Does Auto Glass Claim Affect Your Insurance?

You may not know, but auto glass or windshield damage generates more insurance claims than any other car part. This is why you should choose auto insurance that covers auto glass damages. And if you already have an insurance policy like that…good for you!

However, in case your auto glass or windshield gets damaged, filing a claim with your insurance might not be the best option, and here’s why.

Claims Might Affect Your Insurance Rates

Every time you file an auto insurance claim, your insurance provider has the option of increasing your rates. Yes, this can also happen even if you submit a claim for auto glass repairs or replacement.

Even though, it’s highly unlikely that one claim will mean higher rates. But as the number of claims grows, so will your insurance rate. Think of it this way. You are becoming a liability to the insurance provider so he might want to take necessary precautions.

If this is your first claim, and you’re the one at fault for your damaged auto glass/windshield, it is pretty likely that even one single claim will raise your insurance rate. This is, as we mentioned before because you present a higher level of liability and risk to the insurance company.

Discuss the Options with Your Insurance Provider

Not all insurance providers will increase your insurance rate because of a filed insurance claim and some might not be so open and forward about it. In case you’re not 100% sure, we highly recommend that you contact your insurance agent and ask them directly, whether or not, will insurance claims have a negative impact on your insurance rates.

With some insurance companies, the claims won’t affect your rates right away, but in the future. These are all important questions you need to have answered so that you don’t run into any surprises when you want to renew your policy. You’ll know exactly what to expect.

When Should You Apply for An Auto Glass Insurance Claim?

Filing an auto glass insurance claim sometimes might be a smart move, and sometimes it might not. Naturally, the final decision whether you want to file a claim or not is yours to make. If you decide not to file a claim, then you will have to pay for the repairs or replacement from your pocket, but even then, that might be a better option. You will pay a bit more once, instead of risking paying higher insurance rates monthly.

The same goes if the damage isn’t significant enough and the repairs won’t cost as much in order to meet your deductible. In that case, you don’t even need to think about filing a claim since the insurance provider won’t pay for it.

In line with the stipulations on your policy, you can file an insurance claim for the following scenarios:

Small chips and cracks – If the damage isn’t significant enough e.g. smaller than a one-dollar bill, your insurance company might waiver your deductible and cover the expenses for you if you decided to go for a repair rather than a complete replacement.

Another one’s fault – If your auto glass or windshield sustained damage that is a fault of someone else’s reckless driving, his/her insurance should cover your damages too. In this case, you won’t need to file a claim with your insurance provider. However, make sure that you get the other driver’s insurance information.

Accident forgiveness – Some insurance providers offer accident forgiveness as part of their policy. IF you’ve selected this as part of your insurance policy, there’s a chance that your insurance rate won’t increase even if you file a claim and when you’re at fault It is best to consult with your insurance provider to know exactly what are the terms.