Covering Your Windshield Replacement Costs with a Comprehensive Auto Insurance Policy

Your car’s windshield can get damaged because of multiple reasons that you have no control over. For instance, a tree branch may fall on it, an errant ball could crack it, or a rock could hit the windscreen while you’re driving on a gravel road.
Now, getting a windshield replacement can mean shelling out a lot of money. But if you’ve got a comprehensive auto insurance policy, the insurer bears the expenses.

What is a Comprehensive Auto Insurance Policy?
In India, it is mandatory to get third-party liability insurance when you buy a four-wheeler. However, you can enhance protection to your vehicle with a comprehensive auto insurance policy. Under comprehensive car insurance, any damage caused to your car’s windscreen can be fixed without you having to cough up money out of your pocket.
However, in case of an accident, expenditure related to your car’s windshield replacement will not be reimbursed if you only have the basic third-party liability insurance. Nonetheless, after filing a claim, if you are able to prove that the accident was the opposite party’s fault, then all your expenses will be covered by the third-party insurer.

Expenses Covered under this Policy
A comprehensive auto insurance policy reimburses the expenses of a windshield replacement or repair, only when the reason for the damage is covered under the policy. So, while purchasing the insurance you should examine the policy’s terms and conditions very closely as some insurers only pay for the repair of the chipped or broken windshield, while others cover windshield replacement charges too.
Furthermore, understand the fact that if you only have the third-party liability insurance and don’t have the comprehensive car policy, you’ll have to pay for the expenses yourself.

Types of Windscreen Damages Covered under the Policy
A comprehensive auto insurance policy mostly covers all the overheads. There are various causes due to which your windscreen may get damaged leading to a windshield replacement. These reasons are classified into two categories – collision and non-collision. All of them are mentioned in the policy’s terms and conditions section. So, read the documents carefully before proceeding.
Damage due to collision includes getting into an accident and affecting your vehicle in the process.
However, the reasons for the non-collision category can be many. For instance, trees or branches falling on the windscreen, pebbles, rocks, or debris falling on the windscreen while driving, a hailstorm or torrential rains damaging the windshield, collision with animals, acts of vandalism, burglary, etc.

How to Register a Claim for the Damaged Car Windshield?
Getting a windshield replacement or repair can cost you bucket loads of money. The more expensive your car, the more expensive a new windshield may be. So, you should contact your insurer without any hesitation and inform them about the damage in order to file a claim.
There are various options to report - writing an application or submitting the claim online. If your windscreen was damaged by someone, it will be categorized under acts of vandalism and hence, you will have to file an FIR first at your nearest police station. Only then can you register a claim.
Proceeding further, you should take your vehicle to one of the cashless service centres that your insurer has a tie-up with to utilise the cashless facilities available there. The professionals will analyse the damage and suggest whether you should get the chips repaired or you should have the windscreen replaced depending upon the severity of the damage. In either of the situations, your insurer will bear the expenses as mentioned in the policy.
If you want to avail of the services at a different service centre of your choice, you can take your car there too. However, in that scenario, you will have to pay for the services. Then while registering the claim, you will have to submit the bills along with other official documents that the insurance company requires in order to proceed further.

Cost of Deductibles versus Repair Charges
A deductible is a sum that you need to pay for your windshield replacement to the service centre prior to the insurer’s reimbursement. So, to benefit from the insurance, you should compare the cost of repair or replacement with the amount that you’ll have to shell out as deductible. If the approximate cost of replacement is higher than that of the deductibles, then you should refrain from filing a claim.
Moreover, it is unsafe to drive with a broken windscreen. So, in order to have a windshield replacement, you can turn to AIS Windshield Experts. Here, we have top-notch professionals who provide optimum solutions to all your windscreen woes in accordance with international safety standards. Also, you can have your car insured by one of our partner insurance companies, which provide cashless services and a smooth experience.