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Cracked windshield advice...

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  • #16
    Most auto insurance policies in my state automatically have no-deductible, full-glass coverage. It's very cheap to have this coverage...about $27/ year. I found this out the hard way when a pebble caused a crack in my glass on a brand new car, and I found out that our insurance company had forgotten to put the glass coverage on. (They claimed that we "didn't ask for it" which is like saying that you are supposed to ask for tires with your car....) My dealer advised us to just add the glass coverage and then make the claim, since adding it is so cheap, but I felt like that was bad karma and so I paid for a new windshield. (Since my car was brand new, I paid for the factory brand windshield which cost almost as much as a year of my car insurance!) I also switched insurers after that; my new insurer advised me that they won't insure cars without full glass anyway.

    P.S. I don't know about the ticket thing, but I was told by the dealer that most cracks, even if big, aren't dangerous because they are on the outside layer of the windshield. Still, it did make me nervous to watch it slowly creeping across the windshield over a few days....

    P.P.S. Make sure you decide whether you are willing to have non-factory brand replacement glass. It will affect resale value if that is a consideration.

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    • #17
      I never had anyone even ask a question about the windshield whenever I sold a car, much less if it was replaced by a factory brand. I have only had to replace one windshield in my life. I have a friend who keeps his vehicles for a long time and after about 8 years he prays for a chip in the glass so he can tap it with a hammer and get it to spread to the replacement point(he always gets full glass coverage). After about 8 years or 100,000 miles the windshield gets pretty beat up and visibility starts to become a problem.

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      • #18
        I replaced my windshield with a non-factory glass that is definitely a lot thinner than my original glass. It now has a couple of chips in it, which I don't think I would have if I had gone with the better glass. Saved $150 or so but now wish I had paid for the "real thing."

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        • #19
          Maybe it's an "out west" thing, but replacing windshields is a very common thing here. Between our two cars, I'm sure I have replaced at least 10+ windshields in the 18 years here. As a matter of fact, when I got a new Explorer in the mid 90's, I went through three windshields in the first month I had it! Driving 75mph interstates does increase windshield damage.

          As for non-factory glass -- I have never heard of it affecting resale value. I have never been asked about the brand of glass when selling. And it being "thicker"? How would that affect whether or not it would chip? Just go with a name brand replacement company (Safelite, for example) and it will be as good as new. Most of the companies around here will come to your home or office, file any insurance paperwork, and most will pay for your deductible (up to $100) if you have one.

          Kurt

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          • #20
            Maybe this has been said, but can't be stressed enough. A hairline crack can become a completely blown out windshield the next time you hit a bump of any kind, or even on a regular drive. Most insurance companies treat this as typical, you pay the deductable (i think comprehensive) and it's an easy fix.

            Do it regardless. You'll always be glad you did.

            I had a deer run into me on the way to Baltimore Inner Harbor and was able to find a glass company open on a Sat afternoon. This could have ruined our trip. I'll never forget seeing the 12 point buck hauling ass across a country road and knowing we were in store for a collision. Sucker bounced off the car (windshield) and kept on going. Resilient thing!
            Those who tell don't know and those who know don't tell....

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