You can save serious time, stress, and money if you know how to use your insurance coverage to your advantage.
Let’s face facts: car ownership can cost you big money when you least expect it. Your windshield can break, get a chip or a crack, or take some other damage at no fault of your own; hostile weather conditions might whip tree branches your way, and vandals could target your vehicle, but you’re still responsible for the repairs.
Luckily, there is a solution. If you have insurance coverage on auto glass, you might be able to claim the insurance to get your windshield repaired, giving you and your bank account some peace of mind.
If you need a windshield repair, Wizard Auto Glass has years of experience repairing auto glass, and since we’re certified in vehicle insurance inspection and vandalism, we can help you with the insurance process. We will even deal with your insurance company directly.
Coverage
If your windshield has been damaged in a way other than a collision, the most common way to get it covered through your insurance is by using a comprehensive coverage. If this coverage is optional, and it is not a part of your package, your insurance will not cover you and you’ll be paying for the repair out of your own pocket. If you do have the coverage, then great; continue reading.
The comprehensive coverage will usually cover damage that was caused by vandalism, fire, animal collisions, and storms. Make sure to check if your insurance company will cover windshield repair and replacement in your comprehensive package. Also, even if auto glass repair is included, make sure that it is all-inclusive. Sometimes companies will only cover the side and back windows, but not the windshield and vice versa. If this is the case, then again, you will have to pay for the repair yourself.
Deductible
Once you’ve determined that you do have coverage, the next thing to do is to consider your deductible. This should be done before your file a claim. This is fairly easy; you compare the cost of the repair with the cost of your deductible. If your deductible is more than the cost of the repair, then it is not worth your while to file a claim. Remember, the claim will go on your insurance record, even if damage that is not from a collision won’t affect your premium. More claims might increase your perceived risk, and increase your renewal rates.
Claim
If you have determined that your deductible is low enough to file an auto glass claim, then it is best to file the claim with your insurance company right away. This can be done in a couple of ways, such as online, on the phone, in person, or a mobile application. How you do this might depend on your insurance company. An agent from your company will then review your claim and confirm if you will be covered or not. Note, you might need to have the damage inspected by your insurance company before they will approve the coverage.
Repair
When you are approved for coverage, the last thing to do is to get your damaged windshield repaired. You might be limited to where you can take your vehicle to be prepared if your insurance company has a contract with a specific repair shop. If not, you can take the vehicle to any repair shop you wish.