Chances are, you’ve had glass damage to your vehicle at one point or another. Glass damage most often involves a problem with your windshield, but it can also mean a simple chip or crack on your front or back windows.
Sometimes, these types of smaller damage don’t warrant an immediate replacement of a windshield, which causes some auto owners to avoid making a claim with their insurance company altogether. But what you may not realize is that most car insurance will cover windshield damage and other glass repair or replacement.
Here’s what you need to know.
Does Car Insurance Cover Windshields?
Yes. In most cases.
Comprehensive Coverage within your auto insurance policy will take care of glass damage most of the time. It is subject to your Comprehensive Coverage Deductible, however. If your vehicle has comprehensive coverage with a deductible and you have a repairable windshield, most companies will waive the deductible.
The property damage liability insurance of someone else who may have been at fault for your glass damage can also take care of the repairs or replacement.
Lastly, if you’re lucky enough to have Full Glass Coverage in your auto insurance policy, this generally means that, with a zero deductible, your insurance will cover your windshield repair or replacement. Sometimes, Full Class Coverage applies to just one windshield replacement per year.
Always check with your insurance agent to be sure of exactly what type of glass coverage your insurance provides. Furthermore, remember that although most insurance companies won’t raise your premiums for glass claims, if you tend to make a lot of glass claims frequently, this could indeed raise your premiums.
How Can You Avoid Windshield Damage?
While insurance generally takes care of most glass damage, it’s still important to avoid it whenever possible. Although in decades past, windshield replacement might only cost $150 at the most, today, with all of the added sensors and technology in windshields, they can cost $1000 or more.
Here are some tips for avoiding damage to your windshield and other glass on your car:
1. Stay away from big trucks.
Big trucks have double wheels and a hefty weight. They also often haul around things like dirt, rocks, wood, and other materials that could fly off and hit your car. In fact, on-the-road flying debris is the most common cause of cracked and chipped windshields.
Therefore, aim to stay away from these big trucks when you’re on the road with them. If you have to be behind one, stay as far behind as possible while still keeping up with the speed limit. Pass as soon as you can.
As a general rule of thumb, you should never tail too closely behind any vehicle, whether they are a large truck hauling rocks or not.
2. Stay off back roads.
Some people think that driving back roads is actually better than driving highly trafficked common roads, like highways. There’s no one answer here, but it is true that if you’re on an unfrequented dirt road, you’ll be kicking up lots of rocks and other debris. Naturally, this can easily cause glass breakage.
A wise move is to stay off these roads as often as possible or to at least drive slowly on them.
3. Be aware of the possibility of stress cracks.
Many drivers are confused when their windshield breaks. They may wake up one morning to a huge crack along the entirety of their windshield, without any prior knowledge of a chip or previous fracture.
If this happens, it’s likely that a stress crack is to blame. Most of the time, sudden changes in barometric pressure or temperature will cause stress cracks. In these cases, there’s really nothing you can do. Simply contact your insurance agency to make a claim.
Luxor Insurance can help you navigate a glass damage insurance claim. Call us today to learn more about this topic or to find out about our range of comprehensive auto policies.
