How much does it cost to replace a cracked windshield

Things to Consider When Paying for Your Windshield Out of Pocket

For many, replacing a windshield will cost less than your insurance deductible, meaning you will pay cash. Or perhaps you just prefer not to make a claim on your insurance policy and pay yourself. Or you might be in a situation where you have to pay for a windshield replacement without insurance. This may leave you asking- how do you handle out-of-pocket windshield replacement?

While it may be tempting to shop around for the lowest price and go with that windshield replacement company, this may not be the wisest choice.

The Cheapest Windshield Replacement Option Isn’t Always the Best

Your windshield is an important safety component for your vehicle. As a structural part of your vehicle, it helps to support your car’s roof and can also ensure you aren’t thrown from the vehicle in the event of a crash. You need to ask yourself if the cheapest replacement option is also the safest.

The typical cost of a windshield replacement can vary. While the price of the windshield and cost of supplies are all factored into the cost of your replacement, another big thing to consider is the technician’s expertise and training. Although not always true, the cheapest windshield repair may also correlate with one of lower quality.

The Value of  Windshield Replacement Training

One way to find an experienced installer is by asking the automotive glass replacement company if they are a member of the Auto Glass Safety Council.

The AGSC provides a standard for auto glass retailers to follow to make sure all precautions are taken to ensure driver and passenger safety. Glass.com®, for example, shows this badge near registered member companies.

Rear Car Windshield Replacement Near Me?

Rear Windshield Replacement

Replacing the front windshield may be most common, sometimes the rear windshield (also called the backlite or back glass) may also be damaged. Like with the front windshield, a car’s rear windshield replacement costs vary based on factors such as the type of the vehicle, type of glass, and severity of the damage.

Why the Wide Range of Windshield Costs?

Type of Vehicle

When it comes to auto windshield replacement cost, one of the first things every shop you call will ask is, “What’s the make and model of your vehicle?” This detail will have a big impact on the cost. The main reason for cost differences is quality, features, and availability.

For example, a Honda Civic windshield replacement costs much less than a Mercedes Benz S560. Why? Because the Honda Civic is a basic, small, vehicle with few (if any) windshield-related features and parts are abundant. The Mercedes, on the other hand, is a bit more complicated.

Additionally, luxury vehicles, such as Mercedes and Lexus for example, require specific windshields that are often only available through the dealer. These can sometimes cost two or three times what glass for non-luxury vehicles might cost.

Special Features

Your car’s windshield replacement cost will also factor additional expenses depending on the type of vehicle. Some vehicles have special moldings that are a part of the windshield. This means the glass will also need those to match the structural design.

Also, newer vehicles sometimes come with features such as rain sensors and condensation sensors that involve more work to replace. In fact, some cars can have as many as five different sensors and cost several hundreds of dollars to replace. Windshield replacement on an older car without those details will be considerably less.

Today’s vehicle add-on options that are actually tied to the windshield can include:

• Heated wiper park
• Rain sensing wipers
• Lane departure warning
• Automatic braking
• Special solar coatings
• Auto-dimming headlamps
• Specialized logos
• Frit/shade screen
• Bullet resistance
• Electrochromic rearview mirror
• Acoustical interlayer
• And more…

All of these additional features add additional manufacturing processes, which ultimately add an additional cost.

Despite the common belief that “glass is just glass”, (although this may have held some truth in the past) it’s just no longer the case with today’s technologically advanced vehicles.

Windshield Quality

There are 2 quality options to choose from when having your windshield replaced:

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Quality:

OEM products meet or exceed the quality requirements set forth by vehicle manufacturers. This means that the replacement windshield being installed in your car will be just as good, if not better than the one that your car originally came with from the factory. With OEM parts you can rest assured that it should be a safe windshield that integrates smoothly with your car’s current options and provides all the same features.

