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All it takes is a pebble to chip a car windshield. Or maybe you’re one of the thousands of people who’s woken up to a smashed car window and something missing from the inside of your vehicle.
Glass is one of the most at-risk parts of the car, which is why windshield replacement coverage is included in most comprehensive plans. But if you don’t have comprehensive coverage, you may stuck paying for repairs or replacement out of pocket.
It depends on your level of insurance. There 3 typical levels of auto insurance coverage: third-party liability, collision, and comprehensive. Different insurers may have their own conditions, but generally, you can expect comprehensive insurance to cover damage to windows and windshields, as it does other parts of the car. However, be aware that your deductible may rise after multiple claims, making it increasingly more expensive to cover repairs through your policy.
Typically, the extent of the damage determines whether you need to repair or replace the glass as appropriate. Generally, this will simply be done based on the mechanic’s recommendation.
Car insurers will typically offer a lifetime guarantee on all repairs carried out by their approved providers, including glass repair and replacement, so it’s in everyone’s best interest to make sure it’s fixed properly, whether that means repair or replacement.
Depending on the policy, you should be able to claim these costs under car insurance but:
This is where the no deductible glass replacement car insurance add-on comes in.
If available through your insurer, this extra-cost option raises your premiums, but lets you make claims for broken glass only without needing to pay the deductible. Where applicable, it may also let you keep your no claims bonus.
This typically covers broken sunroofs, windows, and windshields, but not mirrors, dashboard screens or similar.
It’s generally not unlimited though. In many cases, you will only be able to exercise this option once every 12 months.
Typically, it will not affect your coverage in any way except in that it lets you make broken glass claims without paying a deductible or losing applicable bonuses.
Yes, you can choose your own repairer for broken glass and windshields, but be sure to check your policy terms to confirm. Your insurance company may have a list of preferred repair shops which could be easier to work with.
However, if you’re only going for repairs rather than a replacement, it might be worth going for one of the insurer’s repairers to take advantage of the widely available lifetime repairs guarantee option.
The cost can vary widely. While repairing cracks and chips can cost less than $100, replacing a windshield generally costs between $250 and $1,000, depending on a few factors:
In most situations, it will typically cost more to pay for repairs out of pocket than it would to claim it on car insurance.
If you think there’s a reasonable likelihood of needing to replace a window or your windshield, it might be worth it. Unlike the other two tiers of coverage, comprehensive coverage covers any damage related to your car regardless if it was from a collision, theft or weather. If you’re comfortable with paying the higher premiums of this option but would struggle to pay the cost of fixing or repairing a broken window or windscreen, then you may want to consider it.
Driving around with a broken window is unsafe, and can end up causing damage to your or someone else’s car that won’t necessarily be covered by insurance.
Generally, you want to make sure you’re in a position to get broken glass repaired as soon as possible, whether it’s out of pocket or through insurance.
There are a few different ways to handle damaged glass, with or without car insurance.
It depends on where you live. Every province has different laws regarding cracked windshields, so you may get a ticket and pay a fine if the crack is bad enough. Your car might also not pass inspection.
While rules will vary by province, your car generally isn’t considered road safe if:
All of these represent fairly severe windshield damage. Car windshields are multi-layered, laminated and fairly durable, so these types of things will generally only result from either a serious incident or unrepaired damage over time. That’s why it’s typically worth getting damaged glass repaired before it turns into broken glass.
There are a few different ways to handle damaged glass, with or without car insurance. Whether or not a windshield replacement is worth it is entirely up to you, but you should always weigh your options. Consider getting comprehensive insurance coverage to give you peace of mind.
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