Anyone have experience with insurance windsheild replacement claims?

[sattech2000]

99 Explorer, have a couple of big cracks in my windsheild and was thinking about claiming it under my progressive insurance coverage but have always been against making any claims for fear of rates being jacked up or getting involved in a huge paperwork mess. Anyone have any experience or advice with this? Truck is licensed and insured in Indiana.

Also, I don't have a lot of knowledge about ylass but I would swear mine has a green tint to it from the factory. Will the replacements also have that?

 

[96eb96]

In NY (and most states) Glass claims are their own category and generally do not result in a rate increase (I mean, they expect you to make a claim every few years, and your rates will not go up, as long as it don't happen every few months!). Only at fault claims result in rate hikes. Even there there is a $2000 small claim forgiveness cutoff in NY.

Those claims are usually handled by a 3rd party when you select the option to make the claim. The glass for our trucks is still available from Ford, you could probably request OEM (The price isn't that bad). The replacement they use should be pretty much identical though. Unless you have a newer car with cameras that read the lane markings any glass should be fine.

 

[koda2000]

I've had Sate Farm auto insurance for many years. When I lived in CT I had several windshield claims, which they covered. I don't recall my rates going up, but I wasn't really worried about it. Since I moved to GA I've inquired about 2 windshield claims and was told that State Farm doesn't cover windshields... ? Maybe you have to have a special rider for glass?

At any rate, to pay around $200 to have a new windshield installed doesn't seen like that big of a deal to me. I'd rather pay that then risk my rates increasing. They increase all by themselves every year w/out me having any claims (thanks to those of you who text and drive, or are distracted by other things you shouldn't do while driving).

 

[96eb96]

BTW, I have progressive, and it is a $50 glass deductible(different from other coverage). That is the best you can do in NY with them. Some companies cover it with no deductible. In some states from what I understand it is Mandatory - they must cover everyone and pay the full replacement.

I believe that if there is a legitimate occasional claim, go for it. That is my opinion. That is exactly what insurance is for. If you don't intend on doing that, why keep the glass coverage?

Check your declarations page. BTW, insurance companies can't "just raise rates," there are conditions they file with the state. It may not even be legal to do so for such a claim. They may file for increases every year, and they may get them, get a partial increase, or get denied.

Finally, if you are with a company more than a few years, you should probably shop around. There is a "Honeymoon" period and then rates start to rise. Companies also give lower rates to new business. Loyalty means very little. You may be paying hundreds more!

 

[koda2000]

BTW, I have progressive, and it is a $50 glass deductible(different from other coverage). That is the best you can do in NY with them. Some companies cover it with no deductible. In some states from what I understand it is Mandatory - they must cover everyone and pay the full replacement.

I believe that if there is a legitimate occasional claim, go for it. That is my opinion. That is exactly what insurance is for. If you don't intend on doing that, why keep the glass coverage?

Check your declarations page. BTW, insurance companies can't "just raise rates," there are conditions they file with the state. It may not even be legal to do so for such a claim. They may file for increases every year, and they may get them, get a partial increase, or get denied.

Finally, if you are with a company more than a few years, you should probably shop around. There is a "Honeymoon" period and then rates start to rise. Companies also give lower rates to new business. Loyalty means very little. You may be paying hundreds more!

Every year or two I check to make sure I can't save money using a different insurance co. They all say things like "we can save you an average of 15% over what you're paying" but so far nobody can come close to what I'm paying State Farm for combined homeowner's and multiple car insurance. Plus my county is building a new fire station about a mile from my house, which should drop my homeowner's insurance significantly. At my current age my auto insurance is as low as it's going to be for the next 10 years or so, then (assuming i'm still alive and driving) it will begin to increase.

 

[lobo411]

The real question is: why are you guys wasting $$ on comprehensive coverage on 20+ year old vehicles?

 

[koda2000]

The real question is: why are you guys wasting $$ on comprehensive coverage on 20+ year old vehicles?

I'm not, but a glass rider might me worth it. IDK. Depends where you drive I guess. I'm thinking about replacing the windshield in my 2001 Eddie B. because it's sandblasted and hazy, which is particularly noticeable when driving into the sun. I had one put in my '01 ST a couple of years ago and (as I rarely drive on the hwy) it's still perfect. It's the rest of the ST that's a POS. My Eddie B. on the other hand is nearly perfect except for the windshield. It annoys me every time I drive it. I have a thing about clear glass.

