What Do You Need To Know For A Successful Auto Glass Claim?
Vehicle glass problems are among some of the most common you'll face. While most drivers do all they can to avoid accidents, the situations that can cause cracked, pitted, or chipped windshields are often unavoidable. Even seemingly well-maintained roads can contain plenty of dangerous debris.
Minor glass damage might not seem like a huge problem initially, but even small chips can spiderweb into much more severe issues. More importantly, any damage to your windshield potentially reduces the structural integrity of your vehicle in an accident. Filing a glass coverage claim is often the best way to deal with these issues, but it's crucial to understand how this process works.
Should You File a Claim for Glass Damage?
Insurance policies include many different types of coverage. Insurers typically cover glass damage under comprehensive coverage, which provides a settlement for damage outside of accidents. For example, this coverage will protect you from weather-related damage, fire, and so on. Most companies require you to have collision coverage if you also want to have comprehensive coverage.
However, most comprehensive policies will include a relatively high deductible since low deductible policies can be much more expensive. Since glass repairs are often cheaper than these deductibles, many companies offer low or no-deductible glass coverage. This coverage is essentially an add-on for your comprehensive policy that applies only to non-collision glass damage.
In general, you should file a claim with your insurance company for glass damage if you have glass coverage or if your comprehensive deductible is very low. You may still want to consider filing a claim with a higher deductible if you suspect your windshield will require replacement since replacements are often much more expensive.
How Can You Maximize Your Odds of a Successful Claim?
The good news is that insurance companies usually streamline the claims process for glass claims, so your odds of a successful claim are already very good. However, you can still do a few things to expedite the process and reduce the odds of a denied claim. First, document the damage as soon as possible. Clean around the damaged area if necessary, so it shows up clearly in your photos.
You should also file the claim right away. While most insurers won't deny an older claim, many glass coverage policies waive their already low deductible for repairs instead of replacement. Since glass damage tends to expand over time, you'll usually save money by making your claim immediately instead of waiting until your windshield is unsalvageable.
Although it's easy to forget about it, your windshield is one of your car's most critical elements. It provides structural support and serves as your only window out into the world, so it's important to treat it right. If your windshield has cracks, pits, chips, or other damage from road debris, you shouldn't hesitate to file a claim with your insurer so you can see clearly again.
Contact an agent to learn more about vehicle glass insurance claims.