Windscreen replacement cost through insurance?

[Deluded]

I've just purchased a new car. It's got a small chip in the windscreen which has been "sealed" like they do on the adverts. Bit of false advertising though as the resin doesn't hide the chip like it does in the adverts. If anything, it makes it stand out more as it leaves a ring of resin around the chip which stands out like a sore thumb.

Anyway, not doubting the job done or anything. It passed the MOT after being sealed fine so I'm sure it will be ok, but it looks st. As said, the resin actually makes the chip stand out more so is annoying having it in sight all the time.

My insurance is fully comp and has windscreen cover. Without trawling through all the small print on my policy, what is the usual procedure of replacing a screen with windscreen cover?

Do I just call up auto windscreens or whoever and let them sort it all or do I need to call my insurance and go through them? Will I have to pay out all or some of my excess to cover the job (£250), bearing it mind I am paying extra for the windscreen cover anyway. Surely this should make it a free service? If I do have it done through insurance, will it count as a claim and affect future premiums?

Cheers

[66comanche]

Deluded said:

Do I just call up auto windscreens or whoever and let them sort it all

Will I have to pay out all or some of my excess to cover the job

If I do have it done through insurance, will it count as a claim and affect future premiums?

Cheers

Yes

You will pay your windscreen excess, often £60 or £75

No

[davegreg]

Phone insurance company first and take it from there....thats what i did. Had to pay £60 windscreen excess but didn't affect my no claims.

[DJC]

What car is it?

Some independents can fit windscreens to smaller cars for less than the cost of the insurance windscreen excess, which on my policy has increased to £90 from about £50 a few years ago, despite never claiming.

[northandy]

Be careful, they wont change a windscreen under your insurance policy if its a previous repair that has failed (i was told that by autoglass a few years ago) they wont also do it through your insurance for cosmetic reasons.

If it had new damage you would get it repaired.

Might be worth trying an independant company, will be much much cheaper than autoglass if you pay for a new screen yourself ratherthan claiming on the insurance.

[66comanche]

northandy said:

Be careful, they wont change a windscreen under your insurance policy if its a previous repair that has failed (i was told that by autoglass a few years ago) they wont also do it through your insurance for cosmetic reasons.

If it had new damage you would get it repaired.

Might be worth trying an independant company, will be much much cheaper than autoglass if you pay for a new screen yourself ratherthan claiming on the insurance.

How?

If his windscreen excess is the usual £60 or so, how can it possibly be cheaper to get a new screen fitted at a garage off his own back? Lets say the labour is 1hr - that will be £30 at least, do you really think you can get a windscreen for <£30?? Claiming for a windscreen does not affect your insurance, have made 3 claims over the years (2 windscreens, 1 drivers window) and was sorted very quickly and with no future effect to my insurance.

One thing I'm not sure on is on what grounds the insurers will replace the windscreen under the windscreen cover element of insurance, but as the insurers will never see it, only Autoglass (who definitely will not care!) it is a moot point.

[Glassman]

Technically speaking, the damage occurred before policy inception.

[Bungleaio]

If its an existing repair then they won't change it just because you think it looks rubbish.

If there was a crack larger than a 50p piece that appeared then it would be replaced.

[northandy]

66comanche said:

How?

If his windscreen excess is the usual £60 or so, how can it possibly be cheaper to get a new screen fitted at a garage off his own back? Lets say the labour is 1hr - that will be £30 at least, do you really think you can get a windscreen for <£30?? Claiming for a windscreen does not affect your insurance, have made 3 claims over the years (2 windscreens, 1 drivers window) and was sorted very quickly and with no future effect to my insurance.

One thing I'm not sure on is on what grounds the insurers will replace the windscreen under the windscreen cover element of insurance, but as the insurers will never see it, only Autoglass (who definitely will not care!) it is a moot point.

The op stated that it was an old repair that he wasnt happy with, as i said i have previous experience that autoglass wont do a screen replacement because a repair has failed under your insurance. So therefore i am comparing him paying autoglass for a new screen to him buying a new screen from an independant.

As i also said if there was new damage your insurance would cover it.

I have recently been quoted on insurance where the asked for details of glass claims, it might not affect your ncb, but lets not kid ourselves that insurers arent factoring it into premiums now.