Windshield Replacement FAQs: Car Insurance, Part 1

When your windshield is beyond repair, it’s time to look at replacing it. But will your car insurance cover the bill? Will your premiums go up? Will you have to go with a repair company mandated by your insurance?

Let’s talk about some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to windshield repair and insurance. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know!

Will my car insurance cover windshield replacement?

This is often the first insurance-related question we get. We’d love to be able to give you a straight “yes” or “no” answer to this one. Unfortunately, it depends on your insurance.

You can probably expect to be covered if you have comprehensive coverage. (Comprehensive coverage is the type of insurance that covers your car if it’s stolen or damaged in an incident that’s not a car accident. This includes incidents like weather, vandalism, theft, animal contact, fire, or any other covered event.) This type of insurance is often required if you’re driving a car that’s been financed, so unless you paid for your car in cash, you probably have this coverage.

If you do not have comprehensive coverage—only liability and collision coverage—your insurance likely only covers a windshield replacement if the damage was caused by a car accident.

Whether or not windshield replacement is covered depends on your specific auto insurance policy. To find out the answer, we recommend you review your insurance policy. For instance, are you covered for break-ins? What about bad weather or debris that flies up and hits the car?

Even if you do have some auto glass replacement coverage built into your policy, it may not be all-inclusive. For example, it may not cover the material and the labor. Again, that’s why we recommend reviewing your insurance policy so you aren’t left with a nasty surprise (in the form of a hefty bill) when your windshield is replaced.

Will I have to pay my deductible?

Does your deductible apply to repairs to your windshield?

It depends on the state.

If you live in Ohio or Indiana, you’ll likely need to pay your deductible when using your car insurance for windshield replacement, in most cases. This means if the cost of your windshield replacement is $350, but your deductible is $500, you would have to foot the bill out of pocket.

In Kentucky, however, state law requires insurance companies to waive the deductible and cover auto glass replacement if the individual has a comprehensive policy. To be eligible, it requires you to be covered by comprehensive insurance that meets the minimum standard of the Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS). That means your deductible won’t apply to windshield replacement: lucky you!

Will my car insurance premium increase if insurance pays for my windshield replacement?

Not necessarily. Typically, your auto insurance policy premiums are based on a slew of factors, including your driving record as a whole. Everything from moving violations (speeding, running a stop sign, etc.) to car accidents have an impact on your premiums.

If you have an otherwise stellar driving record, it’s possible your premiums won’t increase much, if at all. Windshield replacements are often small claims, and insurance companies know that windshields are often damaged through no fault of your own.

One last thing to keep in mind: even if submitting a claim does not increase your premium, it does go on your insurance record.

Can I choose the company that replaces my windshield?

If you call your insurance company to report a damaged windshield, you may actually end up talking to a TPA (third party administrator).

The TPA may tell you that you are required to use a certain auto glass company for windshield repairs or replacement. They may tell you that you will be billed more or that the work will not be warrantied by your insurance company if you don’t use a “preferred” provider. Depending on the state you live in, this information might be completely incorrect.

Kentucky, like many other states, is a “right to choose” state. This means you can pick your auto glass company. (To learn more about “right to choose,” read You Have the Right to Choose Your Auto Glass Company.)

Call Us Today for Expert Windshield Repair & Replacement

At Jack’s Glass, we know needing a windshield replacement is stressful enough.

That’s why we’ll work through the claim’s process step-by-step with your insurer—so you don’t have to jump through hoops with your insurance! We do all the work so you don’t have to.

Call us today to learn more about how we can help or get a quote for windshield repair or replacement.