Does Car Insurance Cover Windshield Damage?

If you only have the minimum car insurance coverage your state requires, then car insurance won’t cover windshield damage. That said, people with comprehensive coverage and collision coverage or separate full glass coverage could get reimbursed for their windshield repair or replacement costs.

When Car Insurance Covers Windshield Damage

• Collision coverage: If your windshield got damaged in a car crash, collision coverage would cover it. Read more about collision insurance.
• Comprehensive coverage: Comprehensive coverage would come in handy if your windshield suffered from hail damage or damage from rocks.
• Full glass coverage: Some insurance providers offer separate full glass coverage without deductibles, unlike collision and comprehensive coverage (more on that later).

When Car Insurance Doesn’t Cover Windshield Damage

Insurance doesn’t always cover windshield damage. Your damage won’t be covered under these circumstances:

• You lack comprehensive coverage. Since comprehensive coverage isn’t a requirement in any state, many people don’t have it.
• You lack collision coverage and get in an at-fault accident. While the other party’s property damage coverage would cover your windshield damage from an accident in which you were not at fault, you’d need collision coverage to cover your property damage costs in an accident you caused. Learn what to do if a car accident is your fault.
• You caused the damage intentionally. Auto insurance never covers damage you caused on purpose — that includes windshield damage.

Whether you have to pay an insurance deductible for windshield damage depends on which type of claim you file. If it’s a collision or comprehensive claim, then yes, you’ll have to pay your deductible before your insurance provider will contribute. However, if it’s a covered full glass claim, you won’t have to pay a deductible¹. Companies have different policies for deductibles on windshield damage claims; find your company’s policy below².

Windshield Insurance Information by Company

Three states require insurance companies to waive deductibles for covered comprehensive windshield damage claims:

• Florida
• Kentucky
• South Carolina

In some other states, you can buy down deductibles, which means the policy has an endorsement that reduces the deductible under a covered claim. Rather than paying the entire deductible, the customer pays more in comprehensive premiums for coverage³. These are the states that allow you to buy down deductibles:

• Arizona
• Connecticut
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• New York

Learn more about Massachusetts’ auto insurance laws.

If you have the right coverage, you should file a claim for windshield damage as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more likely a chip or crack is to spread, resulting in higher repair costs⁴.

Filing a windshield damage insurance claim works the same way as filing any other type of auto insurance claim.

1. Document the damage and take notes about how, where, and when it happened. Take photos of the damage, and if you were involved in an accident, file a police report for your claim.
2. Contact your insurance agent.
3. Submit your evidence.
4. Meet with a claims adjuster to see what will be covered.

You have two options to fix windshield damage: repairing or replacing your windshield.

Does My Windshield Need to Be Repaired or Replaced?

Repair your windshield if the damage is …

• Minimal.
• Not close to the windshield’s perimeter.
• Not in your line of sight.

Replace your windshield if the damage is …

• Extensive.
• Close to the windshield’s perimeter.
• In your line of sight⁶.

Can Glass Damage Be Repaired?

Glass damage can be repaired in some cases. Here’s how the experts do it:

1. They create a vacuum over the damaged area.
2. They remove the air and moisture in the damaged area.
3. They inject resin into the microcracks.
4. They harden the resin using UV lights.

Can I Pass a State Inspection With a Cracked Windshield?

Every state has its own standards for vehicle inspections, and that includes windshields. Find out if windshield damage could prevent you from passing inspection in your state:

The Cost of Fixing a Broken Windshield

How much will fixing a broken windshield cost without insurance? Anywhere from $20 for small chips to $1,500 for replacing the windshield of a luxury car.

Windshield damage is very common, which is one reason it’s so important to have collision and comprehensive auto insurance coverage, if not separate full glass coverage. But the most important thing when it comes to windshield damage is not to procrastinate, as tiny cracks can morph into huge ones over time.