A multitude of situations can cause glass damage or a windshield break on your vehicle. Furthermore, glass damage is quite common in the Big Bend area as large trucks heading in and out of Milwaukee and Chicago can kick up rocks on the road. Indeed, most often, glass cracks, chips, and complete breaks are caused by rocks being kicked up on the road. Stress cracks and parking lot and driveway incidents are often common causes of vehicle glass damage.
Understanding exactly what your vehicle insurance covers in terms of glass damage can be a challenge — especially if you’ve never had your windshield break before. In fact, unlike other repair services you may require for your car or truck, windshields generally have specific guidelines when it comes to your insurance coverage.
Below, we’ll go over how best to prevent windshield breaks in the first place and what you need to know about your vehicle insurance where glass damage is concerned.
Top Ways to Avoid Breaking Your Windshield
Again, vehicle glass damage is usually caused by kicked up rocks and other debris while driving. Sometimes, the damage is completely unavoidable. Still, there are a few tips we can offer that may help you avoid glass damage altogether:
- On the road, avoid getting behind large trucks or semi-trucks, especially those that are carrying dirt, gravel, or stone.
- Keep a safe distance from any vehicles you drive behind.
- Avoid driving on dirt roads and small back roads that are not in good shape.
- Avoid driving on the shoulder of the road.
What to Know About Insurance and Glass Damage
In most cases, glass damage is a covered form of vehicle damage, taken care of by your auto insurance policy’s comprehensive coverage. Keep in mind that the coverage is subject to your comprehensive coverage deductible. If someone else is at fault for the glass damage, their property damage liability insurance may cover the incident.
If you work with an insurance company that offers “Full Glass Coverage,” you’ll have the cost of replacing or repairing your windshield covered without factoring in the deductible (or with a deductible that is much lower). This is a common added benefit in many auto insurance plans.
Most of the time, insurance companies will not increase your premiums because of a glass claim. Glass damage is a quite common occurrence, and insurance companies know that it is often unavoidable. At the same time, if you are frequently requesting windshield replacements, this may be factored into a premium hike, depending on the unique policies of your insurance company.
Some Small Chips Can Be Fixed Without a Full Windshield Replacement
Full windshield breakages are common once a small crack or chip starts. But it is possible that the only total damage you have is that small chip or crack. When this is the case, windshield repair companies can generally fix the chip with a small amount of resin (after the chip is cleaned) so that you won’t have to get the entire windshield replaced.
This is a useful service for many vehicle owners as the price of a full windshield replacement is going up. For many years, the cost was only about $150 to repair a full windshield. Today, however, many vehicles boast windshields with embedded sensors and other technology. These can cost up to $1,500 to repair.
Have Questions About Vehicle Glass Damage Insurance?
Smith Insurance and Financial Services is here to answer all of your auto insurance-related questions. Our agents are friendly, cordial, and most of all, knowledgeable, and helpful. To learn more about glass damage coverage with your policy, stop by our office today or give us a call.
