Does Insurance Cover Auto Glass Replacement?
Your windshield is one of your car’s most important safety features; sometimes, it gets broken. Whether a rock or a vandal hit it, it must be repaired.
Fortunately, your auto insurance likely covers glass repairs and replacement. The best way to determine if your insurance policy covers auto glass damage is to review your policy.
Comprehensive Coverage
Whether or not your insurance will cover auto glass replacement depends on your policy type. Most auto insurance policies include comprehensive coverage, which pays to repair or replace your windshield and other vehicle windows in cases outside of a car accident.
Typical events that may damage your windshield or other vehicle windows are fire, severe weather, vandalism, theft, and animal contact. If your vehicle has comprehensive insurance and the glass is damaged in one of these events, your comprehensive insurance will pay to replace it minus your deductible.
Some insurance companies will provide a referral to an auto glass repair shop that they know is good. If you choose a shop your insurance agent recommends, you can expect to receive a cash incentive from the auto glass repair shop.
When you file a claim, you will need to submit photos of the damage and complete the paperwork as described by your insurer. You should also get a service estimate from a few different auto glass repair shops to determine the cost of repairing or replacing your broken window.
If you’re unsure how to file a claim, call your insurance company or insurance agent and ask if they offer this coverage. You can often file a windshield damage claim over the phone or online if they do.
Many insurance companies have a glass-claims hotline to help you with your windshield damage claim. Depending on the severity of the damage, they may waive your deductible or allow you to pay out of pocket for any repairs.
Another option is to add full glass coverage to your policy. It costs a few dollars more a month but will eliminate the need to worry about paying for damage to your vehicle’s glass.
Having this option can save you hundreds of dollars in the long run.
You can also purchase a “zero-deductible” glass option for your car’s windshield or other windows in some states. These are unavailable through all insurance companies and might not be offered for every vehicle.
Collision Coverage
Auto glass damage is a common problem, and taking care of it promptly is important. This is because intact auto glass protects the driver, other passengers, and vehicle structure from weather, road debris, and more.
If your windshield has been damaged, you should file a claim to have it replaced as soon as possible. This process is no different from filing a normal car insurance claim, and most companies will allow you to submit your request by phone or online.
The first step is to document the damage as thoroughly as possible. This includes taking pictures of the affected area and getting a copy of a police report.
Once your insurance company has approved the claim, you’ll be able to find a local repair shop that can perform the work. Most insurers have a network of shops they work with. These include local body shops and national specialists such as Safelite.
When selecting a glass repair shop, look for AGRSS Registered Member Companies that meet the Auto Glass Safety Council’s standard for quality. These companies provide random third-party safety audits, continuing education, and higher-quality work.
As a result, you’ll be able to choose a high-quality auto glass repair shop that meets all of the necessary qualifications for your insurance company to pay out your claim. In addition, AGRSS Registered Members typically have mobile glass repair technicians that can travel to your location to complete the work.
Many insurance providers also offer collision deductible waivers, which help reduce out-of-pocket expenses if you get into an accident caused by an uninsured driver.
Whether or not you want to have collision coverage is a personal decision, and it will depend on several factors, including your finances and how much your vehicle is worth. Ultimately, the best decision is one that you can make with your insurance agent, and that will leave you confident in the future.
The main question is: Can I afford to replace my vehicle if it gets totaled in a crash? If you can’t, then it may be time to consider dropping your collision coverage.
Zero Deductible
Insurance can pay to replace your windshield if it is damaged by a collision, natural calamity, or even vandalism. Usually, this is done through the comprehensive coverage of your policy.
If a collision damages your windshield, you should file a claim with your collision insurance company. This is often the best way to get a fair estimate of what it will cost to repair or replace your glass.
Most car insurance policies have a deductible that you must pay before your coverage kicks in. If you choose a high deductible, your repair or replacement costs may exceed your deductible before your insurance kicks in.
However, if your deductible is low or you live in a zero-deductible state, you can make a claim without paying a deductible. If you do this, you must select an auto glass shop from your insurer’s network of shops.
When you visit your insurance agent, ask them for referrals for a few different auto glass shops. This will help you find the right glass shop for your vehicle and give you peace of mind that the work is done correctly.
Then, after you have selected a repair or replacement shop, you will need to submit your claim for reimbursement. Once your claim is approved, the insurance company will pay the auto glass repair shop, and you’ll be reimbursed for the cost of the work.
You should also remember that your deductible will be applied to any repairs made, not just the original glass. This can be an expensive and time-consuming process.
Lastly, some states have passed laws that require auto insurance companies to waive their deductibles for glass replacement. This is to encourage drivers to get their damaged glass replaced so that it doesn’t cause accidents and injuries on the road.
Whether or not you should use your insurance to pay for your windshield repair or replacement depends on your budget and personal preference. Typically, a small windshield claim doesn’t have much of an impact on your premium or history of claims.
Warranty
A windshield that’s been cracked or chipped is an obvious safety hazard. However, this type of damage can also affect other systems in your car. This is why choosing a reliable auto glass company to fix your vehicle is essential.
The company you choose should offer a warranty on their workmanship and materials. This warranty is important because it will guarantee that the work they did for you is good and will not cause any problems in the future.
How long a warranty lasts can vary widely, but most shops will provide at least 90 days of coverage for their work. This allows enough time for you to drive your car around and check for any issues that might have arisen after the repair was completed.
It’s a good idea to ask the technician who prepared your windshield or someone working at the front desk about any warranties that might be offered when you pick up your vehicle after the repair is complete. This is important because it will protect you if anything goes wrong with the installation or the new glass.
You should also inquire about the warranty if your windshield has advanced features like sensors and cameras. These can break or chip after a repair and are expensive to replace or recalibrate.
Another important area to ask about when looking at auto glass companies is their warranty coverage for other equipment. This includes defoggers, radio antennae, and opening/closing mechanisms.
These are all complicated parts that require specific installation methods, so it’s important to have a warranty that covers them. If a shop doesn’t offer this warranty, finding another company that does is a good idea.
When evaluating the warranty of an auto glass company, be sure to ask about what they cover and how long it will last. This will help you determine whether the company is worth your business.
Most modern cars have sensors and cameras that must be recalibrated after a windshield repair. This is an expense that isn’t covered by many auto insurance policies, but it’s worth asking about.