Windshield Replacement With Car Insurance: What’s Covered and What’s Not
Car insurance usually covers windshield damage and replacement if you have comprehensive and collision insurance.
If someone else caused the accident, their insurance should pay for your windshield damage.
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When does insurance cover a cracked windshield?
There are four main situations when insurance will pay for your cracked windshield.
Your insurance will pay for a cracked windshield if:
You have comprehensive coverage and your windshield was damaged by something outside of your control, like a fallen branch or vandalism.
You have collision coverage and caused an accident, which damaged your windshield.
Someone else's insurance will pay for a cracked windshield if:
Another driver hit your car.
Someone broke your windshield and they have homeowners or renters insurance.
Does comprehensive cover glass?
Yes, damage to your windshield and car windows is almost always covered if you have comprehensive insurance.
Comprehensive insurance protects your car from damage not caused by another car, sometimes called "acts of God." This includes:
- Hail cracking your windshield
- A tree branch falling on your windshield
- A baseball breaking your windshield
- A pebble damaging your windshield while driving
- Acts of vandalism
- An animal crashing into your windshield
Comprehensive coverage is optional for many people. But most lenders require you to buy it if you have a car loan or lease.
While comprehensive coverage usually pays for windshield damage, you should double-check which events are covered, how much your windshield deductible is and whether it covers all of your car windows.
Does collision insurance cover windshield replacement?
Yes, if you cause an accident that damages your windshield, your insurance will repair or replace it if you have collision coverage.
Collision coverage pays for damage resulting from an accident you cause, whether it's with another driver or a stationary object, like a tree.
Similar to comprehensive coverage, you usually have to pay a deductible for collision claims unless your insurance has a no-deductible windshield replacement program.
Does liability insurance cover windshield replacement?
If you have a liability-only policy, your insurance won't pay to fix or replace your windshield. Your insurance only pays for damage to your car if you have comprehensive or collision coverage, and that includes windshields.
Will someone else's insurance replace my windshield?
There are two instances when someone else's insurance will pay to fix your broken windshield:
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If another person crashes into your car and the accident is their fault.
In this situation, their liability insurance should pay for any damage to your vehicle, including your windshield. You'll need to file a claim against the other driver's auto insurance before you repair or replace your windshield.
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If you know who broke your windshield and they have homeowners or renters liability insurance.
In this instance, you can make a claim against their policy. Both types of insurance include liability coverage, which pays for things they damage. However, you will have to prove to their insurance company that it was their fault.
If someone else damages your windshield but doesn't have insurance, your policy may still cover the cost.
If your auto insurance includes uninsured or underinsured motorist property damage liability, your insurance will pay for glass damage caused by another person.
Should I use insurance to replace my windshield?
The first thing to consider is the cost of the deductible versus repair costs. If your deductible is greater than the cost to repair or replace the windshield, you won't get anything from your insurance company.
Most deductibles for comprehensive or collision claims range from $50 to as high as $2,000.
- If your deductible is more than $1,000, filing a windshield claim is usually not worth it. It doesn't usually cost more than $1,000 to fix or replace a standard windshield.
- If your deductible is less than $1,000, you should get an estimate of the cost to repair or replace the windshield to decide whether the cost is higher than your deductible.
However, replacing your windshield may be more costly if your car has certain technology, like adaptive cruise control or automatic braking.
If your car has these features — called advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) — the mechanic will need to recalibrate them when replacing your windshield. This can be time consuming and costly, depending on the type of car you drive.
How much is a windshield replacement or repair?
Windshield repairs generally cost around $165 for a single chip or crack less than six inches. Replacements can range from a few hundred dollars to more than $1,000.
Unless your policy has zero-deductible glass coverage, you shouldn't file a claim for a single chip or crack.
Even if you have a very low deductible, you'll get very little money from the insurance company for a repair. Plus, there's a small chance your rates could go up, especially if you've made other claims in the past.
Cracks over six inches long can't be repaired, so you'll need a full windshield replacement.
Not only does replacing your windshield cost more, but the price also varies depending on your vehicle's size and style. The windshield on high-end or high-tech vehicles tends to cost more to replace.
In addition, you may have to pay extra if your car has certain technology that needs to be recalibrated when your windshield is replaced, like a forward-facing camera or windshield heater.
