Windscreen replacement via insurance?
Windscreen replacement via insurance?
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Discussion

youngsyr

Original Poster:

14,742 posts

221 months

Wednesday 15th September 2010
quotequote all
My MX-5 has developed a substantial crack in the front windscreen over the past week, which I'm pretty confident is not repairable (it's over a foot long and right through the glass!).

My insurance for the car is through Elephant, who offer a "free" repair or an at cost (up to excess) replacement glass service.

As I'm going to have to shell out for the replacement of the glass (I believe my excess is at least £250), is it worth me using their service, which they no doubt outsource and get a kick-back from, or calling someone like Autoglass direct to get it done for less?

My NCB is unaffected by claiming for windscreen damage.

Also, does anyone have any idea of how much I'd be looking at for a supply and fit of a new windscreen to a 1999 MX-5?

Big E 118

2,468 posts

198 months

Wednesday 15th September 2010
quotequote all
I've had my windscreen done through Elephant. Think you'll find your winscreen excess is £80. Go onto their website and there's a number for winscreen replacements, they are fairly helpful.

They use Autoglass for the repairs.

Not sure on your winscreen replacement cost but if I'd paid for mine it would have been £385.00.

anonymous-user

83 months

Wednesday 15th September 2010
quotequote all
Wow are you sure you have a £250 glass excess?! That's immense! I've had loads of screens replaced, even the "quickclear" ones in Fords, normally a £50-£60 excess, and no affect on NCD. It is classed as a claim, but my understanding after talking to my ins company (literally about a month ago), is that the "claim" is insignificant and isn't taken into consideration when calculating premium.

From Elephant website:
Windscreen cover is included in Comprehensive policies only. You need to call our approved repairer - on 0844 543 4429 to arrange an appointment. Take your Certificate of Motor Insurance with you. If any glass is replaced, you'll have to pay an excess of £70. If you don't use our approved repairer the maximum we will pay out is £50.

anonymous-user

83 months

Wednesday 15th September 2010
quotequote all
Big E 118 said:
Not sure on your winscreen replacement cost but if I'd paid for mine it would have been £385.00.
eek

Blimey, mine cost in the region of £80!

youngsyr

Original Poster:

14,742 posts

221 months

Wednesday 15th September 2010
quotequote all
Opulent said:
Wow are you sure you have a £250 glass excess?! That's immense! I've had loads of screens replaced, even the "quickclear" ones in Fords, normally a £50-£60 excess, and no affect on NCD. It is classed as a claim, but my understanding after talking to my ins company (literally about a month ago), is that the "claim" is insignificant and isn't taken into consideration when calculating premium.

From Elephant website:
Windscreen cover is included in Comprehensive policies only. You need to call our approved repairer - on 0844 543 4429 to arrange an appointment. Take your Certificate of Motor Insurance with you. If any glass is replaced, you'll have to pay an excess of £70. If you don't use our approved repairer the maximum we will pay out is £50.
The excess on my policy is at least £250, but could be £350 or possibly even more (I don't have the document to hand).

I just read the policy document on the Elephant site and it makes no mention of windscreen excess (page 11), it only refers to "excess" in the general sense.

Hopefully you're right though, paying £70 to have it fixed will certainly be a lot better than paying over £200!


Agoogy

7,274 posts

277 months

Wednesday 15th September 2010
quotequote all
If your windscreen excess is over £100 I'll eat my hat...

anonymous-user

83 months

Wednesday 15th September 2010
quotequote all
youngsyr said:
Opulent said:
Wow are you sure you have a £250 glass excess?! That's immense! I've had loads of screens replaced, even the "quickclear" ones in Fords, normally a £50-£60 excess, and no affect on NCD. It is classed as a claim, but my understanding after talking to my ins company (literally about a month ago), is that the "claim" is insignificant and isn't taken into consideration when calculating premium.

From Elephant website:
Windscreen cover is included in Comprehensive policies only. You need to call our approved repairer - on 0844 543 4429 to arrange an appointment. Take your Certificate of Motor Insurance with you. If any glass is replaced, you'll have to pay an excess of £70. If you don't use our approved repairer the maximum we will pay out is £50.
The excess on my policy is at least £250, but could be £350 or possibly even more (I don't have the document to hand).

I just read the policy document on the Elephant site and it makes no mention of windscreen excess (page 11), it only refers to "excess" in the general sense.

Hopefully you're right though, paying £70 to have it fixed will certainly be a lot better than paying over £200!
My quote above was from the FAQs on the main screen on their website. smile

http://www.elephant.co.uk/faq/policy/windscreen.ph...

And the policy book...

http://www.elephant.co.uk/policyDocs/EL51%200610%2... Page 6

Or, give them/Autoglass a bell and ask wink

sleep envy

62,260 posts

278 months

Wednesday 15th September 2010
quotequote all
speak to glassman on ph

cmackay81

9,251 posts

195 months

Wednesday 15th September 2010
quotequote all
youngsyr said:
My MX-5 has developed a substantial crack in the front windscreen over the past week, which I'm pretty confident is not repairable (it's over a foot long and right through the glass!).

My insurance for the car is through Elephant, who offer a "free" repair or an at cost (up to excess) replacement glass service.

As I'm going to have to shell out for the replacement of the glass (I believe my excess is at least £250), is it worth me using their service, which they no doubt outsource and get a kick-back from, or calling someone like Autoglass direct to get it done for less?

My NCB is unaffected by claiming for windscreen damage.

