Does Car Insurance Cover Windshield Replacement?
Car insurance covers windshield damage and replacement in most cases through comprehensive and collision insurance.
When others are at fault, windshield damage is covered through their property damage liability insurance.
Table of contents:
When does car insurance cover your cracked or damaged windshield?
There are four main instances when your cracked windshield will be covered by your insurance or someone else's.
Does comprehensive cover glass?
Damage to your windshield and car windows is covered in the vast majority of cases so long as you have comprehensive insurance.
Common examples of what comprehensive insurance would reimburse you for are:
- A tree branch falling on your windshield
- A baseball breaking your windshield
- A pebble damaging your windshield while driving
- Acts of vandalism
- An animal crashing into your windshield
Comprehensive insurance is an optional coverage that is usually purchased with collision insurance. Essentially, it protects your car from any type of damage not caused by another car, sometimes called "acts of God."
While most policies cover your windshield, we recommend that you double-check to see which events are covered, how much your windshield deductible is and whether all of your glass is covered.
Does collision insurance cover windshield replacement?
If your windshield is cracked during an accident that was your fault, your insurance will repair or replace it if you have collision coverage.
In fact, collision coverage protects your car from any damage that results from an accident you cause, whether it's with another driver or a stationary object, like a tree.
Similar to comprehensive coverage, drivers usually have to pay a deductible for collision claims unless your insurance has a no-deductible windshield replacement program.
Generally speaking, if you do not have comprehensive or collision coverage, your insurance won't pay to repair your windshield.
We typically recommend that drivers get comprehensive and collision insurance if their car is less than 10 years old or worth more than $3,000. Although the two types of coverage can double the cost of your auto insurance, the cost of repair could be more than you would pay for the insurance over five years.
Will someone else's insurance replace my windshield?
There are two instances when someone else's insurance can repair your car:
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If another person crashes into your car and the accident is their fault, their liability insurance should pay for any damage to your vehicle, including your windshield. You'll need to file a claim against the property damage liability portion of the other driver's auto insurance before the repairs can be made.
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If another person breaks your windshield and they have homeowners or renters liability insurance, you can make a claim against their policy. Both types of insurance include liability insurance, which is meant to cover expenses for things they damage. However, you will have to prove to their insurance company that it was their fault.
If someone else is responsible for damage to your windshield, but they don't have insurance, you may be covered under your own policy.
If your auto insurance includes uninsured or underinsured motorist property damage liability, your insurance will pay for glass damage caused by another person.
Should you file a broken windshield insurance claim?
The first thing to consider is the cost of the deductible versus repair costs. Insurers subtract your deductible from the total amount claimed, so if your deductible is greater than the price to repair or replace the windshield, you won't get anything from your insurer.
Most deductibles for comprehensive or collision claims range from $50 to as high as $2,000.
- If your deductible is more than $1,000, it is unlikely your windshield damage costs would exceed that amount, so filing a claim is usually not worth it.
- If your deductible is less than $1,000, you should get an estimate of the cost to repair or replace the windshield to determine whether the cost is higher than your deductible.
Some auto insurers, like Progressive, have comprehensive plans that do not require you to pay a deductible if your windshield can be repaired, so check to see if your comprehensive coverage waives the deductible for glass claims.
Some states have laws regarding windshield deductibles, as well. In Arizona, Florida, Kentucky and South Carolina, insurers are required to offer windshield replacement without a deductible, so drivers in these states don't have to pay to have their cracked windshields repaired or replaced. However, that may not apply to side or rear windows.
How much does it cost to repair or replace a windshield?
The cost to repair a windshield generally falls around $150 for a single chip or crack less than six inches . If your deductible is over that amount, you should not file a claim and simply pay out of pocket.
Cracks that are over six inches long are considered unrepairable and need a full windshield replacement.
If you have a $50 or $100 deductible, we also recommend paying out of pocket. Although a $50 deductible would still save around $70 from your insurance company, filing a claim may cause your rates to increase — especially if you have made previous claims.
We highly recommend that if you have previous claims, you do not file a claim for a chip in the windshield.
Not only does replacing your windshield cost more, but the price also varies depending on your vehicle's size and style. The windshield on high-end or high-tech vehicles tends to cost more to replace.
Car make & model | Cost to replace windshield |
|---|---|
| Honda Civic | $354 |
| Toyota RAV4 | $820 |
| Ford F-150 | $352 |
| Tesla Model S | $502 |
Costs are based on quotes from Safelite AutoGlass.
While a driver with a $500 deductible shouldn't file a claim to replace the windshield on their Honda Civic or Ford F-150, it might make sense to do so if they were driving a Toyota RAV4.
Does windshield replacement affect insurance rates?
Whether your insurance rates will go up after a glass claim depends on the type of claim that you make.
- Comprehensive: Your insurance company usually won't raise your rates after a comprehensive claim. That's because this coverage protects you against things outside of your control, like a falling tree branch. However, if you file multiple comprehensive claims over a short period of time, your insurer may consider you high-risk, which could lead to a rate increase.
- Collision:If you're responsible for the damage and you file a collision claim, your rates may go up. Whether your insurer increases your rates depends on the cost of the damage and whether you have accident forgiveness . If you don't have accident forgiveness, we don't recommend filing a collision claim for windshield repair or replacement unless your car sustained other damage, too.
- Someone else's insurance: You should never experience a rate increase after filing a claim against someone else's insurance, because the damage was not your fault.
How to file a claim after your windshield breaks
Filing a claim for broken glass follows the same process as other types of car insurance claims. Most companies allow you to either call an agent or submit a claim online. You should notify your auto insurance company of any damage to your car as soon as possible.
If your windshield was destroyed as an act of vandalism, call the police and obtain a copy of the police report. It may come in handy in the future when talking with your insurance company. When you call, you may be directed to a special division for broken glass and windshields, so be sure to pay attention to the prompt.
After filing the claim, your auto insurer may require you to take the car to a shop of their choice to inspect the damage. Some companies may require you to have your windshield replaced by a specific company. Others may be more lenient and allow you to work with services such as Safelite or other local companies.
Be sure to save all of your receipts so your insurance company knows how much to reimburse you for.
Frequently asked questions
Does Progressive cover a new windshield?
If you have comprehensive coverage, Progressive will cover a new windshield in most cases. You will have to pay a deductible for a brand new windshield, but if you're able to simply repair the damage, Progressive will waive your deductible.
Does full-coverage car insurance cover windshield cracks?
A full-coverage policy usually includes comprehensive and collision coverage, which means that damage to your windshield would be covered under most circumstances.
Does liability insurance cover windshield replacement?
Liability insurance only covers windshield replacement if another person caused the damage to your car. If you were involved in an accident and another driver was at-fault, you can make a claim against their liability insurance. Similarly, if someone broke your windshield with a baseball, you could make a claim against their home or renters insurance.
Does insurance cover a rock hitting your windshield?
Yes, a rock hitting your windshield is covered by your car insurance, as long as you have comprehensive coverage on your policy.
Does State Farm cover windshield repair?
Car insurance from State Farm covers windshield repair if you have comprehensive or collision coverage. However, the cost of repairing your windshield may be subject to a deductible, so it may not be worth filing a claim.
Methodology
Windshield repair and replacement costs are based on quotes from Safelite glass. We obtained quotes for four vehicles located in Charleston, S.C. Replacement rates are the cheapest option offered — replacing a windshield with original manufacturer parts will increase the cost.