{"id":768,"date":"2018-04-24T18:36:20","date_gmt":"2018-04-24T18:36:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/?p=768"},"modified":"2025-04-25T22:47:40","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T22:47:40","slug":"does-car-insurance-cover-cracked-windshields","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/auto\/does-car-insurance-cover-cracked-windshields\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Car Insurance Cover Cracked Windshields?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Just about everyone experiences it eventually: driving along on a beautiful sunny day, radio blasting, singing along, and suddenly you hear a crack. A pebble or some other piece of debris flies out from under the tire of the car ahead of you, hitting your windshield dead-center. Whether it causes a tiny chip or a bigger crack, you need to get it fixed. Leaving your windshield with a crack puts you and your passengers at risk. So now you\u2019re wondering, does car insurance<\/a> cover a cracked windshield? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s take a closer look at whether or not your insurance will cover a cracked windshield<\/a>, as well as whether it\u2019s better to repair or replace it. And yes, we\u2019ll even go over how to handle a cracked window!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if it\u2019s a tiny crack, you need to get it fixed: they rarely stay small. The good news is that any comprehensive policy<\/a> should cover auto glass repair or even windshield replacement, as long as the crack was from a covered event. Examples of covered events include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll also have insurance coverage for a windshield replacement if you have collision coverage and are in an accident. It\u2019s quite common for windshields to be totaled in head-on collisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on your policy, windshield repair (rather than a replacement) might not cost you anything, so check with your insurance company or agent before doing anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before filing a claim, of course, you\u2019ll want to be sure it\u2019s worth it. For example, if you have a $500 deductible and the cost to repair your windshield will only be $50, it makes sense to take care of it yourself. Some insurance policies do not require a deductible for windshield repair since costs are usually so low. If you experience a cracked windshield, always refer to your policy before taking action either way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you only carry liability insurance<\/a>, you will have to cover the cost yourself regardless. That\u2019s where a windshield protection plan<\/a> might come in handy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not everyone can afford a full comprehensive policy, or it just might not be worth it if your car is a little older. In these cases, you might consider a windshield protection plan add-on. This is far less than the cost of comprehensive coverage and can give you peace of mind should your windshield ever get a crack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What if your windshield is completely totaled and you need a replacement? Does car insurance cover a broken windshield? Luckily, when you have car insurance, a windshield replacement is usually covered as long as it meets certain requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Naturally, your auto insurance will recommend that you first repair any windshield when it\u2019s safe to do so. That\u2019s because it\u2019s usually cheaper than a full replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, if your windshield has large cracks or has cracks that obstruct the driver\u2019s line of vision, your comprehensive policy or windshield protection plan will cover the costs. Just like with a cracked windshield, you may need to decide whether or not it\u2019s the most cost-effective for you to use insurance or pay out of pocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The average cost to replace a windshield is $350, according to the National Windshield Repair Division. Unfortunately, though, this range can vary even more than the cost of repairing cracks. Factors that affect the cost of a new windshield include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might have been asking yourself, \u201cDoes insurance cover a cracked windshield?\u201d Usually, the better question to start with is whether you can repair it at all or if you\u2019ll need auto glass replacement instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Luckily, when you call your insurance company to tell them about the issue, they\u2019ll send a professional to take a look at your vehicle. They\u2019ll be able to tell right away whether a repair or replacement would work best for your specific scenario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In general, cracks that are less than 3 inches in length and don\u2019t obscure the driver\u2019s line of vision can be repaired. Each state may also have its own guidelines about which types of cracks can be repaired without requiring a replacement windshield. But if you\u2019d like a general idea before your technician arrives, here is some information on the different types of cracks and chips<\/a> your windshield can sustain:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Repairing the glass will always cost less than replacement. If you\u2019re paying out of pocket, you\u2019ll most likely want to use the less expensive option. If your insurance covers it, they\u2019ll probably be the ones to decide whether to repair or replace it. Typically, they\u2019ll go with the least expensive viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regardless of whether you have your windshield repaired or replaced, the process should only take about 30 minutes. That means you\u2019ll be back on the road in no time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can see, car insurance is pretty great for covering a cracked or broken windshield. But what about the rest of the windows in your car? While windshields typically suffer the most damage, it\u2019s not unheard of for debris to fly up and crack the glass. You might also have a broken window if you\u2019ve recently suffered a break-in or were in an accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Good