Windscreen replacement - never used to be counted as a claim

[mikemike39]

I'm old enough (I think - or maybe so old I've become forgetful!!) to remember that insurance companies and comparison engines used to explicitly discount glass claims (eg new screens) when you were giving them details.

So they'd ask for "any claims, excluding for glass in the last 3 years" or maybe 5 years which seems now to be the norm

So does this mean - especially if you have several vehicles to insure - that it makes sense to do glass privately rather than make a claim?

I ran an example through one of the comparison sites, using a vehicle for sale on auto trader and the prices with a glass claim and with no claims were different, higher for the windscreen claim one

I couldn't see a recent thread on this but I'm wondering whether it makes sense to self pay?

Mike

[sixor8]

When I did a comparison earlier this year, one company asked about windscreen claims, and I've never been asked about that before in 40 years of driving. It still doesn't count as an insurance claim although my neighbour self-paid for some reason, on a Corsa. Some cheap fully comp policies do NOT include w/screen cover! It depends on how much it costs, the excess is £100 with most insurance policies now.

As it happens, I had 1 in 2019 and another early 2020 but one was on a classic policy so I could say 'No' to the last 3 years. I expect the cost of some of the heated ones and the ones with sensors in them for auto-distance cruise etc has worried them.

Edited by sixor8 on Tuesday 15th August 10:24

[OldSkoolRS]

Happened to me earlier this year at renewal: I shopped around and had gone to move to another company, but they were being a pain about accepting my NCD after I'd paid the premium in full. A had a few phone calls and managed to sort that out only to be told that my premium would actually be £25-30 more because of a recent windscreen claim.

My existing company worked out about the same once this was taken into account, so I cancelled with the new one and went back to them (Privilege). Luckily I'd found this out before the policy was due to start (I'd paid in full at the original quoted price), so they were able to give me a full refund as per their T&Cs so I took it.

I felt it was underhand because they said that not all comparison sites have the appropriate place to enter windscreen claim details, so they have to add it on afterwards. However, if I hadn't rung up about my NCD then I wouldn't have found out until later once the policy had started (or worse, perhaps if I'd had to make an accident claim).

Policy was just over £200, but it was the principle of it and the trouble I had getting through to sort my NCD verses how easily I could get in touch with Privilege made me switch back since the overall price was the same.

The screen was a heated one, but only on an old Ford Ka.

[vikingaero]

Screens have become larger and more complex, so some Insurers (bottom feeders) count glass claims as a claim, others still don't.

[ScoobyChris]

mikemike39 said:

I couldn't see a recent thread on this but I'm wondering whether it makes sense to self pay?

I guess ultimately it's a numbers game. What's the difference between your excess and the price of a replacement windscreen fitted - does your premium(s) increase that much?

Chris

[Glassman]

vikingaero said:

Screens have become larger and more complex.

It's not the 'screens per se; it's the ADAS devices attached to them and the fitting companies charging up to 300-quid a go to confirm they're still working.