What are the standards for replacing scratched headlight covers under insurance?
2 Answers
Repairable conditions: Scratches not exceeding 1/3 of the lens thickness can be repaired. Broken mounting tabs: If the original broken tabs are present and repairable, with no more than 3 broken tabs per headlight. Non-repairable conditions: Significant lens indentation, cracked headlight cover, missing cover edges, or missing mounting tabs. Note: (For high-value components with missing tabs, original tabs from old headlights may be used as replacements.) Below is an introduction to auto insurance claims: Introduction 1: Insurance companies generally require reporting within 48 hours. After reporting, an adjuster will inspect the damage on-site to verify consistency with the claim. If consistent, the claim is usually approved. Introduction 2: Even if the vehicle is moved a short distance from the incident location, measurements can still be taken based on scene elevation and damage marks without significant impact.
Just helped my neighbor review his car insurance policy yesterday – there’s actually a lot to know about headlight scratch claims. If it’s just surface hairline scratches, insurers usually have repair shops polish them out, since replacing an OEM headlight can cost thousands. But if the crack exceeds 2cm or the lens is punctured (with light scattering into rainbows), a full replacement is mandatory. It all comes down to how the claims adjuster assesses it on-site – I’ve seen some measure crack depth with rulers. Pro tip: Never DIY-sand scratches before filing a claim, or they’ll classify it as intentional damage and deny coverage. Brutal!
