Windscreen chip repair

[Zeek]

Anyone know how this works? (Zollar - your input here is appreciated;) ) Most, or all insurers offer it for 'free', encouraging you to get it repaired before it cracks. There's usually nothing to pay which is great.... but is it? Who pays? Although I have no claim to disclose, will the chip repair have a bearing on next years renewal premium? Will they just bung the 35 quid onto the premium, and I'll pay for it then?

I'm trying to work out if I should just get them to fix the chip, or if I'd be better off, or the same, just calling a decent glass company to come and do it for whatever their fee is.

Cheers!

[crankedup]

Check your insurance company offer the repair F.O.C. to yourself.
Check it will not affect your N.C.D. (virtually all will not be affected)
Get it fixed pronto.
Shop around next time insurance is due.

Standard stuff nowadays.

[Zeek]

crankedup said:

Check your insurance company offer the repair F.O.C. to yourself.
Check it will not affect your N.C.D. (virtually all will not be affected)

They do, and it does... but not affecting your no claims discount is an entirely different prospect to not having an effect on the premium for next year. I don't care if I still get a 50% discount if the premium has risen £100 due to a chip repair claim which was 'free' to me at the time.

[AJB]

I think it really is free, and doesn't affect no claims, renewal premium, etc. I've had a few done. In terms of who pays, the insurer does. The reason being that it's cheaper for them to pay for a cheap repair now than for you to wait until the chip has become an unrepairable crack, and then them having to pay for a new windscreen.

They're not invisible though, in my experience, despite the claims. Do seem to work in terms of stopping chips spreading though.

[AJB]

A no fault accident, on the other hand, definitely does increase your premium even though it doesn't affect no claims bonus. Even a no-fault accident for a named driver, which didn't even result in a claim on their insurance (claimed directly from 3rd party). That one annoyed me!

[Zeek]

Yeah, that's my worry. They'll take every opportunity to load the premium, and call me a cynic, but I didn't think they would be doing it out of the kindness of their hearts. I suppose it makes sense if it is truly a cost-avoidance exercise to prevent having to pay for a new screen at some point, but if they are just going to send the cost back to me next year, then I'd rather pay myself now and get to choose the repairer too!

[Glassman]

Most inscos will pay for chip repairs. Many will have a preferred repairer arrangement but most will settle invoices direct with known/registered companies. There are a handful of inscos that will charge a premium/excess on these repairs, which ranges from £10 to £25.

This should all be explained on your policy but in my experience and opinion, it's not clear enough (you just get a number to call which usually dials straight into the preferred repairer's call centre).

The idea is that repairing a chip is relatively cheaper than replacing the glass however, it's business, and there are many Average Invoice Value arrangements which means this is no longer as beneficial as suggested - the insco pays more invoices and the repairer tallies up more invoices.

To my knowledge, having a chip repaired -or windscreen replaced- will not affect your NCD although I have heard of some 'companies' using this as a hard sell to capture the work (or ensure that you do as you're told). There has been some suggestion that it will show as a claim when you're up for renewal but this will only mean a higher premium rather than a loss of discount.

Paying for a repair will range from £30 - £90. On average, expect to pay around 50 quid. If you'd like a recommendation for a trusted repairer (I use many throughout the UK) PM me your location and I'll put you in touch.