This is an increasingly common question posed by car owners that need to replace their windshield. Windshield replacement, or repair for that matter, is by no means cheap. Modern windshields that are equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems or ADAS can easily cost up to $1000.
Although auto insurance can seem like a lifesaver, a lot of car owners wonder whether the price of the new windshield will be affected by getting the insurance to cover it.
This post is for you if you are one of these car owners facing the dilemma of windshield replacement price versus insurance coverage.
✅ Does claiming your auto insurance increase the rate of windshield replacement?
Whether or not insurance claims affect your windshield replacement rates will depend on the type of auto insurance you have. There are three common types of auto insurance that most companies offer. These are:
#1: Liability insurance – This insurance covers all types of damage that you may cause to other people, their car, and their property. It includes accident benefits for you as well as the other party.
Liability insurance is also called personal liability, third-party liability, or property damage coverage. The amount of coverage differs significantly from one province to the other. It can range from $200,000 to 2 million in some areas.
#2: Collision insurance – This insurance typically covers the repair cost to your vehicle in case of collision due to your fault.
#3: Comprehensive insurance – This insurance covers everything that is not included in the collision insurance. It includes anything from vandalism, theft, damage by animals, flying objects, or elements such as hail in many provinces.
Comprehensive insurance is the type of insurance that you want in order for it to cover your windshield replacement without paying extra.
· There is another type of insurance that is offered by some companies. It is called the all-perils coverage and is a combination of both collision and comprehensive insurance.
· Some companies also have specific-perils coverage. As the name suggests, it covers damage caused by specific things such as lightning, fire, or theft. Specific- perils coverage is typically much cheaper than all-perils.
✅ So claiming auto insurance will not increase the windshield repair rates?
Yes, but only if the comprehensive coverage clearly states that glass damage is covered. This type of auto insurance will not increase the rate of your insurance premiums or make the cost of the windshield a lot pricier.
However, there is a catch.
Although comprehensive insurance covers anything that is not included in collision insurance, there are still some areas that need special attention.
#1 One, you might be required to pay the full cost of the comprehensive deductible.
With some insurance companies, you don’t have to pay the deductible if you choose to repair the rock chips instead of replacing the windshield. However, this is typically covered in a different policy, so you need to check first.
#2 Two, insurance companies in some provinces where natural calamities are common typically remove the windshield replacement from the comprehensive insurance.
For instance, in Alberta, where there is an abundance of gravel and hail cases, insurance companies do not cover the windshield replacement in exchange for a break in the rate of the overall insurance.
#3 Three, an increasing number of insurance companies are also promoting special endorsements with auto insurance without covering the windshield replacement. So although the insurance might state that it is comprehensive, it might not cover the cost of windshield replacement.
#4 Four, most insurance policies typically come with limits on the number of claims that you can make. If you cross that limit, your insurance company will usually raise the deductible or refuse to pay for windshield claims completely.
Final thoughts.
Replacing a windshield has become an increasingly expensive and time-consuming process. Therefore it is never a good idea to rush through the process of getting auto insurance. Although your insurance company will pay the required amount, the components that are covered will decide whether you end up paying extra dollars for a new windshield or not.
Take your time to understand the terms of the insurance policy. The best insurance that you can buy for your car is comprehensive insurance that covers glass damage.
Also you can see how to repair a cracked windshield and which auto insurance company is the best in canada
