Have you ever had that moment driving down the road, minding your own business, when out of the blue, “A rock hits your windshield!!!” It’s happened to most of us if we have been driving long. Your eyes quickly scan for damage. You think you are in the clear, but then, you see it!  The chip! Or even worse, a HUGE crack!  After a brief on-set of rage toward the driver in front of you, your focus quickly changes to:
How much will this cost, or how long will this take? Will I need a new windshield, or can this be an easy repair? Don’t fret; There is good news!  A chip or a crack in your windshield does not always mean you have to replace it completely.  Most windshield repair shops can fix chips as large as a quarter or a crack as long as 3 inches. Cool, huh?

Some insurance companies will waive the deductible and pay for the repair if you have comprehensive coverage. Since repairs are cheaper than the replacement of a windshield. Does the deductible apply? The deductible is the portion of a covered loss for which you are responsible, i.e., what you pay out of pocket first before the insurance pays their amount.

If you have purchased comprehensive coverage on your vehicle, you might not have to pay anything. Most car insurance companies waive the deductible for just the repair. Sounds great! But remember, this is only for repairs, not replacements. If you need to have your windshield replaced, the deductible will apply.  But, there’s still some good news.  In a lot of instances, if you let the windshield company know that you are not going to file a claim, most companies will replace your windshield for less than your deductible.  If the cost of replacement is less than the deductible, you can still protect your claims-free discount.

So remember: Make sure you have comprehensive coverage on your vehicle, and talk to the windshield company about lowering replacement costs based upon your deductible if they can’t just repair your current windshield!