Can I Claim Insurance for a Broken Car Windshield?
3 Answers
You can call the insurance company to file a claim. Here is some relevant information about car insurance: 1. When choosing vehicle insurance coverage: It is recommended to opt for two main types of coverage. The first is vehicle damage insurance, and the second is third-party liability insurance. These two types of coverage are the basic guarantees for compensating the losses of both the driver and the vehicle after an accident. Additionally, there are two supplementary coverages that are highly recommended. One is theft insurance, and the other is non-deductible insurance. Theft insurance ensures that if the vehicle is stolen or hijacked, the owner's losses will be compensated. Currently, insurance companies have a deductible rate in their policies. For instance, if the owner is fully responsible for an accident, the insurance company will deduct 20%; for major responsibility, it's 15%; for equal responsibility, 10%; and for minor responsibility, 5%. To minimize personal financial liability, it is advisable for the owner to spend an additional 100+ yuan to purchase non-deductible insurance. This way, regardless of the level of responsibility in an accident, the insurance company will cover the full claim. 2. Insurance terms are a crucial part of the insurance contract: When signing the contract, the owner must request and carefully review their rights and obligations from the agent to ensure a basis for claims. Insurance companies may modify terms periodically, and if the owner is unaware of the original terms, they might face disadvantages during claims. 3. For any unclear terms, request the insurance company to provide a clear explanation: Ensure the explanation is documented as an attachment to the contract. If the agent only provides a product brochure before signing and does not present the insurance contract, premium rates, or other relevant materials, the consumer should refuse to purchase.
I've been through this before - a flying stone cracked my windshield, and I immediately contacted my insurance company. They told me that if I had purchased standalone glass breakage coverage (commonly called glass insurance), I could directly file a claim. Without this additional coverage, standard comprehensive insurance usually doesn't cover standalone glass damage unless it's secondary damage caused by a collision. The claims process involves calling to report the incident, going to a designated repair shop for replacement glass, and the insurance company reimbursing the actual cost. A reminder to everyone: it's best to add glass insurance when purchasing your policy, especially for frequent highway drivers, because windshields are extremely vulnerable - repairs can cost anywhere from a few hundred to over a thousand yuan.
Yesterday, a customer with a cracked windshield came to my repair shop for a replacement. While chatting, he mentioned feeling frustrated after calling his insurance company because he hadn’t purchased standalone glass coverage, so the damage wasn’t claimable. I explained that’s how auto insurance works—standard policies only cover damages from accidents, and standalone glass damage usually requires out-of-pocket payment. Many insurers now offer optional glass coverage for an extra hundred or two per year, which saves hassle if issues arise. Also, even when filing a claim, avoid random roadside shops—insurers often have partnered repair centers for assured quality and smoother claims.
