Can a Chipped Windscreen Be Replaced via Insurance?

forged on 04/05/2022 - 15:46

What’s everyone’s experience been with claiming windscreen cover on insurance?

My car windscreen is absolutely covered in small chips, most of which were already there when I bought the car a while back.

I’ve done some rural / long distance trips recently, and picked up a couple of larger chips, ~3mm across, on the driver’s side.

Alone they’re not too bad, but combined with the existing small chips, the windscreen is pretty hard to see through, when facing into the sun.

Insurer is Auspost (QBE) - does anyone have experience with them? The car is otherwise very well looked after and is still on the original windscreen, so I’d prefer to get it replaced with genuine/OEM glass if possible, even if it means I’d have to pay extra on top.

Automotive Car Insurance Insurance

Comments

  • boomramada on 04/05/2022 - 15:54
    +1

    What’s everyone’s experience been with claiming windscreen cover on insurance?

    Call the insurance, book a appointment with windscreen fixing place, either fix or replaced while you waiting.

  • spackbace on 04/05/2022 - 15:54
    +8

    but combined with the existing small chips, the windscreen is pretty hard to see through, when facing into the sun.

    Jees get it fixed, you're an accident waiting to happen

    • forged on 04/05/2022 - 15:59

      I wouldn’t say it’s quite that dire, 99% of the time it’s fine, but there’s been a couple of times I’ve been driving directly into the sun at sunset and it’s a bit sketchy.

      • Quantumcat on 04/05/2022 - 22:36
        +3

        It only takes one occasion to kill yourself or others

        • Chris Topher on 05/05/2022 - 12:12
          +2

          or that invisible motor-cyclist. "Honestly officer, I didn't see him."

  • Hithere on 04/05/2022 - 15:57
    +7

    Some companies it's included, some it isn't. What did your insurance company say when you asked them?

    It's an optional extra with my current Insurance company.

    Sounds like your car isn't roadworthy. Just in case don't drive when the sun is facing you.

    • forged on 04/05/2022 - 16:02

      I did take the optional windscreen cover. Insurance documents just weren’t specific about what kind of windscreen damage was covered, hence the question.

      Windscreen passed RWC a year and a bit ago when I bought the car, and it hasn’t gotten much worse since then, so I suspect it’s still good by that measure. Just bothersome (and a little dangerous for the 15 minutes before sunset).

      • spackbace on 04/05/2022 - 16:09
        +3

        Insurance documents just weren’t specific about what kind of windscreen damage was covered

        So throw a rock at it and shatter it lol

        • forged on 04/05/2022 - 16:10

          For legal reasons, this is a joke?

      • Muzeeb on 04/05/2022 - 16:09
        +8

        Then just visit a windscreen shop eg. Obrien's and say you want a new windscreen under insurance. They will call your insurance company for claim approval, who in turn may want to speak to you also.

        They will convince the insurance company that your windscreen is knackered, because they want the business and go from there.

        Alternatively, lodge a claim with your insurance online and go from there.

        • forged on 04/05/2022 - 16:12

          Interesting, I do also have choice of repairer on the policy, so this might be a good option.

  • freefall101 on 04/05/2022 - 16:00

    If 3mm is the larger ones they'd probably repair rather than replace, it's up to them though on whether it's worth repairing or replacing. There's usually a window glass excess for replacement, so you'd be better off getting it repaired.

    What does your policy say?

    • forged on 04/05/2022 - 16:09

      I’ve got the optional no excess windscreen replacement cover. Am just worried that I’ll go to claim it, they’ll say “yep we’ll fill in the 3mm chips and call it a day”, and I’ll still be stuck with the pitted windscreen.

      PDS doesn’t say anything specific about what type of windscreen damage will be covered and how it will be fixed.

      • Muzeeb on 04/05/2022 - 16:10

        I don't condone it but you wouldn't be the first.

        Try this

        Edit: spackbace beat me to it

      • ajm07 on 04/05/2022 - 16:36

        Also if the chip is in a prominent area in front of the driver they may say it needs to be a replacement rather than repair.

  • Hybroid on 04/05/2022 - 16:14
    +3

    the windscreen is pretty hard to see through, when facing into the sun.

    Say that to insurer. Becomes a safety issue. They should replace it. Nothing we say anecdotally here is going to change the outcome if they decide not to so just give it a go. You have zero excess, do it again next month if it gets worse and you need to.

  • brendanm on 04/05/2022 - 16:35

    Hit with ball pein hammer or claw hammer, call insurance.

    • brad1-8tsi on 04/05/2022 - 18:53

      one firm strike with a single mark. A 3" nail works well

  • Fergy1987 on 04/05/2022 - 16:53

    Have free windscreen replacement on your insurance, throw a rock through it

  • Euphemistic on 04/05/2022 - 17:12
    +1

    Why have you got windscreen insurance? Think about it - then use it.

  • Baa on 04/05/2022 - 17:56
    +5

    My wife used to do a lot of country driving for her old job, picked up chips all the time - insurance replaced with little questions asked each time I needed it so long as it was the free yearly windscreen. A chip can become a crack pretty quickly.

    • forged on 04/05/2022 - 17:57

      Great to hear, thank you

  • Belistic on 04/05/2022 - 22:50

    Insurance wont replace with OEM/genuine glass, usually just Windscreen O'Brien's imports.
    AAMI say if the crack/chip is bigger than $1 coin, they'll replace it.

    • forged on 04/05/2022 - 23:04

      Yep, insurance policy specifies they won't use genuine windscreen glass. I'm hoping to strike a deal with either insurer or the repairer, so I can pay the difference and have genuine glass used.

      • Muzeeb on 05/05/2022 - 08:11

        Why? You are just paying a lot extra to have your car manufacturers logo in the corner.

    • bbinc on 05/05/2022 - 09:09

      If vehicle has rain sensors that require original genuine replacement then insurance will cough up. Repairer will know.

      • forged on 06/05/2022 - 09:34

        The car has rain sensor, condensation sensor and auto highbeam camera, but it’s also 13 years old… mixed bag.

  • pgcs on 05/05/2022 - 07:30
    +1

    An advantage to not getting the genuine windscreen: Genuine is not allowed to have the sunstrip across the top, aftermarket can. In NSW anyway - as advised by the repairer after replacing the screen.

    • forged on 06/05/2022 - 09:35

      Don’t think this is the case in VIC, I’ve seen lots of cars with an original sun strip here.

  • nswnotill on 05/05/2022 - 08:10

    Unsure of your State. However in NSW, when older vehicles are submitted for annual registration mechanical inspection, the examiner has the right to fail the vehicle inspection, due to excessive chips or cracks in the windscreen. In order to pass inspection, the windscreen must be replaced.

  • Darayus on 05/05/2022 - 10:44

    Spare some money and get the bonnet lip on your car, this will help you to deflect most of the oncoming stone chip on your car.

    Not sure about your excess, so check independently how much replacement will cost and your excess and think which option will be suitable. No need to have original windscreen glass, OEM is good.

  • r2160 on 05/05/2022 - 10:52

    Given what your excess is, it would probably be cheaper just to pay to replace it, unless the policy gives you a free windscreen replacement

  • OzHunterNSW on 05/05/2022 - 11:29

    Yes of coarse, if the chip impairs the drivers view. BUT… why would you?
    The is why they have excessive excess…. to deter you from lodging menial claims such as this.
    It is far cheaper to have resin injected, or replace yourself.

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