Glass Coverage, Insurance and Cars, OH MY!
Glass Coverage. Do I pay for it or don’t I? That is the question we hear every day in the auto glass business. Please note: We are an auto glass business, not an insurance agency. For specific questions, please consult your agent or insurance company. Every company is different and every policy is different. We will only give you generalizations in this article.
Glass coverage to some is invaluable. The average cost of a windshield is $220.00. Think about how many glass claims you have had in the last year. The last two years. You should call an auto glass company to find out specifically what your windshield would cost if you needed to replace it. You can make a better-educated decision if you know the specifics. Ask about your back glass, door glass, and quarter glass too. Some back glass is more expensive than what the whole car or truck is worth. To take a few minutes to call around to get the facts saves you a lot of grief in the end when it comes time to have to replace that auto glass. It breaks our heart when that weed eater breaks the door or back glass. Those can be two of the most expensive pieces of glass to replace. When there is no coverage, it’s tough to come up with $300 – $600 RIGHT NOW. Glass is not a fun thing to have to pay for and it can get expensive depending on the year, make and model of your vehicle.
Glass coverage can cover all of the glass in your car or truck. It usually covers mirrors, sun and moon roofs, and fog lights. To be sure, ask your agent or insurance company. Know what you are paying for!
Changes are happening with most insurance companies. If you have had your glass coverage for some time now, you might want to call your agent to find out what is happening in their industry. Most insurance companies WILL NOT cover DEALER glass any longer. No matter how long you have had your car or truck. This is big news and matters to a lot of people. Be sure to find out what your policy covers. When you buy that new car, you want the best. We understand that.
Make sure to have a conversation with your agent. If you want that dealer glass, you may be stuck with paying the difference. We don’t want you to have unexpected surprises when dealing with your glass in your vehicle. Those are not fun things to have happen when all you want is to have the glass fixed. Glass coverage is an important topic that you need to be discussing with your agent.
Another thing that is happening that people don’t understand is that you need to be on the phone when making the glass claim. Most insurance companies have a third party administrator that takes care of their claims. Rarely do auto glass claims go through the actual insurance company. The third party administrators need your policy number, date of damage and your vehicle’s year make and model. Some people believe that if they call their agent, the claim is finished. That is not so. The glass shop of your choice can help you make the claim so you don’t have to fight the automated systems. We love to help you so you don’t have to “fight the systems”.
These third-party administrators have been known to “steer” you to a particular auto glass shop as well. If you know what shop you want to use, you need to understand it is ILLEGAL for the third party administrators to steer you. YOU have the right to choose WHO works on YOUR car. Do not let them bully you into letting just anyone work on your car. Our industry is unregulated. That means, literally, anyone can CUT into your car.
Most people find that glass coverage is worth the money. Arizona has the highest recorded number of auto glass claims in the nation. Let’s face it, we have a lot of rocks. Auto glass is one of those things you don’t think about until you need it. Take a few moments out of your day to find out if it fits into your lifestyle. Some find they don’t need it. Others wish they had it when it’s too late. Don’t let that happen to you. We want you to have a good experience when you have to replace your glass. Unexpected glass bills are not fun.
Word of Caution: When you sign up for insurance online and you want glass coverage, don’t assume you have it. The online companies usually have a box you specifically need to check if you want it. We have a lot of sad customers who “thought” they had it and they did not check that box. Don’t let this happen to you.
Please don’t hesitate to call us or ask us for a quote. That is what we are here for. We are happy to help. Glass coverage isn’t the most entertaining of things but it sure can be fabulous if you get hit by that rock.
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