 

[lobo411]

I'm not, but a glass rider might me worth it. IDK. Depends where you drive I guess. I'm thinking about replacing the windshield in my 2001 Eddie B. because it's sandblasted and hazy, which is particularly noticeable when driving into the sun. I had one put in my '01 ST a couple of years ago and (as I rarely drive on the hwy) it's still perfect. It's the rest of the ST that's a POS. My Eddie B. on the other hand is nearly perfect except for the windshield. It annoys me every time I drive it. I have a thing about clear glass.

True...I forgot that insurance terms vary by state/company. I have AAA in CA, and glass coverage is only included if you buy comprehensive.

I thought about having mine redone, but it's a losing battle out here. There's a gravel quarry on one side of town, a sand quarry on the other side of town....and the Highway Patrol can't be bothered to enforce the law that says that rock trucks have to cover their loads!

 

[429CJ-3X2]

We replaced the windshield on an Aerostar a few years ago - without insurance - and it wasn't all that expensive. I think even the cut-rate glass shops like we used do their best to match the factory glass.

I have full coverage on my 93,000 mile '02 Sport Trac because it's only an extra $20 a month in my case (something like $35-40 a month total). It helps that we have 4 vehicles - '02 ST, '01 ST, '98 Escort, and '97 Mountaineer - and 4 houses insured with Farm Bureau. The '02 is the only one with anything more than liability. The Escort and Mountaineer are nice enough and low mileage, but just don't have the value to warrant full coverage. It also helps that I'm 62 years old, and a lifelong Farm Bureau member with very few claims - and those were decades ago.

 

[koda2000]

We replaced the windshield on an Aerostar a few years ago - without insurance - and it wasn't all that expensive. I think even the cut-rate glass shops like we used do their best to match the factory glass.

I have full coverage on my 93,000 mile '02 Sport Trac because it's only an extra $20 a month in my case (something like $35-40 a month total). It helps that we have 4 vehicles - '02 ST, '01 ST, '98 Escort, and '97 Mountaineer - and 4 houses insured with Farm Bureau. The '02 is the only one with anything more than liability. The Escort and Mountaineer are nice enough and low mileage, but just don't have the value to warrant full coverage. It also helps that I'm 62 years old, and a lifelong Farm Bureau member with very few claims - and those were decades ago.

Good point that you have full coverage on the '02 Sport Trac. The ST's tend to be worth quite a bit more than the 2DR and 4DR models, even with the SOHC engine (sometimes as much as double).

 

[Jason94sport]

As in all the posts...it varies state to state. In FL it's included with basic insurance. No need for anything extra. While not on the X I have had 2 replaced on cars. Both were done by safelite. Both the people came to my job & did it there. Never had leaks or anything. Glass is glass. Unless there's a defect. It's my understanding only a handful manufactures make windshield glass & then resell it to X company.

 

[koda2000]

As in all the posts...it varies state to state. In FL it's included with basic insurance. No need for anything extra. While not on the X I have had 2 replaced on cars. Both were done by safelite. Both the people came to my job & did it there. Never had leaks or anything. Glass is glass. Unless there's a defect. It's my understanding only a handful manufactures make windshield glass & then resell it to X company.

Yeah the guy that did the windshield on my ST used to work for Safelite, so he knew how to do it right. From my experiences I have to agree, glass is glass unless there's a defect. It doesn't need to say FoMoCo on it.

 

[429CJ-3X2]

It's my understanding only a handful manufactures ......

This is true with almost everything.

 

[toypaseo]

When I had full coverage, my deductibles were set higher, so getting my windshield replaced was cheaper out of pocket. So, I asked my insurance company for a glass company recommendation, which was a bad one, but that's a different story. I requested PPG, Pilkington, or Carlite. I got PPG.

I personally don't like Safelite windshields. I had one 30 years ago, and it cracked from a smaller rock within a year. It was the cheapest one I could find, but I went for another brand after that. Are Safelite ones better now, probably. Will I get one, probably not.