How much does it cost for a new windshield?
Car make & model | Replacement cost |
|---|---|
| 2015 Honda Civic | $466 |
| 2020 Toyota RAV4 | $353 |
| 2022 Ford F-150 | $507 |
| 2025 Tesla Model S | $1,094 |
Costs are based on quotes from Safelite AutoGlass.
While most people with a $500 deductible shouldn't file a claim to replace their windshield, it might make sense to do so if you're driving a newer, high-tech car, like a Tesla.
How to get your windshield replaced for free
There are some exceptions that allow you to get your windshield repaired or replaced for free.
Some companies, like Progressive, don't require you to pay a deductible for windshield repairs if you have comprehensive coverage. So check to see if your comprehensive coverage waives the deductible for glass claims.
Many companies offer no deductible windshield replacement coverage as an add-on when you buy your policy. So if you pay for this coverage up front, you shouldn't have to pay a deductible when something happens to your windshield in the future.
Some states have laws regarding windshield deductibles, as well.
In Florida, Kentucky and South Carolina, insurance companies must offer windshield replacement without a deductible. That means drivers in these states don't have to pay to have their cracked windshields repaired or replaced. However, that may not apply to side or rear windows.
Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota and New York all require insurance companies to offer the option of no deductible windshield replacement coverage, which you can add on to your policy for an extra cost.
Does windshield replacement affect insurance rates?
Whether your insurance rates will go up after a glass claim depends on the type of claim that you make.
Comprehensive
Collision
Someone else's insurance
Your insurance usually won't go up after a comprehensive claim. That's because this coverage protects you against things outside of your control, like a fallen tree branch.
However, if you file multiple comprehensive claims over a short period of time, your insurance company may consider you high-risk, which could lead to a rate increase.
Comprehensive
Your insurance usually won't go up after a comprehensive claim. That's because this coverage protects you against things outside of your control, like a fallen tree branch.
However, if you file multiple comprehensive claims over a short period of time, your insurance company may consider you high-risk, which could lead to a rate increase.
Collision
If you file a collision claim after causing an accident, your rates may go up. This depends on the cost of the damage and whether you have accident forgiveness .
If you don't have accident forgiveness, you shouldn't file a collision claim for windshield repair or replacement unless your car has other damage, too.
Someone else's insurance
Your rates shouldn't go up after filing a claim against someone else's insurance, because the damage wasn't your fault. However, if you've had numerous accidents, your insurance company may consider you a risky driver, even if the accidents weren’t your fault.
How to file a claim after your windshield breaks
Filing a claim for broken glass is the same as filing other types of car insurance claims. Most companies allow you to either call an agent or submit a claim online. You should tell your auto insurance company about any damage to your car as soon as possible.
If your windshield was destroyed as an act of vandalism, call the police and get a copy of the police report. You'll want to send it to your insurance company to help document the details of your claim.
After filing the claim, your insurance company may require you to take the car to a shop of its choice to inspect the damage. Some companies may require you to use a specific company to replace your windshield. Others will allow you to work with services such as Safelite or other local companies.
Be sure to save all of your receipts so your insurance company knows how much to reimburse you for replacing the windshield.
Frequently asked questions
Does Progressive cover windshield replacement?
If you have comprehensive coverage, Progressive will pay for a new windshield in most cases. You typically have to pay a deductible for a brand new windshield. But if your windshield has small cracks or chips that are repairable, Progressive will waive your deductible.
Does full coverage cover windshield cracks?
A full coverage policy usually includes comprehensive and collision coverage, which pay for windshield damage under most circumstances.
Does insurance cover a rock hitting your windshield?
Yes, a rock hitting your windshield is covered by your car insurance, as long as you have comprehensive coverage on your policy.
How do I know if my insurance covers windshield replacement?
Your insurance usually covers damage to your windshield if you have collision and comprehensive coverage. These coverages are optional for many people but are usually required if you have a car loan or lease.
If you're unsure whether your policy includes collision and comprehensive coverage, check your policy declarations page or call your agent.
Methodology
Windshield repair and replacement costs are based on quotes from Safelite glass. ValuePenguin editors gathered quotes for four vehicles located in Dallas, TX. Replacement rates are the cheapest option offered — replacing a windshield with original manufacturer parts will increase the cost.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
