.
Even the smallest of slivers need to be taken care of immediately as they can turn instantly into a large ‘spider web’ crack or a completely shattered glass. This is why you need to be aware of how to report claims to your insurance carrier for your windshield and decide as to whether you need to repair the damages or replace the windshield entirely.
In most instances, windshield damage comes from a stray rock that hits a vehicle that’s moving. The ideal situation is to repair if at all possible. Insurers suggest that if the damage is ‘smaller than a dollar bill’ (or smaller than 6”), repairs can be done. Anything that is larger than that means that the windshield will need to be replaced.
How To Know If You Should File A Windshield Claim
Whenever you file a claim with your auto insurance carrier, you risk having your premiums raised. Claims remain on your record in the range of three up to five years. If you have filed within that time frame, you want to avoid filing anything more. Typically, though, glass or windshield claims are looked at in a little bit different light whereas a lot of auto insurance carriers will fix small cracks or chips and waive the deductible. In that instance, you need to have the repairs done right away before the damage gets worse.
If the deductible is not going to be waived, measure the deductible against how much the repairs are going to cost. It may be less expensive to pay for the windshield repairs out of pocket versus paying the deductible and having a claim on your record.
Choosing The Right Windshield Repair Or Replacement Company
If your insurance company is footing the bill for your claim, a lot of times they will be the one to select the company for the repairs or replacement. But if it’s left up to you, there are several things to remember while deciding which service you should use.
- What type of reviews and references do they offer?
- Are they trustworthy and reputable?
- Do they offer warranties for the work they perform?
- Are the employees certified/what experience do they have?
- Do they offer guarantees?
There are loads of different glass repair/replacement services, it’s important to do research and get as many quotes as you can so that not only you get the best deal but you get a quality job. There are also services that are mobile and will come to where you are rather than having to take the vehicle into the shop to have the services done. That’s an extra perk.
Overall, it’s just not safe to drive with even the tiniest of chips in your windshield. You just don’t know when it could suddenly just give way and shatter in front of you. If you have comprehensive coverage and the damage is small, get it fixed as soon as possible to save yourself and your insurance carrier from worse damages down the road.