Having a chipped windscreen can be scary, particularly if it turns into a crack that starts to spread across your field of vision.
The first thing to do when you notice a chip or crack in your windscreen is to act. The quicker you do something, the easier it will be to repair it rather than having to replace the entire screen.
Here’s what to do…
Dig out your paperwork
First of all, you need to check your car insurance documents.
The way insurers treat windscreens can vary from company to company, but the majority cover replacement windscreens or repairs. Most insurers have preferred companies they use to repair damaged windscreens for their customers. For example, Direct Line use Autoglass.
The Devil is in the detail
Some insurers don’t charge any excess (the amount of money you pay towards the claim) as long as you use their preferred windscreen company. Some will charge excess for replacements but not repairs. Others will make you pay the excess whoever you go to and whatever you've done.
Of course, the excess varies from company to company. With some insurers, the excess can be so high it’s cheaper to pay from your own pocket. This is why it’s important to check your insurance policy before you contact any windscreen companies directly.
Windscreen cover is a good thing
Windscreen repair companies are used to dealing with insurers, and it’s in their interest for you to use their services. So, they’re on your side and will usually help to smooth the process.
If your insurance doesn’t cover windscreen repair or replacement, you may be pleasantly surprised at how affordable a small or simple repair can be. But if your car has features such as rain-sensing windscreen wipers, or a heated or panoramic windscreen, the cost of a replacement can be high.
Will windscreen repair affect your insurance price or No Claim Discount?
It’s worth mentioning you’ve made a windscreen claim when an insurer asks if you’ve used your insurance, because technically you have.
How they then use that information depends entirely on individual insurers. Some will take a year off your No Claim Discount if you’ve made a windscreen claim, some might increase your next premium. Others won’t be in the slightest bit interested.
Do you need to have a stone chip repaired?
No matter how small a chip in a windscreen is, it will need repairing. This is because any imperfection is a weakness in the windscreen’s surface.
According to Autoglass, the windscreen provides up to 30% of a car’s structural strength. As a lot of force goes through it, particularly over rough roads, a chip can develop into a crack at any point. While chips can be repaired, cracks can’t - so it’s potentially a lot cheaper to have windscreen damage assessed and fixed promptly before it deteriorates.
How do windscreen repair services work?
To repair a chipped windscreen, the technician cleans the area then fills it with a clear resin that has a similar optical property to glass. This enables you to see through it, prevents dirt or moisture getting in and vibrations affecting it... all of which can cause the screen to crack.
If you have car insurance with Direct Line and need to repair or make a claim for your damaged windscreen, our partners at Autoglass will handle it all for you.
