Windshield Woes: Understanding Insurance Claims For Auto Glass Replacements

Whether or not changing your windshield will increase your insurance depends on several factors. Firstly, it is important to determine if you have comprehensive, collision, or liability coverage. Comprehensive coverage is an optional type of insurance that protects against damage to your car beyond car accidents, such as theft, vandalism, and weather damage. Collision coverage, on the other hand, protects against damage that occurs during a collision, while liability coverage is mandatory and covers any injuries or property damage caused to others during an accident. If you have comprehensive coverage, your insurance will likely cover the cost of a windshield replacement without increasing your rates. This is because comprehensive claims are usually not considered surchargeable claims, meaning they do not directly impact your insurance premium. However, making multiple windshield claims within a short period may lead to an increase in your deductible or a refusal by your insurance company to pay for further claims. Additionally, if you have a high deductible, it may be more cost-effective to pay for the replacement out of pocket rather than filing a claim.

Comprehensive coverage

In some states, insurance companies offer a $0 deductible option for glass-only replacement claims. Some insurers will also waive the deductible for windshield repairs. However, if you have a high deductible, it may not be worth filing a claim, as the cost of repairing a single chip or crack is typically around $60 to $150.

Whether your insurance rates will go up after a glass claim depends on the insurance company and the number of claims made. Generally, a single windshield claim is unlikely to significantly impact your rates, as it is much less expensive for the insurance company than totalling your car, for example. However, multiple claims in a short period could affect your rates, and there may be limits on the number of windshield claims you can make.

Collision coverage

In the context of windshield replacement, collision coverage will cover the cost of repairing or replacing your windshield if it was damaged during a car accident for which you were at fault. This is in contrast to comprehensive coverage, which covers damage to your windshield caused by something other than a collision, such as falling debris, hail, vandalism, or animals.

It is important to note that whether or not your insurance rates will increase as a result of a windshield claim depends on the type of claim you make. If you make a collision claim, your rates may go up, especially if the damage was your fault. However, if you make a comprehensive claim, your insurance company usually won't raise your rates since this type of claim protects you against things outside of your control. Nevertheless, if you file multiple comprehensive claims in a short period, your insurer may consider you high-risk, potentially leading to a rate increase.

Liability coverage

If you are involved in an accident that is not your fault, the other driver’s liability insurance will pay for the damage to your windshield. You'll need to file a claim against the property damage liability portion of the other driver's auto insurance before the repairs can be made.

If your windshield is damaged due to an accident involving another vehicle or a stationary object, then collision coverage would apply. Collision coverage protects your car from any damage that results from an accident you cause, whether with another vehicle or a stationary object, like a tree.

If you live in a "zero-deductible" state — Florida, Kentucky or South Carolina — you should not have to pay a deductible for a replacement. State law does not allow carriers to sell full glass coverage with a deductible.

In some states, insurance companies offer full glass coverage which is not subject to a deductible.

If you are required to pay a deductible for glass damage, some insurers will waive your deductible if your windshield needs minimal repair rather than replacement.

If you have a $50 or $100 deductible, it is recommended to pay out of pocket. Although a $50 deductible would still save around $70 from your insurance company, filing a claim may cause your rates to increase.

Insurance claim frequency

Whether a windshield claim will increase your insurance premium depends on several factors, including the company and your state laws.

In most cases, a single windshield claim will not cause your insurance premium to increase. However, if you have made multiple insurance claims over a short period, such as three in a year, it could impact your rates. This is because insurance companies may consider the frequency of claims when determining future premiums. Additionally, if you have too many windshield claims, your insurance company may raise your deductible or refuse to pay for any more claims. Therefore, it is important to consider the frequency of your claims and their potential impact on your insurance premium.

Insurance company differences

Whether or not your insurance premium will increase after a windshield replacement depends on the insurance company and your state laws.

Most insurance companies do not consider comprehensive claims as surchargeable claims, meaning that they will not directly impact your insurance premium. However, some insurance companies may raise rates after a windshield repair claim to recoup the cost of the claim. This increase is usually small because windshield repair claims are not related to the policyholder's driving.

In some states, such as California and Oklahoma, insurance companies are not allowed to raise premiums for a not-at-fault claim. Additionally, in Kentucky, if you have comprehensive coverage, your windshield will be covered with no deductible.

It is important to note that each insurance company calculates premiums using its own individual system, so it is recommended to get multiple quotes when shopping for insurance.

Some insurance companies offer zero-deductible benefits for windshield repairs, meaning that if your windshield can be repaired, the insurance company will cover the cost without any out-of-pocket expense from you.

Other Factors to Consider

The cost of windshield replacement is determined by your deductible, which is your out-of-pocket expense. Depending on the insurance company, comprehensive deductibles can range from $0 to $2,000, and you choose the amount when signing up for a new insurance policy.

If you have a high deductible, such as $500 or $1,000, it may be more cost-effective to pay for the windshield repair or replacement out of pocket rather than filing an insurance claim.

It is also worth considering the frequency of windshield claims. While one claim may not impact your premium, multiple claims in a short period could be taken into consideration by insurance companies when determining future premiums.

Finally, it is important to review your insurance policies carefully and communicate with your insurance company to understand what is covered and whether a claim will affect your premium.

Frequently asked questions