Your windshield is among the most important parts of the driving experience. You need a clear windshield to be able to see the road, other drivers, pedestrians and other potential hazards.
Unfortunately for many drivers, your windshield is one of the most commonly damaged parts of your car. A single loose stone or rock can but a noticeable crack or chip in your windshield that makes it very hard to drive safely. You need to fix these issues before they become worse.
While finding a quality auto glass company to work with from glass.net is important, you also need to think about the costs of windshield repair or replacement. But before you automatically go and pay for the repair out of pocket, it is a good idea to see if you have windshield insurance coverage.
But what exactly is windshield insurance and how does it work? With that in mind, this blog post is going to take a closer look at windshield experience and help you understand a little more about it.
What is Windshield Insurance?
Windshield insurance is a type of coverage that helps car owners limit their exposure to the costs of repairing or replacing a windshield. LIke other kinds of insurance, windshield insurance will cover the cost of any repairs or replacements that you need.
With the average cost of replacing a windshield being anywhere from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars, this insurance has the potential to save people a lot of money. It is offered by many companies as a part of their comprehensive coverage, but there are also full glass coverage options in some cases, too.
When is Windshield Damage Covered By Insurance?
So now that you know that windshield insurance works similarly to other kinds of insurance, it is good to familiarize yourself with when windshield damage is covered. If you have a comprehensive plan, there is a good chance you will have assistance when it comes to repairing or replacing your windshield. This is true if the damage was caused by rocks, falling debris, theft and a number of other causes.
You will normally be required to pay your deductible, but this will depend on where you are, and your specific policy. For example, those who pay for full glass coverage (either as part of their comprehensive package or in addition to it), may not be required to pay a deductible at all to fix the damage.
Now, if you don’t have comprehensive coverage and just have the basic liability coverage, your insurance may not pay for any of your windshield repair or replacement. Of course, if your windshield damage is caused by an accident where another person is at fault, their liability coverage will take care of the costs and you generally won’t be on the hook for anything.
Should I Use Insurance to Pay for a Windshield Repair?
While using insurance to pay for a windshield repair or replacement can save you money, this doesn’t always mean it’s the right decision. This depends on the type of insurance policy you have, and the cost of the repair or replacement. Your insurance claims history, your deductible and whether you can afford the full repair are also things to consider.
If the deductible you have to pay is close to, or even more than, the cost of the repair, it is generally better to pay out of pocket. Also, in some cases making a claim of this type could increase your insurance rates. While a claim every now and then might not be problematic, if you begin to make car-related insurance claims more frequently, your insurance will likely become quite a bit more expensive.
The choice is yours, but if the cost isn’t much higher than your deductible, sometimes it can be worth it to take the hit and save yourself the potential rate increase and the dealing with the sometimes-lengthy claims process.
In conclusion, we hope this article has been able to help you learn and understand a little more about windshield insurance and why it is valuable to have. You can’t always predict when your windshield will be damaged, but having the right insurance can protect you when it does.
