Driving with a cracked windshield is dangerous. If not repaired quickly, it will soon worsen and cost you more in the long run. When your windshield gets damaged, you have the option of making an insurance claim. For you to make the claim, you must first have a comprehensive policy that covers auto glass replacement and repair.
Insurance policies require that you pay a deductible, an out-of-pocket amount to cover repair costs before you are reimbursed.
But, is it worth it paying a deductible for auto glass repair?
Here are a few scenarios which will help you make that decision.
Scenario 1: Your Deductible is Significantly Less than Repair Cost.
Though rare, this is the ideal scenario. Here it makes a lot of sense to make the claim as your insurer will pay you the difference.
Scenario 2: The Cost of Deductible is Slightly Less than the Cost of Repair
It may not make much sense to make the claim as the money to be reimbursed will be insignificant.
In such a case, you may hesitate to claim because you think that such a claim will mar your records leading to bigger premiums in future.
Fortunately, things do not have to be this way. Have a look at other possible scenarios.
Scenario 3: The Cost of Deductible is Significantly Higher than the Cost of Repair
This is the worst case scenario. If for example, your cost of repair is $300 and the deductible is $500, it will appear that you lose $200 by paying the deductible.
This is the scenario you have probably heard, repeated over and over. Unfortunately, this is not necessarily true.
Some insurance policies have a provision for rolling over the difference, $200 in this case, to cover future deductibles.
At the end of the day you'll lose nothing if you make the claim and $500 if you don't make the claim. Do the math.
Scenario 4: No deductible
Some states and some insurance companies will cover your auto glass repair with no deductible. Typically such companies will cover repair and not replacement. However, you must have comprehensive insurance and full auto glass coverage
So you see, you don't have to drive around with a cracked windshield. What you need to do to benefit from your auto glass cover is to get a policy with a low or zero deductible.
Alternatively, find one that rolls over your deductible to your future premiums so that you make no loss. Above all, put your safety first and have that crack repaired.
Share27 February 2018
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