Have you ever had that moment driving down the road, minding your own business, when out of the blue… “A rock hits your windshield!!!” Your eyes quickly scan for damage. You think you are in the clear, but then, you see it!  A chip! Or even worse, a HUGE crack!  After a brief on-set of rage toward the driver in front of you, your mind quickly changes to: How much will this cost? How long will this take? Do I need a new windshield? Or will this be an easy repair?

 
But don’t fret.  There is good news!  A chip or a crack in your windshield does not always mean you have to completely replace it.  Most windshield repair shops can fix chips as large as a quarter or a crack as long as 3 inches. Cool, huh?
 
Since repairs are cheaper than replacements, some insurance companies will waive the deductible and pay for the repair if you have comprehensive coverage.  Waive the deductible?  What does that mean for me?  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 steps in.  If you have purchased comprehensive coverage on your vehicle, you won’t pay anything.  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.  This means you still have great coverage in case something hits your car that’s a little bigger than a rock.
 
So remember: Make sure you have comprehensive coverage on your car, and talk to the windshield company about lowering replacement costs based upon your deductible if they can’t just repair your current windshield!