Does full coverage insurance cover windshield replacement

Does Car Insurance Cover a Cracked Windshield?

If you have comprehensive coverage on your car insurance policy, filing a glass claim may help repair or replace your cracked windshield if the damage came from a rock, hail or tree branch. Full auto glass car insurance covers you from many causes of windshield damage, and you might not even have to pay a deductible.

Car Insurance Coverages for Windshield Damage

Comprehensive Coverage

If you have comprehensive insurance, it may help pay for glass damage to your windshield from a:

• Rock
• Tree branch
• Hail

However, you may have to pay the deductible on your auto insurance to file a claim. Sometimes your deductible may be higher than the cost to fix the cracked windshield. Depending on the amount of your deductible, you may decide to pay for the damage yourself unless your windshield needs to be replaced completely.

Full Auto Glass Coverage

Most insurance companies allow you to add auto glass insurance coverage to your policy. With full auto glass coverage, you usually won’t pay a deductible. That means that you won’t have to pay out of pocket for windshield repairs. Sometimes called windshield insurance, this type of policy also covers windshields that need to be replaced.

Replacing vs. Repairing Your Windshield

That tiny rock might have only made a small chip in your windshield, but if you don’t get it taken care of, it could become a bigger problem. A chip or crack can block your vision when driving and can become a much larger crack quickly.

See a windshield specialist as soon as possible. They can help you determine whether your windshield needs to be replaced or if they can do a glass repair. If the crack is shorter than a dollar bill, the specialist may be able to repair the cracked windshield.

If you do need your windshield replaced, you can get it replaced with original equipment manufacturers (OEM) glass or get an aftermarket automotive windshield. OEM glass is the same type of glass that was originally installed into your car. This glass is manufactured following your car maker’s regulations.

Aftermarket automotive windshields are made by manufacturers that don’t have contracts with your automaker. This means they don’t have to follow certain guidelines that regulate glass thickness, durability or color.

How Much Does It Cost To Fix a Crack in a Windshield?

Do You Have To Pay a Deductible for Windshield Replacement?

If the cost to fix the cracked windshield is less than your deductible, it may not be worth filing a claim and you would just pay out of pocket. If you have full auto glass coverage, you don’t have to pay a deductible to fix your cracked windshield.

When you purchase car insurance, you choose a deductible. This is the amount you have to pay before the insurance company will pay your claim. If you decide on a lower deductible, your insurance premium will be higher. If you want to pay less for insurance, you can choose a larger deductible.

Should I Use Insurance To Replace a Windshield?

If the cost to repair or replace your cracked windshield is higher than your deductible, it’s probably worth filing a claim. If the windshield damage is from a pebble on the road or debris from the car in front of you, your insurance rates are not likely to go up from a claim. No matter what you decide, it’s important to have your cracked windshield looked at by a specialist or repair shop as soon as possible to get any chips fixed. If the crack is more than six inches long, you may need to have your windshield replaced.

Which States Replace Windshields for Free?

You may be wondering, “does insurance cover windshield replacement in my state?” All state car insurance requirements and laws are different. There are three states that do not allow insurance companies to charge a deductible for windshield repairs and replacement even if you don’t have full auto glass coverage.

These states are referred to as zero-deductible states with free windshield replacement. Insurance companies in these states cannot charge a deductible for glass replacement or repair:  

• Kentucky
• South Carolina
• Florida

Get a Quote for Insurance To Cover Cracked Windshields

2 National Windshield Repair Division (NWRD), “Welcome to the NWRD Information Center for Consumers.”