Aftermarket Quality:

Aftermarket windshields may or may not meet the quality considerations set forth by OE manufacturers. This is not to say that there is no quality control in place- all legal windshields installed in the USA must meet minimum Department of Transportation (DOT) standards. Windshields must receive a rating of AS1 by the DOT which approves them safe for use. So although they might not be the same quality, they technically meet these standards.

Because of the possible quality discrepancy, however, some vehicle owners have reported incompatibility issues when it comes to Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)- features like lane departure warning, automatic braking, and other autonomous features. Aftermarket windshields are generally cheaper than OE windshields, so it can be a way to save money if purse strings are tight when an unexpected windshield replacement is needed. Just realize that an aftermarket windshield may come with its own cost.

Windshield Manufacturing Costs

Pricing fluctuations affect all major industries and auto glass is not excluded. So it’s good to keep in mind that other than vehicle options, there are other factors that determine the cost you’ll pay when it comes time to replace your vehicle’s windshield, sidelites, backlite, quarter, or vent glass.

Let’s start with the glass itself- glass prices can fluctuate for numerous reasons. Starting with the manufacturing process, this can be caused by:

1. Labor prices (many trade industries are facing labor shortages)
2. Machinery costs (for the actual manufacturing of the glass itself)
3. Real estate costs (buildings and warehouses)
4. Transportation costs – gas, oil, etc.

Windshield Installation Costs

When asking the question “how much does a windshield cost?” you now know, these factors will ultimately change what the manufacturer charges to the glass shop and the glass shop’s profit margin on parts. From here, the glass shop can actually be affected by all the same factors, which can lead to a second layer of price adjustments on their end to compensate for operating and labor costs. The end result is price adjustments to you, the customer.

Where to Begin

If your vehicle is in need of a windshield replacement, Glass.com can help. You can easily search by zip code for companies near you. These local companies will provide you with an instant price quote, so you know up front what the windshield replacement for your vehicle will cost.

When Does Insurance Cover Windshield Repair?

If you drive a car, sooner or later, it’s bound to happen – your windshield is going to get chipped or cracked by a rock flung from the semi on the highway, maybe a foul ball at a Little League game, or a hail storm, or any number of ways. Or, you may be unlucky enough to have the entire windshield smashed and need to have it replaced.

Knowing when to repair or replace the windshield is not always so obvious. Knowing if – and when – your insurance pays for windshield repair and replacement could save you hundreds of dollars.

Am I covered?

First of all, many insurance companies cover windshield repair at 100 percent with no deductible, especially if you have comprehensive coverage. Insurers all have different rules for how long a crack can be to be covered for repair. Some insurers, though, such as State Farm, generally do not cover repairs.

Just remember, comprehensive coverage is optional, so make sure you have it before making any decisions.

Comprehensive coverage usually covers damage incurred from storms, fires, vandalism, animal collisions, etc. Repair (rather than replacement) is more common when it comes to auto glass. That’s because the majority of damage is in the form of chips or cracks.

So, if your glass is chipped or cracked, check to see if the damage is less than 6 inches. You can use the “dollar bill rule” for this – if the crack is completely covered by a dollar bill, then it’s less than 6 inches. If so, your next step is to call your insurance company and file a claim. You may also do file a claim online.

Check Your Deductible

Before filing a claim, be sure to compare the cost of the repair to your deductible. If the repair cost is lower than your deductible (if you have one for windshield repair), then your insurance carrier likely will not pay for the repair. But if the cost is higher than your deductible, and you decide to file the claim, now is the time to do so. Your insurance company will tell you whether the repair is covered.

Get Your Windshield Fixed

Once you’ve taken these steps, it’s time to get the windshield repaired. Most times, the insurance company will put you in contact with a repair shop. In either case, once the work is complete, submit your receipts to your insurance company for reimbursement. Be sure to include your name and policy number at a minimum.

Glass.com can provide you with instant quotes from auto glass companies in your area. You choose the company that’s right for you and they’ll contact you quickly to get your replacement started.

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