Damage to the windshield of a car by rocks and gravel is more common than you think, and its impact can chip or break your glass. In fact, in Canada, a million windshields get replaced annually. If your windshield cracks or shatters, is that damage covered by insurance?
Whether or not damage to your windows is covered by insurance depends on several factors, including the cause and severity of damage, and the specifics of your insurance policy.
Does automobile insurance cover glass repair?
If you have comprehensive coverage, specified perils, or all perils, your coverage automatically includes glass coverage. Comprehensive coverage has a deductible on a policy, typically $500 or $1000.
So, if the windshield is cracked and needs to be fully replaced, your deductible kicks in. Let's say your deductible is $500, and the windshield repair costs $700. You pay $500, and your insurance company will pay the rest. However, if you have a $1,000 deductible and the windshield repair costs $700, there would be no coverage by the insurance company.
The severity of the damage also factors into your coverage. If it’s just a minor stone chip that can be filled in, the deductible wouldn’t apply, and the insurance company may cover the entire cost of repair. But if the whole windshield is damaged and needs to be replaced, then the deductible does apply.
Insurance coverage also depends on the how damage occurred, whether by fire, theft, vandalism, or collision, and if the claimant is at-fault.
The Limited Glass Coverage endorsement
One type of auto insurance policy endorsement is the Limited or Restricting Glass Coverage endorsement, which provides limited insurance coverage for the front glass of a vehicle in exchange for lower premiums.
Here’s what you need to know about the Limited Glass Coverage endorsement:
Ontario Policy Change Form – OPCF 13C
The endorsement is known as the Ontario Policy Change Form (OPCF) 13C in Ontario, and it restricts comprehensive coverage to the front glass of your vehicle. It stipulates that you are covered for loss or damage to glass caused by fire, theft, vandalism, natural calamities like hail or earthquake, civil disturbances, and damage caused to the vehicle while transporting it through land or water. However, damage to the front glass of a vehicle caused by rocks or other debris is not included.
Alberta Standard Endorsement Form – SEF 13D
The Limited Glass endorsement is also known as the Standard Endorsement Form (SEF) 13D in Alberta and other provinces. Drivers in Alberta generally file more glass claims than in Ontario due to the hail and severe weather conditions out west. The SEF 13D stipulates that you are covered for loss or damage to glass caused by fire, theft, vandalism, natural calamities like windstorm, earthquake, or hail, and civil disturbances, and damage caused to the vehicle while transporting it through land or water. It also covers your vehicle in the event of damage caused by vandalism to windows other than the front window.
When do insurance companies impose the Glass Coverage endorsement?
In most situations, the Limited Glass Coverage endorsement reduces a driver’s auto insurance premium slightly. While it differs from insurance provider to provider, the premium for comprehensive or specific perils coverage could go down by up to 10%.
The endorsement restricts coverage because a customer might have had too many glass claims in the past — say, two glass claims in the past three years. In that case, the insurance company might want to put restrictions on claims.
The restriction on coverage applies to rock or debris that hits the vehicle. But if the windshield were to be damaged in a collision, then the insurance provider may cover it.
One thing to consider is the severity of the damage – if it’s a stone chip that costs less than $100, a driver might be better off paying for those repairs out of pocket to reduce the number of claims on their record.
In either case, there are options to reduce your auto insurance premiums – speaking to an insurance broker or comparing prices on Insurance Hotline.
