Don’t let broken glass on your vehicle slow you down. Most insurance policies have coverage for damaged windshields, broken windows, and other glass damage.
What Will Insurance Cover?
Broken windshields and other glass damage are generally covered under your insurance policy’s Comprehensive Coverage. This is subject to your Comprehensive Coverage Deductible. Therefore, if you haven’t met your deductible yet, you may still have to pay for your glass repair. Those who have met their deductible will have the service covered.
If it’s your windshield that’s damaged, your insurance company may examine the possibility of a repair over a replacement. That is, in some cases, a chipped windshield can be fixed instead of needing complete replacement. This generally involves a service repair person cleaning out the chip area and filling it in with a clear resin.
If, however, you need a full replacement of your windshield, the ultimate cost can run the gamut from $150 to $1500.
Why the discrepancy in cost?
While windshields used to be relatively inexpensive to replace, these days, they’re more high-tech than ever before. Replacing the entire windshield on an Aston Martin, for instance, can be anywhere from $800 to $4500.
Again, this is usually because there are commonly sensors and other technology embedded into windshields nowadays. It can also be because mechanics in smaller areas may not work with exotic foreign vehicles. If you have a foreign car, it’s likely that your windshield replacement is going to cost more.
The only good news is that certain insurance policies offer what’s called Full Glass Coverage. This will provide you with a full replacement of your broken windshield without a deductible. Or, sometimes, the deductible will simply be much lower.
Lastly, if the incident was caused by another driver, speak with them about filing a claim with their property damage liability coverage, which may cover the damage.
How Can Glass Damage Be Prevented?
To save yourself a lot of headaches, you can prevent glass damage in the first place. Use these tips:
1. Drive With Caution
Cautious, defensive drivers are much less likely to encounter a problem with glass damage. You can cultivate good driving habits by keeping your speed down, keeping your distance from other drivers, cutting out distractions while you drive, and always being aware of your surroundings.
2. Avoid Semi Trucks
Semi-trucks on the highway are commonly the cause of vehicle damage for smaller cars and trucks. One of their worst offenses is kicking up rocks and road debris, which can then fly and hit your windshield or windows, causing cracks and chips.
It’s always best to stay as far away from these vehicles as possible by hanging back if you are behind them and passing them quickly and as soon as you are able.
3. Understand What Stress Cracks Are
Stress cracks occur when the climate changes drastically or suddenly. For example, this may mean a big drop or increase in temperature.
In the Shawano area, residents know that this can happen at any type of the year. In the summer, for example, one scorching hot day can mean a stress crack will appear on your windshield out of nowhere. It’s good to be aware of this potential issue so that you can take your car into the shade or garage if the weather begins to go haywire — either in the summer or winter.
Remember that most insurance companies won’t increase your premiums for occasional glass damage claims, so don’t hesitate to file one if you experience a broken window or windshield. If you have questions about glass damage and auto insurance, contact Feivor Insurance and we’d be glad to assist you.
