Cracked Windshield - Insurance vs. Out-of-pocket

[Confuzed1]

Many policies offer zero glass deductible. Also while your current rates usually wont normally be affected, if you ever go to switch carriers they will see that you made a glass claim. They will surely use that against you when quoting a new policy.

Maybe.....but I can take my multi-car insurance needs elsewhere, no biggie.

In CT a glass claim isn't a big deal..
Until it's time to renew the policy. Liberty Mutual dropped me for three (3) windshield replacements in 2 years. Along with my wife hitting a Christmas Tree....

Are you sure the hitting a Christmas tree wasn't the real reason?

 

[Smitty]

Maybe.....but I can take my multi-car insurance needs elsewhere, no biggie.

Are you sure the hitting a Christmas tree wasn't the real reason?

I want to hear the Christmas tree story.

 

[Stormtrooper1320]

So - I was driving through RIDICULOUS heavy road construction in Memphis a few weeks ago, and I heard something "ping" into my windshield. Next morning I notice a crack starting from the lower pass. side edge extending diagonal about 8". So it can't be repaired and must be replaced. I checked the price of the windshield itself, and it was over 700 dollars!

- By far the most expensive windshield I've seen. So - I have a 500 dollar deductible through my insurance. I decided to schedule through Safelite to have them come out and replace it. I noticed I could view the invoice online, and I see the cost breakdown.....I basically pay my 500, and it lists my insurance as only paying $3.26 !!!!!

Needless to say, I called up a rep from Safelite on the phone and asked them if I could just pay out of pocket instead of making any insurance claim. The lady on the phone said the pricing would be different. I asked how much I would have to pay then....and after being put on hold for a minute, she came back and told me it would cost OVER 1600 DOLLARS if I wanted to pay for it all myself. Is it normal for it to cost this damn much?? I had a windshield replaced on the wife's 2015 Kia Sportage a few years back....and no insurance and it was only around 340 bucks out of pocket.

I mean....I knew it might cost a little more, but that's insane! The Safelite rep didn't seem to have any answers. Anyone dealt with this or know what gives?!?

I had to have the windshield replaced in my Challenger within the first 7 days of owning it. I went through Safelite and saw the same things you did as far as their price, and what they were charging for it. I have since dropped my glass coverage deductible to 0 since it seems like windshields can take the smallest to pebble hits any longer without cracking in very short order, and I got tired of paying $250 a pop for the deductible.

I put 3 windshields in one of my other daily driver cars within 1 year due to how easily they chipped/cracked. By the time I was done that year, I had paid over $1000 in deductibles for windshields. I dropped my glass deductible to 0 after that. I offset the minor premium increase by dropping some other items on my policy that I never used.

 

[Confuzed1]

Well, my windshield got replaced yesterday. I paid my 500 buck deductable and that's the end of it hopefully. I mentioned to the installer guy that this is the most $$ window I've had replaced, and he said it's like that on all the cars pretty much....the more expensive the car the more $$ is charged for replacement glass. Kinda funny that he also mentioned it was good that I was going through my insurance or else it would cost 1500 bucks or more if I paid for it myself.....

I can only conclude that my insurance company has an agreement with Safelite. I assume Safelite is giving the insurance company a big discount, and in return Safelite gets a lot more business every year....

 

[vortecd]

Well, my windshield got replaced yesterday. I paid my 500 buck deductable and that's the end of it hopefully. I mentioned to the installer guy that this is the most $$ window I've had replaced, and he said it's like that on all the cars pretty much....the more expensive the car the more $$ is charged for replacement glass. Kinda funny that he also mentioned it was good that I was going through my insurance or else it would cost 1500 bucks or more if I paid for it myself.....

I can only conclude that my insurance company has an agreement with Safelite. I assume Safelite is giving the insurance company a big discount, and in return Safelite gets a lot more business every year....

Yeah because a Hellcat windshield is more then a V6

 

[Confuzed1]

Yeah because a Hellcat windshield is more then a V6

Hey, I get what you're saying, but I didn't create the game....I'm just forced to play it like everyone else.

- Maybe I should have given them a VIN for a Challenger SE instead of a RE and outsmart everyone!

 

[AeroF16]

Well maybe everything has gotten expensive but 3 years ago Safelite replaced my Shaker 392windshield and the glass was $299 and OEM.

I mentioned how cheap it was and the Safelite guy said our windshields arent expensive and then pointed to a random Toyota down the street from my house and said that windshield would be like $1500.

My glass coverage in AZ was free with USAA (I think or so cheap it was a no brainer) and I had zero deductible. It’s a state by state thing though, can’t get the same coverage here in UT.

 

[AeroF16]

Edit - missed the part in your original post about the cost of a new one, just saw the $1600 comment not the $700 one.

Well I just called my dealer and asked the parts dude what the windshield cost. If you have rain sensitive wipers, list price is $767 so prices have definitely gone up!

That’s for my 2016 Challenger.

 

[parttimer]

My GF has had her Subaru windshield replaced TWICE in the last 2 years with no out of pocket from insurance. We just moved to SC, our new policies include glass break with no deductible as well.

 

[Paladin06]

I had full glass coverage in AZ for many years and it continues here in TN. Never cost me a dime out of my pocket. Never leave home without it.