Does cracked windscreen mean I'm uninsured?
Discussion
I've got a crack in my windscreen which is on the drivers side. It starts at the edge about 6" from the bonnet and goes up about 16" but doesn't reach the top of the screen. It doesn't obscure my vision at all. I know this is an MOT failure. However I was just wondering if this would invalidate my insurance in the event of a crash.
Please could someone enlighten me
Please could someone enlighten me
t with the five-oh if you got stopped.It could be argued that the damage distracted you in the event of an accident. You can be stopped by the police, I even know of people who have been made to leave there vehicles where they were stopped because of a cracked screen. Bit extreme but I have seen it happen.
Be interesting to see what everyone else's take on it is.
Be interesting to see what everyone else's take on it is.
dave7692 said:
In the event of a crash just say "That happened in the crash" surely?
But why not get it replaced? Don't most insurers cover it nowadays anyway?
I dont want to pay £75 to get it replaced because Im thinking about scrapping my car very soon and the MOT isnt due until January. I want to drive around with the cracked screen, but only if the crack doesnt invalidate my insurance.But why not get it replaced? Don't most insurers cover it nowadays anyway?
I passed an MoT with a big crack in the screen.
It was obscured a bit by the wipers and the tester never noticed till he walked past it after handing me the pass receipt.
Him:
Did that just happen?
Me: No, I brought it in like that!
Him: Oops, don't know how I missed it? If you get stopped say it just happened.
It was obscured a bit by the wipers and the tester never noticed till he walked past it after handing me the pass receipt.
Him:
Did that just happen? Me: No, I brought it in like that!
Him: Oops, don't know how I missed it? If you get stopped say it just happened.
but mot next month and changing insurers next week Insurance requires a valid MOT
Your MOT is valid until it expires.
There's a question as to whether your car is roadworthy - PoPo could, if they wished, demand you get a new MOT which would invalidate the current one and thus you'd be uninsured if it failed.
Summary: you're not breaking the law but you could put yourself at a disadvantage if there were an accident and someone argued your vision was impaired.
I assume you're not fibbing about it not being a vision issue because - well - driving a car you cannot see out-of would be bloody stupid (and people do it all the time, from gonks on the dash to snow to dodgy wipers etc.)
Your MOT is valid until it expires.
There's a question as to whether your car is roadworthy - PoPo could, if they wished, demand you get a new MOT which would invalidate the current one and thus you'd be uninsured if it failed.
Summary: you're not breaking the law but you could put yourself at a disadvantage if there were an accident and someone argued your vision was impaired.
I assume you're not fibbing about it not being a vision issue because - well - driving a car you cannot see out-of would be bloody stupid (and people do it all the time, from gonks on the dash to snow to dodgy wipers etc.)
jamieduff1981 said:
Assuming it's a bonded screen then everyone knows how much strength they contribute to the car particularly in a roll over. Are you sure you want to drive icey winter roads with a compromised structure for the sake of £75?
Conversely, if it's an old slag that has little value, why stack a claim on your insurance history for the sake of 75-quid?Secondhand might the better option for him.
jamieduff1981 said:
Assuming it's a bonded screen then everyone knows how much strength they contribute to the car particularly in a roll over. Are you sure you want to drive icey winter roads with a compromised structure for the sake of £75?
A screen might affect the structural rigidity of the car but I have serious doubts a how much a crack would affect it. The laminate holds the glass together so well there is absolute minimal room for the glass to distort enough to make a difference in the unlikely event of an accident where the windscreen would come in to play.I would say (as a windscreen fitter) you are far more likely to have a replacement done to a poor standard that would effect the windscreens performance in the event of a crash than for the crack to compromise rigidity.
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