Windshield Replacement And Repair Coverage By Auto Insurance
Contents
Does Insurance Cover Windshield Replacement?
Auto insurances that cover windshield replacements do exist, but not every policy covers this type of repair. Hence, you need to be clear about windshield coverage before you get enrolled into one.
If the windshield of your car is damaged, the auto insurance company sends its agents to get the damaged checked through their technicians.
The type of damage is thoroughly analyzed to decide if it really needs a replacement or if it can be alright with just a repair. Small damages near the eye sight of the driver are generally not ignored and in most of such situations, the windshield is replaced.
Will The Insurance Policy Consider Replace Over Repair?
Most of the times, the insurance policies are quite tricky. Sometimes, the repair of a small chip can avoid the damage to spread further. In such cases, the repair is done instead of replacing it.
This is because, filling a chip is much cheaper than replacing complete windshield. They always try to be on the safer side and find ways to avoid services as much as they can. If the find that the replacement is unavoidable, then they agree for replacement.
Will The Insurance Policy Allow You To Go For OEM Glass?
Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) can be obtained depending on the type and guidelines of a policy. If you find that your policy has covered windshield replacement, it doesn’t mean that you will be offered with the original manufactured equipment.
Sometimes, you might need to go for the imitated models. If your policy covers OEM, then you can demand for it. In most cases, the auto insurance companies offer coverage for aftermarket parts as they are much cheaper and look alike OEM ones.
The policy that covers OEM products will be too expensive to be affordable for a common middle class person. Hence, very few people will be able to afford such policies. If you feel that you need OEM product, you can make use of certain options mentioned below:
- Pay the difference amount from your own pocket. You can request the insurance company to replace your windshield with an OEM glass and that you are ready to pay the difference amount after deducting the price of aftermarket glass. The difference could however be in hundreds of dollars.
- At the time of getting enrolled into the auto insurance policy, you can request the insurance agent for a special rider to receive OEM parts. In such cases, the company will not question you when you receive the OEM parts. However, check with the insurance agent if they offer an OEM rider, as all policies do not cover it
Will The Insurance Consider If Replaced Windshield Leaks At The Seams?
In most of the cases, the car repairs are not smooth. The customer gets back to the technician for a perfect solution to the damage. Sometimes, the replaced windshield leaks at its seams. In such cases, the seam areas need to be repaired.
Sometimes, the repair might not show any solution and the glass would be demanding a replacement. It is again the responsibility of the insurance company to cover the charges for the service and repair. This is quite tricky sometimes.
If the glass has a warranty, then the repair or replacement can be done without any queries. However, if the glass doesn’t have any warranty, you might need to pay for the product.
Most of the companies offer guarantee to the products and services so that things won’t turn out to be a hassle for the customers.
Will My Insurance Allow To Replace The Windshield At Home?
Keeping in mind the safety of the driver, insurance companies allow for the replacement of the glass to be done right at your home. Hence, it is one of the easy claims that a customer can manage.
Some unavoidable situations like bad weather due to heavy precipitation or extreme cool climate will deter a glass repair technician to visit your place. In such conditions, you might need to compromise for the delay in service.
Read About What Makes Windshield Replacement Important
What Is The Cost To Replace Windshield Without Insurance?
Windshield replacement without insurance is a highly expensive process. Replacement service includes several factors like product price, labor charges, service charges, time consumed etc.
Windshields of the modern times are manufactured as laminated safety glasses. The design involves two curved glass sheets that are bonded with a plastic layer lamination between them. The design ensures better safety for the driver and other occupants of the vehicle.
This type of construction offers superfluous strength to the glass to withstand the collision from the opposite force and resist the strength offered by the roof cover during a rollover. Hence, the prices are quite high if you expect a good quality material.
- Typically, windshield replacement costs you around $100 – $450, depending on various factors like year of manufacture, model type, vehicle model etc. If you are expecting an OEM product, then the price might go up to several hundreds of dollars.
- If the model you are looking for is quite rare, then aftermarket products might not be available. In such cases, you might need to go for only an OEM product and the price might rise quite high.
Read More About Windshield Replacement Cost
How Can You Estimate The Price For Your Damage?
Before you get the replacement done, it is difficult for the glass company to give you the exact price as the factors might change its values. Hence, the companies give you the estimated price for you to get an idea.
Once the service begins, the options for the repairs might vary, which in turn changes the estimated price altogether.
For instance, you might want the technician to take your car to the workshop for which you will be charged, or you might want to go for a different glass model or prefer a different technician who is more skilled.
Sometimes, you might want to technician to look into other damages other than the windshield replacement. Once all the services are done, the price will be calculated in the invoice.
Sometimes, free windshield replacement laws are included into the stat insurance laws. These laws are defined by individual states.
If you happen to live in a place that follows these rules, then the auto insurance company needs to bare the complete replacement or repair charges. However, these laws cover comprehensive portion of the policy and not the liability part.
Does My Insurance Cover Cracked Windshield Repair?
Crack of a windshield can happen any time though we guard our vehicle all the time. For instance, kids might hit a ball or stone when you park the vehicle in a public park. In such cases, you need to get the repair done immediately or else, the crack can spread and turn out to be a big problem.
Most of the insurance policies that cover windshield related services will cover the crack repairs. If your insurance does not cover replacement then, you should be very careful to get the crack repaired at the earliest as the delayed cracks can turn out to be unmanageable by just a repair.
In most of the cases, if the issue of crack is beyond the repair, the technician will inform you about the severity.
In such cases, repair is just a temporary solution, and you might need to go for a complete windshield replacement with money out of your pocket if the insurance company does not cover the replacement. You cannot ignore big cracks and compromise your life by just getting the repair done.
Read More About Windshield Replacement Insurance Coverage
Will My Insurance Cover Windshield Chip Repair?
Windshield chip repair is the minimum coverage that any auto insurance company can offer if it includes windshield services in its policy. This is very easy to claim and the issue gets resolved much faster when compared to the crack repair or a windshield replacement.
It is compulsory to give an immediate attention for a chip repair because it might turn into a crack any time if left ignored. The best reasons to go for a windshield chip repair are discussed below:
- Chip repair saves time
- Less expensive when compared to a crack repair
- Mostly the repair is done at free of cost
- Reduces the chance to crack.
- Repair is simple and easy
- Does not affect your no claims bonus at the time of insurance renewal
Act Wisely At Right Time
If you happen to encounter a trouble with your windshield, never ignore it as it might increase a small problem to a big size.
If your insurance policy covers windshield services, get clarity on the type of services that the policy will cover for you. If the policy covers replacement, never compromise it with a repair if you anticipate any danger out of the damage.
If your auto insurance policy does not cover any replacement and only offers repair services, then act wisely when you encounter a crack or chip on your windshield.