Does my car insurance cover damage to my windshield?
When does your car insurance cover damage to your windshield? Car windshield replacements can exceed $350, depending on your car model and type of glass. Fortunately, your car insurance can cover damage to the windshield, especially if you have collision and comprehensive coverage.
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Michael Leotta
Insurance Operations Specialist
Michael earned a degree in Business Management degree with an insurance focus, which led to a successful 25-year career in insurance claims operations and support. He possesses a high-level of business acumen across multiple areas of the insurance industry. Over the course of his career, he served in multiple roles supporting claims operations including: Claims Specialist, Claims Trainer, Claim Au...
Insurance Operations Specialist
UPDATED: Nov 27, 2023
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UPDATED: Nov 27, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Windshield damage is largely covered by collision and comprehensive coverage, depending on the cause of damage
- Full glass coverage is not widely available, but some states require insurance companies to offer it as an option
- In some states, windshield replacement and repair are covered without a deductible for those who have comprehensive coverage
Falling debris on the highway. A flying rock during a hurricane. A sudden impact with a speeding car. All these can damage your car’s windshield, causing minor chips or dings or larger cracks that resemble dart boards.
Broken windshields can be expensive to fix, not to mention a safety hazard for you and other passengers. Understanding your insurance coverage can help you get repairs done quickly and inexpensively.
Does my car insurance cover damage to the windshield? This article will explain what types of car insurance coverage pay for windshield damage, what additional options are available, how much they cost, and whether you should repair or replace your windshield.
Car Insurance Coverage for Windshield Damage
Car insurance can cover damage to windshields, but this depends on your insurance coverage and what caused the damage to the windshield. As mandated by most states, the minimum coverage insurance generally doesn’t cover windshield damage to your vehicle.
Collision coverage, on the other hand, pays for damages caused by a collision with another car or object. Comprehensive coverage pays for damages caused by events other than collisions, such as animals, theft, storms, floods, or other natural disasters.
For example, if a large hailstone cracks your windshield in most states, this option covers you.
Read more: Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a road hazard?
Most lenders require car owners to have collision and comprehensive or full coverage car insurance. So if your car is financed, you are most likely covered for windshield damage.
If your policy doesn’t include these, you could still get your windshield repair covered by an insurance company in some circumstances. For example, if another driver is at fault in a collision and damages your windshield, you can file a claim with their insurance company.
Additionally, some insurance companies offer auto glass coverage, which pays for windshield damage.
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Glass Coverage Car Insurance for Damage to the Windshield
Auto glass coverage is an optional add-on that some insurance companies offer. However, only a handful of insurance companies in certain states offer full glass coverage.
Also, Florida car insurance laws have made it mandatory for insurance companies to include windshield repair or replacement for those who have bought comprehensive coverage. This usually includes a low deductible or even no deductible at all. A few other states have similar mandates.
So again, look closer at your policy or ask your insurance company or agent to clarify how this works in your state. You may also want to read up on car insurance laws in your state.
The Cost of Car Insurance for Windshield Damage
The cost of windshield coverage varies depending on your insurance type, where you live, and more.
The average cost of car insurance varies by state. The national average for collision coverage is $29 monthly, while comprehensive costs $13 monthly. For full coverage, you’ll typically pay around $90 per month.
In the case of most insurance companies, additional full glass coverage costs a few dollars a month, totaling anywhere from $5 to $30 annually.
Should I use car insurance to cover damage to my windshield?
Average windshield replacement prices could surpass $350 in 2023, so replacing your windshield is a significant expense.
However, if your policy doesn’t include any of these, you could still get your windshield repair covered by an insurance company in some circumstances. For example, if another driver is at fault in a collision and damages your windshield, you can file a claim with their insurance company.
However, if you need to use your comprehensive or collision coverage to pay for the damage, compare the deductible amount and the repair estimate.
For instance, if the windshield repair costs $200 and the deductible is $500, you’ll need to pay out of pocket for repairs. However, if your windshield replacement costs $500 and your deductible is $250, you’ll only pay half.
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Case Studies: Car Insurance Coverage for Windshield Damage
Case Study 1: Insufficient Coverage
Sarah’s car was parked on the street when a tree branch fell during a storm and cracked her windshield. Unfortunately, she only had the minimum coverage insurance, which doesn’t cover windshield damage. As a result, she had to pay out of pocket for the full cost of replacing her windshield, which exceeded $350.
Case Study 2: Comprehensive Coverage to the Rescue
Mark’s car was hit by a rock thrown up by another vehicle while driving on the highway, causing a significant crack in his windshield. Fortunately, he had comprehensive coverage as part of his car insurance policy. He filed a claim with his insurance company, and after paying the deductible, the insurance company covered the remaining cost of repairing the windshield.
Case Study 3: Full Glass Coverage Benefit
Lisa’s car was parked when a stray baseball hit her windshield, causing a small chip. She had opted for full glass coverage as an additional add-on to her car insurance policy. Since the chip was repairable, she didn’t have to pay any deductible, and her insurance company covered the entire cost of the repair.
Car Insurance Coverage for Windshield Damage: The Bottom Line
While windshields can be expensive to repair or replace, holding comprehensive or collision coverage can protect you from paying for windshield damage. In some states, full glass coverage and insurance laws give you the benefit of no deductible, so you can easily file a claim to fix your windshield.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to replace a windshield?
Replacing a windshield can cost anywhere from around $200 up to $1,500, depending on your type of vehicle, windshield manufacturer, and type of glass.
Is driving with a cracked windshield illegal?
This depends on the state you are driving in, but in most cases, federal regulations apply. These regulations generally allow cracks or chips smaller than 3/4 inch in diameter and not by another crack. However, most states require that windshield cracks not obstruct a driver’s view of the road.
Should I replace or repair my damaged windshield?
It is best to assess your car with a windshield expert before replacing or repairing it. But the thumb rule is the more extensive the damage, the better it is to replace the windshield.
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
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Michael Leotta
Insurance Operations Specialist
Michael earned a degree in Business Management degree with an insurance focus, which led to a successful 25-year career in insurance claims operations and support. He possesses a high-level of business acumen across multiple areas of the insurance industry. Over the course of his career, he served in multiple roles supporting claims operations including: Claims Specialist, Claims Trainer, Claim Au...
Insurance Operations Specialist
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.