Can I Claim Insurance for a Broken Windshield?
3 Answers
The insurance coverage for a broken windshield depends on whether you have purchased glass insurance. Here is some information regarding a broken windshield: 1. Glass Insurance: First, determine if you have purchased glass insurance and whether it includes no deductible. If you have, you can call your insurance company to file a claim. If you don't have glass insurance, the insurer may still cover the damage if it's not solely the windshield that was damaged in the same accident. If the insurance company refuses to pay, you can appeal to the court. 2. Purchasing Insurance: There are two main types of insurance: vehicle damage insurance and third-party liability insurance. These two types of insurance are the basic guarantees that ensure the losses of both the driver and the vehicle can be compensated after an accident. To minimize your financial liability, it's important to have these coverages.
Last week, my car was parked in the residential area, and in the morning, I found a large spider-web crack on the windshield. In this situation, it depends on whether you have purchased separate glass insurance. For an old car like mine without additional coverage, I could only claim under the comprehensive damage insurance. However, comprehensive damage insurance requires the damage to be caused by a traffic accident, making it quite troublesome for cases like mine where the responsible party cannot be identified. In the end, I had to pay out of pocket to replace it. For a regular car model, replacing the windshield costs approximately 600 to 2,000 RMB, and it’s even more expensive at a 4S shop. If the glass is broken due to a rear-end collision where the other party is fully at fault, you can directly claim through their insurance without having to pay upfront. Remember to take photos of the damage and the other party’s documents on the spot.
The windshield of my new car got cracked by a high-speed pebble just three months after purchase. I immediately checked the insurance policy and found that the basic car damage insurance doesn't cover glass damage, and separate glass insurance requires additional purchase. Filing a claim for such minor damage isn't cost-effective, as the premium increase in the second year might exceed the repair cost. Last time I asked at a repair shop, fixing the glass would cost just 200 yuan, but if the crack exceeds 30 centimeters, the entire piece needs replacement. For temporary treatment, I suggest using transparent tape to seal the crack to prevent water ingress affecting the electrical system, and visit a professional shop as soon as possible.
