Does Car Insurance Cover a Cracked Windshield?
Written by
Ann Herro has been writing about insurance and employee benefits for over 15 years. She covers topics ranging from car insurance to healthcare costs.
Reviewed by
Paul Martin is the Director of Education and Development for Myron Steves, one of the largest, most respected insurance wholesalers in the southern U.S.
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Will car insurance cover a cracked windshield?
How do I know if my car insurance covers a cracked windshield?
How much windshield damage is covered by car insurance?
If basic car insurance does not cover a cracked windshield, what will?
Expert(s) Found on this Page
Will car insurance cover a cracked windshield?
Does car insurance cover things that aren’t caused by car crashes, for example, a cracked windshield?
Yes, but only if you have the right kind of car insurance.
Liability coverage is the most basic kind of car insurance that most states require you to have. It won’t cover you if your windshield gets damaged. It’s only there to cover damage that you inflict on other people or property.
There are three types of optional coverage that could cover damage to your windshield:
- Comprehensive coverage
- Collision coverage
- Glass coverage
Whether or not your car’s windshield and windows are covered by comprehensive and collision coverage varies from insurance company to insurance company. You may need to buy special glass coverage to make sure your windshield is covered.
How do I know if my car insurance covers a cracked windshield?
There are three main types of car insurance coverage: liability, collision, and comprehensive. Each one covers different situations.
- Liability coverage: Covers damage you cause to other people, vehicles, or property.
- Collision coverage: Covers the cost to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged or totaled in a collision, regardless of fault.
- Comprehensive coverage: Covers the cost to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged or totaled by a non-collision event, such as a hailstorm or theft.
If you have car insurance, then you definitely have liability insurance, since it’s the legally required minimum coverage required by your state. But collision and comprehensive coverage are optional, so you may not have them. Check the details of your policy online or in your policy documents to see.
Collision will cover you if your car’s windshield gets cracked in an accident. Comprehensive will cover you if it gets cracked for another reason, like a hailstorm.
Sometimes, however, glass is excluded from your collision and comprehensive coverage. Your insurance policy documents should spell this out clearly. If glass breakage is not covered by comprehensive and collision, then you’ll need to buy special glass coverage.
It’s easy to work with an independent insurance agent and add extra coverage to your policy if you want it.
How much windshield damage is covered by car insurance?
You might even be more concerned about glass coverage when you buy a new car that costs more to repair. It's important to understand the amount of reimbursement you'll receive from your car insurance policy if you have a cracked windshield.
The amount of coverage you have depends on your deductible amount and your policy limits.
The deductible is the amount the insurance company requires you to pay before coverage kicks in. For example, if the damage is $1000 and your deductible is $500, then you'll pay $500, and your insurance will pay the other $500.
The coverage limit is what it sounds like. It's the limit that the insurance company will pay for any given claim. For comprehensive and collision coverage, the limit is usually the actual cash value of your car.
Actual cash value isn’t what you paid for your car. It’s the replacement cost minus depreciation or the amount of value your car loses each year due to age and wear and tear.
Special glass coverage works differently than comprehensive and collision coverage. Glass coverage usually has no deductible, and its limit is a set amount that's designed to cover the cost of your windshield and windows specifically. The absence of a deductible is a great reason to have glass coverage.
In short, your car insurance will cover the cost of repairs or replacement minus the deductible up to the coverage limit. The finer points depend on your coverage.
If basic car insurance does not cover a cracked windshield, what will?
It’s good to think ahead about this coverage now rather than regretting it later if something happens. Luckily, coverage for your windshield is easy to get.
First, check if your windshield is covered by your collision or comprehensive coverage (if you have it). Preferably, you would have both so that your windshield is covered, whether it's damaged in a collision or from something like a hailstorm or a fallen tree.
If it's not covered, an independent insurance agent can help you explore your glass coverage options.
Adding collision and comprehensive coverage usually costs only a few hundred dollars per year. Glass coverage is even less, and discounts can bring down that cost even further.
A quick call to an independent insurance agent will get the ball rolling. A local agent can help you fill out paperwork, find discounts, and generally make the process as painless as possible.