Adding Auto Glass Insurance to Your Coverage

Whether you own a car or a truck, one of the more important (and sometimes expensive) operational factors you have to consider is the election of insurance coverage and payment for your auto insurance premiums. Certain portions of your auto insurance policy - like minimum liability coverage − are dictated by law, depending on your state of residence. Other stakeholders who have interest in your car - such as your loan creditor or guarantor - also may influence what coverage your must have. For example, an auto loan provider may stipulate that you elect coverage that well surpasses state minimums.

What you choose to have covered in your auto insurance policy depends on many other factors over which you may have control. One such coverage option on your insurance policy is glass coverage.

Auto Insurance Glass Coverage Option

The front windshield, side windows and rear windshield comprise the significant portions of glass on your car or truck. While other glass components in your car may include mirror glass and headlight protective glass, repair or replacement of these items may not be covered in your auto insurance policy. Likewise, glass components such as bolt-on off-road headlights or under-bumper fog lights may also not be covered under your auto insurance policy. Check with your auto insurance agent for exceptions or limitations to automotive glass coverage.

For this discussion, let's assume that "glass" means the larger pieces, such as your car or truck windshield.

When to Add Glass Coverage to Your Auto Insurance

If you're considering adding coverage on your auto insurance policy for repair or replacement of glass, there are several factors to keep in mind.

"Real Cost" of Coverage for Glass

While some folks may not bat an eye at purchasing a glass option as an add-on to their automotive insurance policy, it really pays to do a simple cost analysis.

To do this, let's assume that the glass piece that most frequently gets repaired on a car is the front windshield. Call several auto glass repair shops in your vicinity to determine how much replacement for this piece costs. Make certain to get both the cost assuming you would pay for it out-of-pocket as well as the cost if your insurance company covers the replacement. It's not surprising to find a marked difference between the two. More often than not, the cost of the piece (assuming the insurance pays for it) covered by your policy will be higher.

While you may think nothing of passing the bill for a damaged or broken windshield on to your insurance company, be forewarned that your insurance agent may suddenly raise your premiums for several months, and then may just as suddenly lower them. If you add up the increased portions of your premiums together, frequently they add up to the cost of the replacement windshield service. In the end, you are actually not only paying for the replacement glass, but also the premium you pay for glass coverage.

Considering that you may just as easily paid for the glass replacement out of pocket, why even pay for the glass coverage option in you auto insurance policy? While not all insurance agencies provide this questionable treatment, consider the possible "real cost" of glass coverage on the chance your agency does.

Glass Coverage as a Requirement

While insurance coverage for glass is a common coverage option, we live in a growingly expensive and litigious society. There may come a time when glass coverage may become a required coverage.

Road Conditions

Much to some drivers' surprise, road conditions probably have the greatest effect on whether you need to purchase glass insurance.

If you frequently drive on roads that are in poor repair, chances are the road will have relatively more rocks, sand and gravel just waiting to be kicked up by the car in front of you. This debris may hit your car's windshield and cause it to crack, chip or - at the very least - become pitted over time.

With Whom Do You Share The Road?

Likewise, if you drive a road where construction trucks, dump trucks, or similar large vehicles dominate the tarmac, the chances of your vehicle being struck by flying road hazards is elevated.

Your Auto Insurance Policy

Whether you own a car or a truck, one of the more important (and sometimes expensive) operational factors you have to consider is the election of insurance coverage and payment for your auto insurance premiums. Certain portions of your auto insurance policy - like minimum liability coverage − are dictated by law, depending on your state of residence. Other stakeholders who have interest in your car - such as your loan creditor or guarantor - also may influence what coverage your must have. For example, an auto loan provider may stipulate that you elect coverage that well surpasses state minimums.

What you choose to have covered in your auto insurance policy depends on many other factors over which you may have control. One such coverage option on your insurance policy is glass coverage.

Auto Insurance Glass Coverage Option

The front windshield, side windows and rear windshield comprise the significant portions of glass on your car or truck. While other glass components in your car may include mirror glass and headlight protective glass, repair or replacement of these items may not be covered in your auto insurance policy. Likewise, glass components such as bolt-on off-road headlights or under-bumper fog lights may also not be covered under your auto insurance policy. Check with your auto insurance agent for exceptions or limitations to automotive glass coverage.

For this discussion, let's assume that "glass" means the larger pieces, such as your car or truck windshield.

When to Add Glass Coverage to Your Auto Insurance

If you're considering adding coverage on your auto insurance policy for repair or replacement of glass, there are several factors to keep in mind.

"Real Cost" of Coverage for Glass

While some folks may not bat an eye at purchasing a glass option as an add-on to their automotive insurance policy, it really pays to do a simple cost analysis.

To do this, let's assume that the glass piece that most frequently gets repaired on a car is the front windshield. Call several auto glass repair shops in your vicinity to determine how much replacement for this piece costs. Make certain to get both the cost assuming you would pay for it out-of-pocket, as well as the cost if your insurance company covers the replacement. It's not surprising to find a marked difference between the two. More often than not, the cost of the piece (assuming the insurance pays for it) covered by your policy will be higher.

While you may think nothing of passing the bill for a damaged or broken windshield on to your insurance company, be forewarned that your insurance agent may suddenly raise your premiums for several months, and then may just as suddenly lower them. If you add up the increased portions of your premiums together, frequently they add up to the cost of the replacement windshield service. In the end, you are actually not only paying for the replacement glass, but also the premium you pay for glass coverage.

Considering that you may just as easily paid for the glass replacement out of pocket, why even pay for the glass coverage option in you auto insurance policy? While not all insurance agencies provide this questionable treatment, consider the possible "real cost" of glass coverage on the chance your agency does.

Glass Coverage as a Requirement

While insurance coverage for glass is greatly considered a coverage option, we live in a growingly expensive and litigious society. There may come a time when glass coverage may become a required coverage.

Road Conditions

Much to some drivers' surprise, road conditions probably have the greatest effect upon whether you need to purchase glass insurance.

If you frequently drive on roads that are in poor repair, chances are the road will have relatively more rocks, sand, and gravel just waiting to be kicked up by the car in front of you. This debris may hit your car's windshield and cause it to crack, chip, or - at the very least - become pitted over time.

With Whom Do You Share The Road?

Likewise, if you drive a road where construction trucks, dump trucks, or similar large vehicles dominate the tarmac, the chances of your vehicle being struck by flying road hazards is elevated.