Rock chips can be an expensive and tedious repair for drivers, so it’s good to know whether or not your insurance helps cover a rock chip repair.
Driving a car comes with countless benefits. Between independence, convenience, and enjoying the open road, there are a lot of reasons to love driving. However, the unfortunate reality of driving an automobile is the potential for accidents, large or small. Despite how casual driving on the road might feel, it really does mean risking it all.
Damage to your car is nearly unavoidable, but hopefully, it’s nothing too serious, like a rock chip on your windshield. While not ideal, it’s definitely better than another type of accident, like a totaled vehicle accompanied by a hospital visit.
In the grand scheme of things, a rock chip is a good problem to have (thinking about everything that could go wrong, that is). But that doesn’t take away from how tedious and pricey it can be. You drive your car, which means you pay for car insurance, and taking advantage of those benefits whenever possible is ideal. So, does car insurance cover the cost of a rock chip repair?
Continue reading to find out more.
What Is a Rock Chip?
A rock chip is a type of windshield damage (or on another window on your car) that occurs when a small stone, debris, or another flying object hits your windshield and causes a small piece of glass to chip off of the windshield, leaving behind a small chip in the glass.
Not all rock chips are the same; they can come in all shapes and sizes. Unfortunately, not all rock chips can be repaired. The repairability depends on the chip’s size, shape, and location on your windshield.
Does Insurance Cover a Rock Chip on Your Windshield?
Unfortunately, we can’t offer you a black-and-white answer to this question. It depends on your specific insurance policy, and since details and terms vary from policy to policy, sometimes it’s covered, and other times it’s not.
If you have comprehensive coverage, then many policies will cover auto glass repair and full windshield replacements. Depending on your insurance provider, if your glass can be repaired rather than replaced, then oftentimes, policyholders won’t have to pay anything!
What To Do If You Have Windshield Damage
If your windshield gets cracked or chipped, you should file a comprehensive claim as soon as possible and before proceeding with repairs. We tell you to wait to take it in for repairs until after you’ve filed a claim, only because some insurance companies want to send someone to see the damage or have you send photographs or video footage. Repairing the damage first could result in voiding your qualifying for insurance coverage.
If your windshield breaks, you should file a claim with your insurance provider as soon as possible and before you take it in for repair. If the damage happens while you’re driving, pull over as soon as it’s safe and report your claim immediately.
While we tell you to wait to get repairs, you should immediately file a claim before the damage occurs to your windshield. The longer you wait to repair your windshield or window, the more likely the chip or crack will worsen. Because it doesn’t take long or much for the issue to worsen, it’s best to take action quickly to avoid further damage to your windshield or window.
What About Windshield Replacement?
Similar to rock chips, car insurance policyholders must have comprehensive coverage in most situations to cover a broken or cracked windshield or another type of glass damage. Collision coverage, a type of insurance not required by law, often applies in an accident with another vehicle.
Comprehensive Insurance: If your windshield becomes damaged due to falling debris, flying objects, hitting an animal, or another peril, then comprehensive coverage typically covers the cost of repair or replacement.
Collision Insurance: If your windshield is damaged due to a car crash, this type of coverage generally covers the damage, not your comprehensive coverage.
The Other Driver’s Insurance: If your windshield becomes damaged in a car crash, and the other driver is at fault, you can file a claim against their car insurance to cover the costs of repairing or replacing your windshield.
How Much Does It Cost to Repair a Damaged Windshield?
Repairing a rock chip on your windshield costs a lot less than replacing it. That’s because the cost to repair your glass windshield generally depends on how much repair is necessary. In contrast, the price to replace a windshield can vary based on several factors, such as:
- The year, make, and model of your car.
- Where you live.
- The type of glass used.
Remember that depending on your state’s car insurance requirements and your specific policy, if you file an insurance glass claim, the most you’ll need to pay is your deductible. Your insurance provider should cover the rest of the cost if the damage qualifies for insurance coverage.
Some state laws waive deductibles for broken or damaged windshields, such as Florida’s windshield replacement law if the driver has comprehensive coverage.
Should I Use My Insurance to Repair or Replace My Windshield?
Generally speaking, it is worth filing a claim for windshield damage if the repair cost is higher than your automobile insurance deductible. Even then, it may be worth it to you and your family to begin meeting your deductible by putting money towards it with the repair. For example, if your windshield replacement costs $500 and your deductible is $300, you will only pay $300, and your insurance company will pick up the remaining $200.
Will Filing a Windshield Claim Affect My Insurance Premium?
Any time you file a car insurance claim, even for windshield repair or replacement, your insurance company can increase your monthly rate. While a single claim may not cause a spike in your rates, several claims could. Generally speaking, the more claims you file, the greater your chances of increasing your monthly bill.
If the damage to your windshield was your fault, even if it’s your first claim, there’s a good chance your premium will increase. That’s because, in the insurance company’s eyes, you present a greater monetary risk for them.
After all, insurance is a business, and just as a low credit score will earn an individual a higher loan interest rate, a history of being irresponsible will earn a person a higher insurance bill. Why? Because it costs more to take on a great financial risk to the lender.
So, will your insurance premium increase after filing a windshield claim? It might, but it also may not. It varies between insurance providers, so chat with yours to learn more details.
What Do I Do if My Insurance Doesn’t Cover Glass Damage?
If your automobile insurance doesn’t cover a rock chip repair or a windshield replacement, you should still get the repairs done. Many states have laws that prevent drivers from driving with a damaged windshield. Moreover, you’re putting yourself and your passengers at greater risk. Not only is it more difficult to see out of a cracked windshield and drive safely, but it is also more likely to break and shatter if something else were to hit it, potentially causing injury.
State Inspections and Cracked Windshields
If your state requires vehicle safety inspections (most do not, but Utah does!), you may pass if your windshield has only minor damage. However, inspection requirements vary significantly from state to state and can be highly specific. For example, Utah’s laws state that driving a car with a windshield chip, crack, or other defect obscuring the driver’s vision, such as damage larger than a penny within a certain area on the windshield, is unlawful.
Even if your car does pass the safety inspection with a damaged windshield, it should still be repaired. Windshields are an essential safety feature of your car, and even the most minor damage to it could become a major safety hazard if left unprepared.
Count on Utah Mobile Auto Glass For Your Rock Chip Repair Services
Whether your insurance covers a rock chip repair, Utah Mobile Auto Glass is here to help.
Our team of trusted glass technicians will ensure you receive the highest quality work in the industry with a smile. Our exceptional service keeps our customers coming back.
Have car insurance? We will gladly work with them to see if you qualify for free or low-cost repairs. We offer free mobile service on your windshield repair and replacement for all customers within 25 miles of our Sandy location. So, if you’re in Bountiful, Salt Lake City, Lehi, or a neighboring area, we can help!
Contact Utah Mobile Auto Glass today to learn more.
