Anyone had to have their windshield replaced? A huge rock put a nice crack in mine yesterday , and I am worried about availability of the windshield. Hopefully it won't be too hard. By the way, do some insurance companies pay for the first windshield replacement free?
Aaron

 

Can't you get the crack filled instead?

 

You need to act quick. As long as the crack can be covered by a quarter, companies CAN repair it. If you wait and expose it to changing temperatures e.g. wash the car then put it in the sun (cold - hot), then the crack will grow and you need a new windshield.

This happened to me - I waited too long.

In the S.F. Bay Area the cheapest windshield replacement was $350 by some aftermarket company. I drove to Las Vegas and got a new one for $180 all included.

There are differences whether they use the molding again or not should cost you ~$30 for a new molding - in my case they could reuse the existing molding.

And I would not use insurance on that. Your rate will go up and it's not worth it (isn't there a $250 or $500 deductible?)

Good luck! Get it fixed for much less while it is a small crack!!!

Peter

 

I got a separate insurance policy for glass... so it wouldn't affect my regular car insurance premium. It's just a matter of time til I get a stone chip from the roads I drive on to work.

 

Glass breakage is covered under comprehensive, not collision. There will be no increase in your premiums. Remember, you didn't hit anyone or anything. Something came out of the sky and broke your window.

It used to be and may still be true that glass replacement is 100% covered by the insurer in 48 states when the break/crack affects your vehicle safety/operation. Virginia and North Carolina (or was it South Carolina) had a $100 deductible. If your policy was written in another state and you later moved to one of these, 100% coverage continued.

 

My windshield was replaced about two weeks ago (as was my hood, due to an unfortunate encounter with a rather large chunk of freeway debris). The auto body place had no trouble obtaining a replacement windshield. Good luck!

 

Well, I have called multiple large, nationwide glass places and all have told me they can only get the windshield from the dealer, with prices with installation ranging from 600 to 800!!! Now I wish I could get the 400 dollar one mentioned above at least. What company was that? Any help would be greatly appreciated for any sources or places to call. Thanks,
Aaron

 

Just got a price from Elite Autoglass for $485.00 installed. Sourced from Mazda Dealer wait is two weeks.

It was a small chip so I had it repaired. Not too bad, I notice it but I don't think anyone else would. There are a couple of other nicks so I decided to wait until it gets worse before I replace it. A new one will get damaged just as easily!

Please make sure you get a good installation!

 

Use your INSURANCE, that's why you have it! Your rates won't go up. I've had 3 windshields replaced on various cars. If you don't have insurance, you shouldn't be on the road in the first place.