Did you know that replacing the windshield on a vehicle can cost as much as $400 or more, depending on the make and model of your vehicle? While modern windshields are resistant to damage due to the fact that they are constructed out of multiple layers of tempered glass, it’s still possible for flying objects to cause chips and cracks. The good news is that if you have comprehensive car insurance coverage on your vehicle, you essentially have “windshield insurance,” and you may be able to file a claim and have the insurance company pay for the damage.
How Windshields Chip and Crack
- Flying Rocks – Rocks, gravel and other debris that finds its way onto the road can be launched via other car tires into your windshield. The risk is usually greater when following large trucks, semis, and vehicles towing trailers. For this reason, it’s important that you give plenty of distance between your vehicle and any large trucks, semis or trailers, and when possible, avoid following directly behind these types of vehicles.
- Hail Damage – Severe thunderstorms are notorious for high winds and large hail. This can send tree branches and hail crashing onto your windshield. In order to avoid weather damage, our insurance agents recommend parking your vehicle in a garage when possible.
- Falling Branches – Trees regularly send branches and twigs tumbling to the ground. If the branch is large enough, it can chip and/or crack your windshield. Animals can also fall from trees and land on your windshield. For this reason, it’s best to avoid parking your car under trees.
- Flying Objects – Balls and other objects launched by children and adults playing may find their way onto your vehicle’s glass. While this type of damage is purely accidental, you could find yourself having to deal with chips and cracks. In order to ensure your windshield does not get damaged by flying balls, we recommend parking your car inside a garage.
Getting Insurance for Chips and Cracks
Comprehensive insurance can help you pay for chips and cracks in your windshield glass from flying and falling objects, vandals and certain types of weather damage. This is because comprehensive insurance helps pay for damage that occurs when your car is not involved in an accident, which includes damage caused by flying road debris, falling tree branches, vandals and certain types of weather damage.
If you have comprehensive insurance coverage, your policy may cover chips and cracks in your windshield minus any deductibles. For example, if your windshield is severely cracked and requires a completely new windshield, you can file a claim with our insurance company. If your claim is approved, you’d owe the amount of your deductible while your insurance policy would cover the rest of the amount.
To check to see if you have comprehensive insurance coverage on your current auto insurance policy, you can read your policy’s paperwork or call our insurance agent at Pagel & Associates. We can review your current policy to determine if you have comprehensive insurance coverage. If you do not have comprehensive insurance, we can add it to your existing policy or create an entirely new insurance policy for your vehicle that includes comprehensive insurance coverage.
