That “Free” Windshield Could Cost You Big Money

A rock flies up from the highway and hits your windshield, chipping it. You’ve heard that if you have full coverage auto insurance, you can get your windshield repaired or replaced for free. Is this true? And if so, are there any drawbacks?

Florida is one of a few states in which windshield repair or replacement is covered with no deductible if your auto insurance policy includes comprehensive coverage. However, it’s often not in your best interest to make a claim on your auto insurance to fix your windshield. Here’s why:

It counts as a claim on your car insurance, and this could make your car insurance premiums go up—probably even more than what it would cost to pay for the windshield repair yourself!

Don’t lose a big discount over a small claim

One of the largest discounts auto insurance companies offer is a claim-free discount. The longer you go without any claims, the bigger the discount. If you make a claim—even if it’s only an auto glass claim—you’ll lose that discount. This can affect your auto insurance premium rate for years to come!

We pass this information on to you because we want to help you keep your auto insurance rates as low as possible. We see clients all the time who are paying hundreds of dollars more every six months for auto insurance premiums because they’ve made one or more auto glass claims.  

So what should you do? In many cases, if your windshield gets chipped, you can get it fixed before a crack begins to spider, often for less than $100. You’ll most likely save a lot of money if you fix the chip before it becomes a major crack and the whole windshield needs to be replaced.  

If you have a major crack in your windshield, of course you should have it fixed. A cracked windshield may impair your ability to see what’s around you, and police officers can pull you over and ticket you if they think your windshield poses a safety hazard. Before you make a claim, weigh the benefits against what it could do to the cost of your car insurance.

If you decide to make a windshield claim, contact your auto insurance company and follow their instructions.

Call Lakewood Financial Services for your auto insurance needs

If you have questions about your car insurance, or you need a car insurance quote, please call one of the agents at Lakewood Financial Services at 941-747-4600 (or click here to contact us online). We are an independent insurance agency working with multiple auto insurance companies, so we can help you find the most cost-effective coverage for your needs. Lakewood Financial Services has been in business since 2003, serving Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota and surrounding communities.