- Your state-required minimum car insurance normally does not protect a broken, cracked, or shattered window
- Your car’s windows may be covered under collision or comprehensive coverage depending on the situation
- If you are involved in an accident, then your collision coverage may help cover the cost of repairing or replacing the glass
- However, if the damage is not due to a collision, then your comprehensive coverage may offer you some protection
- Just like other comprehensive or collision claims, you may have a deductible to pay before your insurance provider covers the loss
If you carry comprehensive, collision, or even glass-specific coverage, then your insurance policy may help you cover the costs of repairing or replacing the glass.
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Glass and Window Coverage Under Collision Coverage
In the event of an accident, the damages to your car may be covered under your collision coverage. If you are not responsible for the accident, then your glass may be repaired by the other party’s insurance company.
However, if you are at-fault for the accident, or if your car is damaged in a hit-and-run accident or by an uninsured or underinsured driver, then your collision coverage may take effect.
Your insurance provider will usually require a deductible for collision coverage, which can be a set amount or a percentage of your loss.
If you are not at-fault for the accident but have to pay your deductible up front, your insurance provider may try to recover your expenses for the claim from the other provider and reimburse your payment once they do so.
Glass and Window Coverage Under Comprehensive Coverage
Your car insurance policy may cover the windows on your car under your comprehensive coverage option. This normally happens when the damage is not related to an accident.
Comprehensive coverage is often referred to as “other-than-collision” coverage, meaning that this coverage protects your car from the following:
- animal-related damages
- weather-related damages
- other non-accident damages
One common occurrence that may fall under comprehensive coverage would be damages caused to your windshield while you are on the road.
For instance, if another car drives by and knocks up a rock that chips or cracks your windshield, your comprehensive coverage could come into play to help cover your loss.
It’s important to remember that, just like collision coverage, this option may have a deductible that you are required to pay before your provider helps cover your loss.
If the damage to your vehicle is not more than your deductible, your insurance provider may not cover any portion of the loss.
Glass and Window Coverage Under Glass-specific Coverage
In addition to comprehensive and collision coverage protecting your car and your windows, your insurance provider may offer glass-specific coverage, sometimes called “glass coverage,” on your policy.
This may apply to your windshield or all the glass on your vehicle, and there may be different conditions that need to be met for coverage to apply, as well as different exclusions that may be listed.
Due to the nature of this coverage, your provider may or may not require a deductible. This coverage option may include everything from your windshield and rear window to your side windows and sunroof.
It’s important to speak to your provider about what glass-specific coverage applies to on your vehicle. If they do not offer any glass coverage, or it is not inclusive enough for your needs, you may be able to purchase supplemental insurance.
Filing a Claim for Broken Car Windows or Glass Damage
When you file a claim for your broken car windows or some glass damages, it’s important to consider how the claim may affect your policy or your future coverage.
In many situations, filing a claim contributes to your claim history or your insurance history, which insurance providers take into account when determining future premium amounts and whether or not to provide you with coverage.
For example, if you file claims for glass or window damage frequently, your insurance provider may decide to remove that coverage from your policy, reducing their risk exposure in the process.
Additionally, they may raise your premium to cover the increased amount of claim settlements they are paying out. In extreme circumstances, some providers may even decide to cancel or non-renew your policy.
Conclusion
Your car insurance is designed to help protect you from losses above and beyond the usual wear-and-tear or mechanical failures.
When it comes to your car’s windows, windshield, or other glass, your policy may cover losses under your collision, comprehensive or glass-specific coverage options.
Although you may have these options, it’s important to determine if filing a claim is the right choice for you.
If the cost of your deductible and premium increase totals more or within several hundred dollars of an expensive but one-time repair, then fixing the glass yourself might be the better option.
If you have questions about different situations where your coverage may or may not apply, it’s important to talk with your insurance provider about your policy terms, your policy limits, and any exclusions to your coverage.
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