We are often asked if your insurance company will pay for getting your windshield replaced. As a matter of fact, there are two ways to approach getting your insurance company to pay for your windshield replacement.
The first way is to call your insurance company and have them provide a “preferred vendor” to perform the windshield replacement for you. The problem with this approach is the time it takes to have the service completed, which could take up to a week.
The second way is to make your own arrangements to have your glass replaced by a windshield replacement and repair company. Once the work is performed, you simply submit your receipt to your insurance company.
While you do have two ways to approach things as we have discussed, a bigger consideration is to determine if the claim is worth it in the first place. Many individuals have a $500 deductible clause in their policy. Let’s say you are going to get a windshield replacement in Fort Worth, TX for $200 and you have a $500 deductible. So, in this case, it is not really worth it to file a claim. On the other hand, if you have a lower deductible and a higher priced windshield, it may be worth it.
When it comes to windshield repairs, it is common for most Insurance companies to have preventative maintenance clauses written into the insurance. The clause entices the policy holder to get the windshield repaired before it needs a full replacement. In this case, the insurance company pays the full amount. The reason why the insurance company takes this approach is because the cost of the repair is far less than the replacement.
Each insurance company varies in their allowances for these repairs on a yearly basis. For example, one particular company may allow for two windshield repair submissions in a year, while another may allow for three over a two year period. The big bonus to this is that these types of claims will have no effect on the policy holder’s insurance premiums.
There can be various causes of a damaged windshield. It could be as a result of a flying stone hitting the glass, or a self-imposed accident through carelessness, or perhaps by the vehicle being vandalized. It is important for the vehicle owner to understand what the comprehensive coverage of their Insurance policy covers.
The vehicle owner who requires a glass replacement should insist that the insurance company covers the OEM replacement part and not settle for an after market replacement part simply because the insurance company wants it cheaper.