Also, does anyone have any idea of how much I'd be looking at for a supply and fit of a new windscreen to a 1999 MX-5?
There are laws about this tbh. insurance company has to provide this service at a decent rate. look them up.

youngsyr

Original Poster:

14,742 posts

221 months

Wednesday 15th September 2010
quotequote all
cmackay81 said:
youngsyr said:
My MX-5 has developed a substantial crack in the front windscreen over the past week, which I'm pretty confident is not repairable (it's over a foot long and right through the glass!).

My insurance for the car is through Elephant, who offer a "free" repair or an at cost (up to excess) replacement glass service.

As I'm going to have to shell out for the replacement of the glass (I believe my excess is at least £250), is it worth me using their service, which they no doubt outsource and get a kick-back from, or calling someone like Autoglass direct to get it done for less?

My NCB is unaffected by claiming for windscreen damage.

Also, does anyone have any idea of how much I'd be looking at for a supply and fit of a new windscreen to a 1999 MX-5?
There are laws about this tbh. insurance company has to provide this service at a decent rate. look them up.
From the quote above it seems it's going to be a maximum of £70, which I'll happily pay for a new windscreen. smile

youngsyr

Original Poster:

14,742 posts

221 months

Wednesday 15th September 2010
quotequote all
Opulent said:
youngsyr said:
Opulent said:
Wow are you sure you have a £250 glass excess?! That's immense! I've had loads of screens replaced, even the "quickclear" ones in Fords, normally a £50-£60 excess, and no affect on NCD. It is classed as a claim, but my understanding after talking to my ins company (literally about a month ago), is that the "claim" is insignificant and isn't taken into consideration when calculating premium.

From Elephant website:
Windscreen cover is included in Comprehensive policies only. You need to call our approved repairer - on 0844 543 4429 to arrange an appointment. Take your Certificate of Motor Insurance with you. If any glass is replaced, you'll have to pay an excess of £70. If you don't use our approved repairer the maximum we will pay out is £50.
The excess on my policy is at least £250, but could be £350 or possibly even more (I don't have the document to hand).

I just read the policy document on the Elephant site and it makes no mention of windscreen excess (page 11), it only refers to "excess" in the general sense.

Hopefully you're right though, paying £70 to have it fixed will certainly be a lot better than paying over £200!
My quote above was from the FAQs on the main screen on their website. smile

http://www.elephant.co.uk/faq/policy/windscreen.ph...

And the policy book...

http://www.elephant.co.uk/policyDocs/EL51%200610%2... Page 6

Or, give them/Autoglass a bell and ask wink
Thanks, that clears it up nicely. Will get on the blower to them to arrange an appointment. smile

Big E 118

2,468 posts

198 months

Wednesday 15th September 2010
quotequote all
Symbolica said:
Big E 118 said:
Not sure on your winscreen replacement cost but if I'd paid for mine it would have been £385.00.
eek

Blimey, mine cost in the region of £80!
The rain and light sensors come with/attached to the windscreen and you get fleeced for anything that is related to BMW frown

Snoop Bagg

1,879 posts

223 months

Wednesday 15th September 2010
quotequote all
My 2004 Cooper S was around £120 ish for a new windsreen, through the insurance!

Glassman

24,951 posts

244 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
OP: before the glass is replaced, ask to confirm that the trim on the glass will be for an MX-5 and not a universal 'fit all' type. The part number (if not from OE source) should be either 5138A/ or 5170A/ depending on the year of the car.

Snoop Bagg said:
My 2004 Cooper S was around £120 ish for a new windsreen, through the insurance!
How much was your contribution (excess) ?

ZOLLAR

19,920 posts

202 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
Op the windscreen excess for your policy is £70, no more no less.
I think your getting confused with your "accidental damage excess" which you pay in the event of a fault accident.

HTH

Edited by ZOLLAR on Friday 17th September 08:33

MondeoMan1981

2,457 posts

212 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
Speaking of glass claims. If someone was driving along in my car (lets call him Dad) , is behind a gritter and he stupidly put the wipers on to clear it, causing some window scratches in prominent places, could I claim on insurance for a new one?

ZOLLAR

19,920 posts

202 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
MondeoMan1981 said:
Speaking of glass claims. If someone was driving along in my car (lets call him Dad) , is behind a gritter and he stupidly put the wipers on to clear it, causing some window scratches in prominent places, could I claim on insurance for a new one?
If it's not repairable (sp?), then yes just have to pay a windscreem excess.

cmackay81

9,251 posts

195 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
MondeoMan1981 said:
Speaking of glass claims. If someone was driving along in my car (lets call him Dad) , is behind a gritter and he stupidly put the wipers on to clear it, causing some window scratches in prominent places, could I claim on insurance for a new one?
yes, but would have to read your policy to find out how much it would cost.

5 years ago used to cost around £30 , but now does seem to have risen to around £70 for most companies

Glassman

24,951 posts

244 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
Some scratches can be polished.

Snoop Bagg

1,879 posts

223 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
Glassman said:
OP: before the glass is replaced, ask to confirm that the trim on the glass will be for an MX-5 and not a universal 'fit all' type. The part number (if not from OE source) should be either 5138A/ or 5170A/ depending on the year of the car.

Snoop Bagg said:
My 2004 Cooper S was around £120 ish for a new windsreen, through the insurance!
How much was your contribution (excess) ?
I've had cars done for £50 excess previously, but the Cooper was £128 plus the excess which seemed very steep!