Is a broken windshield covered by car insurance?

When it comes to car insurance, understanding what is covered and what isn’t is crucial. One common question many drivers have is whether a broken windshield is covered by their car insurance. In this article, we will delve into this topic and provide you with the information you need.

• Comprehensive car insurance pays for damage to windshields
• You can pay as little as $13 per month for comprehensive insurance
• Six states in the nation have no deductible for windshield replacement

To ensure you have the best coverage at the most competitive rates, take advantage of our free quote tool. Simply enter your zip code and compare rates from the best insurance providers in your area. Protect your vehicle and your wallet—get the answers you need and compare rates today.

Is a broken windshield covered by car insurance?

Yes, it is. However, you’ll need comprehensive auto insurance to cover a broken windshield.

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Comprehensive insurance pays for damage to your vehicle that doesn’t involve a collision. In other words, any unforeseen damage to your car is covered by comprehensive coverage.

Here are some incidents that auto insurance companies identify as comprehensive damage.

• Fire damage
• Damage from animals
• Storm damage (including wind, hail, and ice)
• Vehicle vandalism and theft
• Damage due to civil unrest (such as riots)
• Flooding

Your liability coverage doesn’t pay for damaged windshields. However, an at-fault driver that damages your windshield in a collision is responsible to pay for the damages.

Collision insurance covers damage to your car, including the windshield. But collision car insurance only pays for damage if it involves an accident with another vehicle.

How much are broken windshield car insurance rates?

You won’t find broken windshield car insurance quotes because broken windshields are covered under comprehensive insurance.

On average, comprehensive coverage is about $13 per month. However, comprehensive auto insurance varies for each state.

Let’s compare comprehensive insurance rates for each state.

NAIC's Average Monthly Comprehensive Car Insurance Rates by State

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), California has the cheapest comprehensive car insurance in the United States.

Affordable car insurance is determined by the state where you live and which company provides the insurance policy.

Do I have to pay a deductible for a broken windshield?

It depends on the state. Comprehensive car insurance (which covers broken windshields) comes with a deductible in most states. Six states don’t require a deductible when you file a comprehensive claim for glass replacement or repair.

States that don’t require a deductible to pay for windshield replacement are:

• Arizona
• Florida
• Kentucky
• Massachusetts
• New York
• South Carolina

If you live in any of these states, you won’t have to pay your auto insurance company a deductible for replacing your windshield.

Be cautious about companies with prices that are too good to be true. Ask the glass repair provider if it’s part of the Auto Glass Safety Council.

When should you file a comprehensive car insurance claim for a broken windshield?

File a broken windshield claim as soon as possible. But there are specific factors that indicate whether you should replace your windshield.

Check out this list to understand the tell-tale signs that your windshield should be replaced.

• The windshield damage obstructs your view of the road
• A chip or crack is more than halfway through the glass
• Damage to the windshield extends to the edge of the glass
• There’s a crack larger than a dollar bill
• The glass isn’t laminated

Contact your auto insurance company and let them know you need to file a comprehensive claim for your windshield.

You may have to pay a deductible before your windshield is replaced. If you need help locating a windshield repair company, ask your car insurance company for a glass provider it prefers.

How much do glass repair and replacement cost?

Prices for glass repair and replacement are different in each area of the United States. But the average cost of small glass repair, such as a chip, is between $60 and $100.

Cracks can be fixed for around the same price. However, longer and more complicated cracks may cost $125 or more.

If the cost of repairs is more than $125, you may want to consider replacing your windshield.

Why shouldn’t I use DIY methods to fix damaged windshields?

There are several DIY windshield repair methods, but they only work for a short time.

You can skip expensive out-of-pocket costs when you buy broken windshield car insurance (comprehensive insurance).

Case Studies: Is a broken windshield covered by car insurance?

Case Study 1: John’s Comprehensive Coverage

John, a careful driver, woke up one morning to find a large crack in his windshield. He contacted his insurance provider and discovered that his policy included comprehensive coverage. As a result, John’s insurance company agreed to cover the cost of repairing or replacing the windshield. He paid his deductible, and the insurance provider handled the rest.

Case Study 2: Sarah’s Liability-Only Policy

Sarah had a basic liability-only car insurance policy, which typically covers damages to other vehicles but not one’s own. Unfortunately, she experienced a similar situation to John and found her windshield shattered. When she filed a claim with her insurance company, she was informed that her policy did not cover windshield damage. Sarah had to pay for the repairs out of pocket.

Case Study 3: Mark’s Glass Coverage Add-On

Mark had opted for an additional coverage option called “glass coverage” when he purchased his car insurance policy. When his windshield was damaged by a rock that flew off a passing truck, Mark contacted his insurance company. They confirmed that his policy included glass coverage, and he was able to get his windshield replaced with only a small deductible to pay.

Case Study 4: Emily’s Comprehensive Coverage with Deductible

Emily had comprehensive coverage, similar to John, but her policy included a deductible. Unfortunately, her windshield suffered a deep crack due to a fallen tree branch during a storm.

When Emily contacted her insurance provider, she learned that she needed to pay her deductible before the insurance would cover the repair or replacement cost. She opted to use her insurance to cover the expense and paid the deductible accordingly.

Case Study 5: James’ Policy Exclusion

James discovered a crack in his windshield, and upon reviewing his insurance policy, he found a specific exclusion for windshield damage. Although he had comprehensive coverage for other types of damage, his policy explicitly stated that it did not cover windshield repairs or replacements. As a result, James had to bear the full cost of repairing the windshield himself.

Broken Windshield: The Bottom Line

Broken windshields are covered by comprehensive coverage. However, your car insurance company won’t cover your windshield if the damage occurred before the start of your policy.

Also, liability and collision auto insurance will pay to repair or replace a broken windshield if it was damaged in a car accident. If the damage was not the result of a collision, comprehensive coverage will pay to repair or replace a broken windshield.

If you haven’t bought comprehensive insurance for your policy, it may be time to add the coverage option. And comprehensive car insurance is at the best insurance companies.

If you want to avoid paying out-of-pocket for a broken windshield, enter your ZIP code in the free comparison tool to see what the top insurance companies provide near you.