Can I claim insurance for a cracked car windshield?
2 Answers
If there is no accident and it's just the glass that is damaged, you can only claim compensation if you have purchased separate glass breakage insurance. Here are some relevant details about car windshields: 1. Introduction: Car windshield damage falls under separate glass breakage insurance, which covers compensation when the front windshield or window glass is broken alone. General car insurance typically requires comprehensive damage, and if only the glass is broken, it will not be compensated. 2. Causes of spontaneous cracking: Spontaneous cracking of car windshields usually occurs at the edges of the glass, caused by the heating and cooling process during laminated glass manufacturing. The glass develops internal tensile stress and surface compressive stress, which remain stable when balanced. If unbalanced, spontaneous cracking can occur. If a car windshield is exposed to intense sunlight and then comes into contact with cold water, the extreme temperature change can also cause the glass to crack. If the front windshield cracks spontaneously, you should immediately pull over and stop the car.
Last year I dealt with a cracked windshield issue myself. The key is whether you opted for the separate glass breakage coverage when purchasing your auto insurance. Most standard comprehensive policies don't include glass coverage, so they won't cover standalone windshield cracks like this. I specifically checked my policy and found this needs to be purchased as an add-on. Remember to take clear photos of the crack location as evidence before filing a claim - it's best not to drive the car to the repair shop. The insurer will send an adjuster, and if the scene is altered they might deny the claim. Even if the claim succeeds, you'll still have to pay a 20% deductible - for small cracks, spending a few hundred to fix it yourself might be more cost-effective.
