The windshield of a car is one of the prominent parts of the vehicle. It is not uncommon for windshields to get damaged over time or through accidents.
However, it is not safe to drive a car that has a damaged windshield. It could inhibit the driver’s visibility and that can lead to unforeseen circumstances during the drive. A serious accident can be caused which might lead to fatalities and so on.
As soon as your windshield is damaged, you should get it repaired regardless of the size of the damage. If you have car insurance, the windshield replacement cost will be paid by the insurance company but how do you know if windshield replacement is covered by your insurance?
The only way to know if your insurance policy covers a windshield replacement is by verifying the type of insurance policy you have. If you have a comprehensive insurance policy, your insurance company can repair and replace your windshield if need be.
Can All Insurance Cover Windshield?
From research carried out, it has been stated that policies of car insurance cover the damages to a vehicle’s windshield but this is only applicable in the scenario that the insurance holder (you) holds comprehensive car insurance coverage.
What Type of Insurance Covers Windshield Replacement?
If you have car insurance on your car, it is essential that you go for the comprehensive package. It is only when you are covered by the comprehensive insurance policy that your insurance company will cover the cost of your windshield replacement.
A comprehensive car insurance policy will cover any form of unanticipated damage that might happen to a four-wheeled vehicle.
Any damage that is sustained by your car’s windshield (either front or back) through accidents, manmade or natural circumstances will be covered by the insurance company.
If you are a policyholder of the third-party insurance, no insurance company will bear the cost of the windshield replacement. It is not possible even with the top and best insurance companies.
Why is this so? Third-party insurance is designed to only bear the cost of third-party liabilities and not damages sustained by the car.
Note that it is not in all situations that your insurance company will cover the cost of the windshield replacement.
If your windshield was damaged in an accident caused by another car, the insurance company of the other person will cover the cost of your windshield replacement.
To effect this benefit, you are responsible for raising a third-party insurance claim against the offender who caused the incident.
How Do I Know if my Insurance Cover Windshield Replacement?
How can you tell if your insurance will cover the replacement of your car’s windshield? There are certain scenarios that will determine if your insurance company will cover the windshield replacement:
- When an animal bumps into your vehicle’s windshield
- When your car hits another car or any third party property
- When a tree falls on top of the windshield
- When hail or heavy stones drops on your car’s windshield
- When an object like a ball damages your car’s windshield
- When heavy and strong items like sticks, rocks land on your car’s windshield
- When your car’s windshield is damaged as a result of vandalism. For example, during riots and insurrections.
- When stray objects hit your car’s windshield
These are a few of the scenarios that will commit an insurance company to cover the cost of your windshield replacement.
As much as your insurance company is committed to covering the cost of replacement of your car’s windshield, there are other scenarios that when they occur, your insurance company is not liable to cover it:
- When the windshield of your car suffers depreciation
- When the windshield of your car suffers from damages caused by manufacturing errors
- The deductible costs that will arise when your raise a claim against the damages done to the windshield of your car
Other events that cause damage to your car are not covered by the comprehensive policy of your car’s insurance company.
Does Allstate Insurance Cover Windshield Replacement?
Yes, the insurance provided by Allstate will cover the windshield replacement for the customers who are eligible. Your eligibility as a customer depends on if you are on a comprehensive coverage policy.
Interestingly, Allstate will bear the cost of the comprehensive deductibles involved in windshield repair although as a customer, you will still need to pay the deductibles if you want a total replacement of the windshield.
Residents of South Carolina, Kentucky, and Florida will not be required to pay deductibles for the replacement of their car’s windshield.
As provided by law, insurance companies resident in Minnesota, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Arizona are required to present customers with the option of choosing a $0 deductible for windshield repairs.
If you remain unsure as to whether you will be required to a deductible for windshield replacement, you need to crosscheck the details of your policy with Allstate or get in touch with them via the customer service line.
Do You Have to Pay Deductibles for Windshield Replacement?
Yes, in some cases you will be required to pay deductibles for windshield replacement depending on the contract or agreement signed.
Many of the insurance companies that deal with cars will require you to pay a deductible as a car owner when you raise a claim for windshield replacement.
In insurance terms, what a deductible means is the portion of the amount of claim you have agreed to pay during the claim settlement. It means the liability is shared between you and the insurance company.
When the contract is looked at by the insurance company, the company is only responsible to pay their own part and leave the rest to you. So far you have signed in the agreement that you will pay a deductible.
Before you raise a claim for windshield replacement, you should confirm and get at least an estimate of the cost of the windshield from the repair company.
Confirm the price and compare it with the deductible you will be required to pay for the windshield replacement.
How to Claim Windshield Repair on Insurance?
If you need the windshield of your car to be repaired or replaced by your insurance company, all you have to do is to file a claim.
If you are a customer of Allstate, you can file a claim for the repair of your windshield using the online portal of Allstate. One of the major windscreen repairers in the United States is Autoglass.
If you are a customer of Autoglass, you do not have to file a claim for windshield repair to your insurance company. The windshield repairer will start the claim of the insurance process for you.
In fact, it is advised by many insurance companies that you use a trusted and reliable windshield repairer.
If the insurance you use does not cover the repair or replacement of your car’s windshield, you will have to bear the cost of the repair or replacement yourself, unfortunately.
Remember, it is better to have the windshield replaced as it is not safe to drive with such. You can also be pulled over for driving with a cracked windshield.
Final Thoughts
If you use a policyholder of third-party insurance, the cost of your car’s windshield replacement will not be covered by your insurance company.
Not all insurance covers windshield replacements, you should know. Your insurance company is only required by law to cover the cost of your windshield replacement if you are on the comprehensive package.
Also, you may be required to pay deductibles as part of the process. If you need to repair or replace your car’s windshield and the cost is less than the deductible you have agreed, there is no point in filing a claim for windshield replacement.