Will insurance cover a windshield crack caused by a stone?

[LaHector]

No compensation will be provided. If only the windshield is broken and no other parts of the car are damaged, the owner must have purchased auto glass insurance for the insurance company to be responsible for compensation. If both the glass and other parts of the car are damaged in an accident, the car damage insurance can cover the cost. Therefore, having only car damage insurance is not enough to receive compensation. The process of car insurance claims: 1. In case of personal injury, report the incident: If there is personal injury, first report the incident and send the injured to the hospital. Specific matters will be analyzed in detail. Most importantly, keep all hospital receipts ready, as the insurance company will need copies for reimbursement. Without these, the insurance company will not reimburse. 2. If the other party is at fault, go to their insurance company for assessment: If the other party is fully at fault, you can go to their insurance company for assessment. Your second compulsory insurance will not increase. 3. If you are at fault, report the incident: In case of a two-party accident where you are fully at fault, report the incident and go to the insurance company or assessment center with the other party for assessment. 4. Repair the car: Each party repairs their own car. The other party should give you the repair list and invoice. You can pay them directly or reimburse through the insurance company before paying them.

[Tricia]

Last time my windshield cracked, I specifically asked my insurance agent friend. The key is whether you have purchased glass insurance or the current reformed comprehensive vehicle damage insurance. If you didn't buy standalone glass breakage coverage under the old insurance system, you couldn't file a claim. Nowadays, most comprehensive vehicle damage insurance includes glass coverage, but pay attention to crack size – cracks smaller than 25mm are usually recommended for repair rather than full replacement, otherwise next year's premium increase might cost more than the repair. Remember to take photos as evidence before contacting your insurer – they'll direct you to authorized repair shops. I filed my claim through the app and it took just ten minutes, but OEM windshield replacement at a 4S shop costs around two thousand yuan while local repair shops can install Fuyao glass for just a few hundred, offering much better value for money.

[StIsaac]

It's quite common for the windshield to be cracked by flying stones. As someone who just dealt with this issue, here are three reminders for you: First, check your insurance policy date. If your car damage insurance was purchased after September 2020, it includes windshield coverage and you can claim directly. For policies before that, you need to have separately purchased windshield insurance. Second, do the math. Filing a claim for a windshield replacement will increase your premium by at least 800 yuan next year, while a domestic windshield costs around 700 yuan out of pocket, making it not worth claiming. Third, assess the damage. Spiderweb cracks require a full replacement, but for a single crack smaller than a coin, you can buy repair fluid on Taobao and fix it yourself. I've done two repairs myself, saving over a thousand yuan in insurance premiums.

[McMolly]

Whether the insurance covers a cracked windshield mainly depends on your policy. Nowadays, after the reform, most auto damage insurance policies include glass coverage, so you can just call to file a claim. The claims process is quite simple: first, take photos for evidence, and then the insurance adjuster will decide whether to repair or replace it based on the length of the crack. However, be cautious about filing claims too easily. My neighbor’s premium increased by 23% after claiming for a windshield last year, and this year, they replaced it with a Fuyao glass for just 500 yuan. If the crack is very small, it’s better not to bother—professional repairs at auto parts markets cost around a hundred yuan, which is much more cost-effective than a premium increase.

[LaRebecca]

From a cost-saving perspective, think twice before filing an insurance claim for a windshield crack. Even though post-reform auto damage insurance includes glass coverage, a claim record could increase your renewal premium by 10%-30%, effectively doubling the cost for a thousand-yuan windshield. My personal experience: a three-centimeter crack was repaired for 150 yuan at an auto shop, with results as good as new. If replacement is necessary, Fuyao specialty stores can handle standard models for under 800 yuan, while luxury models opting for Saint-Gobain cost around two thousand. Insurance is best suited for extensive spiderweb cracks; minor damages are better handled out-of-pocket. Remember, you must report the incident within 72 hours, as insurers may deny claims beyond this timeframe.