I ended up with a crack in my windshield this weekend.  It is fairly small, but dead center at the bottom right in front of the defrost vent, and it's almost perfectly vertical, (so far).

If I get it repaired rather than replaced, my deductable is waived.  Do I call my insurance or get the quote for a repair first?

I've never had an insurance claim since I've been divorced, so I'm not clear who to call first.

Thanks for any input.

Call your insurance company and then the windshield repair company.  Your insurance company may give you a claim # that the windshield repair company can use to get paid; they may alao refer you to a repair company.  

Beth

insurance co.  Depending on who your carrier is, they usually have a list of insurance recommended repair places.

Ours is also waived if we get it repaired and Auto Glass specialists come rignt out to our house to do it, and we're 30 min. away from town.  We have American Family.

Thanks Ladies,

With winter coming on fast, that crack will spread fast without repair being right over the defrost vent.  

Thanks again.

Left my agent a voice message.  I'm betting Mondy mornings are pretty busy for claims?

I have Farmers

Redd wrote on Oct 27^th, 2008 at 11:03am:

Left my agent a voice message.  I'm betting Mondy mornings are pretty busy for claims? I have Farmers

Apparently there were a lot of car vs. deer calls this weekend.

This sucks.

Agent says deductable waived if can be fixed, $100.00 deductable if replacement is needed.

Called the adjuster at the 800 number, and she states $500.00 deductable if can't repair.

Take the Aztec to the dealer  assuming I'll get it repaired and they say they don't repair cracks, no one does anymore.

So right then and there I call the agent again and he states he is certain the deductable is only $100.00.  (still more than I really can afford to spend at this time but more doable than 500)

Anyway, I'm home and I'm waiting for the agent to get this mess cleared up and learn when the dealer wll have a windsheild in stock.

I'm seriously considering risking the crack going all the way up the center.  Least it's not in my direct field of vision.

Not sure what to do.  This couldn't have happened at a worse time.

Redd,

Look in the Yellow pages under Glass.  You should be able to find someone there.  I have 6 service trucks on the road and have windshields repaired all the time.

Beth

Do you have an "Auto Glass Specialist" (trade name) near you?  They still fix 'em.

Chips are repairable, but a crack of about 8-9 inches long?  The crack goes in both directions from whre the chip is.  

Unless the crack/chip is the size of a quarter or smaller, they usually have to replace the whole windshield.

I just replaced one of my windshields and it cost all of $120 in cash, no time wasted with insurance.

You should call around and ask shops how much it is for cash, no insurance.

Auto Glass Specialists also doesn't repair cracks.  They would fill a chip to prevent further cracks from starting.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRR......what a PITA!!!!!

And no call back yet from my agent or the dealership to straighten out the quote discrepancy.

I did get an estimate for the out of pocket cost, and it was well  over a grand.  The 500 deductable is a good deal, but I just don't have that kind of money.

Do you know anyone who could install one for you?  It's much cheaper to get a windshield yourself from an auto salvage place and have it installed.  At least, we've done that in the past...

Try these places, that $1000.00 price tag must be through the dealership.

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

That's outragous!  I just got a quote to replace a windshield on a Ford Explorer for $220.00 and they will come to me.  Keep calling around.

deltadarlin wrote on Oct 27^th, 2008 at 4:40pm:

Try these places, that $1000.00 price tag must be through the dealership. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE Windshield with Antenna Installed Price:  $707.11 START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE $750.52

Still the deductable is cheaper.

I don't know.  We'll see what happens tomorrow.  I just can't believe Senica would mis-quote me.  I'll call him first thing in the morning if I havent heard anything.

The dealership is probably sub contracting the job to a glass shop and tacking on a percentage as their cut.  Unless you have the some sort of special windshield, $1000 is way off the price point.

Check it out yourself...

2001 Pontiac Aztec with build in antenna, with GPS antenna.

Redd wrote on Oct 27^th, 2008 at 3:35pm:

Chips are repairable, but a crack of about 8-9 inches long?  The crack goes in both directions from whre the chip is.

No, cracks are NOT repairable.

Redd wrote on Oct 27^th, 2008 at 4:16pm:

Auto Glass Specialists they gave me this estimate not the dealership: I did get an estimate for the out of pocket cost, and it was well  over a grand.  The 500 deductable is a good deal, but I just don't have that kind of money.

Pegg, pull out your policy and see what it says.

Call the insurance, and ask them for a few names, then pick one. You don't have to drive around getting estimates. See what part of your policy this replacement is covered under. Are they trying to do it under collision? If so, they are trying to get you for the deductible.

You shouldn't worry so much about what it costs, but make sure they aren't trying to rip you off by making you pay a deductible that you don't have to pay. Read your policy.

Just call one of the companies, give them the claim number, and have them come fix it. Let the insurance worry about the cost. Don't take it to the dealer, they will charge too much, they source out all work like that anyway. Just get some names from your agent, and if you do have to pay a deductible, which you shouldn't, hold him to the $100.00 he told you. Just deal with him, not the main company. But, do check your policy. It will tell you what you need to know.  :)

BMoneeTheMoneeMan wrote on Oct 27^th, 2008 at 4:00pm:

I just replaced one of my windshields and it cost all of $120 in cash, no time wasted with insurance. You should call around and ask shops how much it is for cash, no insurance.

I'd also recommend just paying to have the windshield replaced instead of going through insurance.