news! Car insurance has pretty much the same policy when it comes to broken windows. You can rely on your collision coverage to foot the bill if you\u2019re in an accident. And if you have comprehensive coverage, that will cover you if one of the covered events we talked about above were to occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve determined that your insurance indeed covers your windshield damage and that filing a claim<\/a> is your best option, your next step is to contact your insurance company or agent to start the claims process. Depending on your insurance company, you might be able to start the claim online or with a mobile app as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You will most likely need to take pictures of the damage and explain what happened. This gives your agent a better idea of what occurred so they can determine if it was a covered event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After reviewing your evidence, the company will determine whether you do have a valid claim and might suggest a repair shop. Keep in mind that, in most cases, you can choose to use a different repair shop if you prefer. This is usually mandated by law. Still, by using the place your insurance company recommends, you\u2019ll probably receive a negotiated price on your services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The cost of replacing a windshield without insurance can vary depending on several factors, including the make and model of your vehicle, the type of glass needed, and the labor costs charged by the repair shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind that this cost may also increase if the damage to your windshield is extensive or if you require additional services, such as recalibrating your vehicle’s advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) or replacing other auto glass components. It’s always best to shop around and get quotes from multiple repair shops to ensure that you’re getting a fair price for your replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following factors affect the cost of replacing a damaged windshield without insurance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Type of vehicle<\/strong>: As we mentioned above, the cost of replacing a damaged windshield can vary depending on the type of vehicle. For example, the cost of replacing a windshield for a luxury car may be more expensive than a regular car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Type of windshield<\/strong>: There are different types of windshields available, such as tempered glass or laminated glass. The cost of replacing a windshield can vary based on the type of windshield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Availability of the windshield<\/strong>: If the windshield needs to be ordered, it can increase the cost of replacement. The availability of the windshield can depend on the make and model of the vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Location of the damage<\/strong>: The location of the damage can affect the cost of replacement. For example, a chip or crack near the edge of the windshield may require a replacement of the entire windshield, which can be more expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Degree of damage<\/strong>: The extent of the damage can also affect the cost of replacement. A small chip or crack can be repaired for a fraction of the cost of a full replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Labor costs<\/strong>: The cost of labor can vary based on the location and the technician’s experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additional services<\/strong>: Some replacement services may include additional services such as cleaning or replacing windshield wipers. These additional services can increase the cost of replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll never have to ask yourself, does insurance cover a cracked windshield? again when you choose an affordable windshield protection plan for your affordable auto insurance<\/a> from Freeway Insurance. Our windshield protection plans cover minor windshield damage, including chips and cracks up to six inches long. You can visit us at any of our offices<\/a> or call us at 800-777-5620 and our agents will assist you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Just about everyone experiences it eventually: driving along on a beautiful sunny day, radio blasting, singing along, and suddenly you hear a crack. A pebble or some other piece of debris flies out from under the tire of the car ahead of you, hitting your windshield dead-center. Whether it causes a tiny chip or a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1002629,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"importance":[],"type-content":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/768"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1002629"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=768"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/768\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11548,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/768\/revisions\/11548"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=768"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=768"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=768"},{"taxonomy":"importance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/importance?post=768"},{"taxonomy":"type-content","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/type-content?post=768"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Does Insurance Cover a Cracked Windshield <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Does Car Insurance Cover a Windshield Replacement?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Cost of a Windshield Replacement<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Should I Have My Windshield Repaired or Replaced?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Does Car Insurance Cover a Broken Window?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Is The Process of Getting My Windshield Repaired or Replaced?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Does It Cost To Replace a Windshield Without Insurance? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Get a Quote for Insurance To Cover Cracked Windshields <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n