How Much Does Windshield Replacement Cost Without Insurance?
Filed under: Auto Related, Replacements, Windshield Repair
There are many different living expenses which surround our lives each month and one fixed expense that falls into our monthly budget is auto insurance. If you drive a car then chances are you have auto insurance. Automotive insurance is something we all need in order to be responsible drivers. Keeping our monthly premium as low as possible is very important and filing a claim could potentially cause this premium to increase. This has many of us questioning whether or not to file a claim if the cost of a repair service isn’t too much higher than our deductible.
Let’s take the cost of a windshield replacement for example. So, how much does windshield replacement cost without insurance? 
Well, this would depend on the type of vehicle you’re driving. The costs could range from $149 on the low end to more than $1,000 dollars on the high end. Unless you’re driving a Bentley or Ferrari it’s safe to say you will more than likely fall within the low to mid range and spend around $175 to $250 for a windshield replacement.
Research has demonstrated that the most popular windshield replacement searches taking place over the internet surround the following 7 vehicle types.
(Chevy, Buick, Ford, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, and Jeep)
I’ve created a short list of average windshield prices by vehicle make and model using the information above. The price estimates listed below do not include taxes and could be higher or lower depending on the manufacturer year of your vehicle.
- Chevy Tahoe – $175 to $225
- Chevy Impala – $190 to $215
- Buick Enclave – $340 to $375
- Honda Civic 4 Door – $220 to $225
- Ford Expedition – $235 to $250
- Toyota Forerunner (4Runner) – $169 to $190
- Ford F 150 – $180 to $212
- Nissan Murano – $180 to $199
- Jeep Wrangler 2 & 4 Door – $199 to $225
As you can see from the prices above, the cost for a windshield replacement can potentially be far less than your deductible. However, if you have a deductible that’s less than $100 dollars then you may want to file a claim to have the work performed. There’s also a handful of states which have laws in place to waive deductibles so be sure to check with your agent and verify what expenses you’ll be responsible for paying prior to setting up service.
In closing, I would like to go back to discussing our fixed expenses and monthly budget to answer another question I hear quite often. Will my insurance premium go up if I file a claim to have the windshield fixed? It’s possible. There are shops that will tell you a claim won’t increase your premium but they’re not your agent so how do they know. I’ve had agents explain to me that comprehensive glass claims alone won’t cause an increase in premiums but it does count towards the overall claims filed per calendar year on a policy. So, if you’ve had other insurance claims throughout the year then filing an auto glass claim could possibly trigger an increase in your premium. In my opinion, the only person able to definitively tell you if your premium will increase from filing a windshield claim is your agent. Be sure to do some research prior to filing a claim that could potentially increase your fixed expenses and monthly budget.
Susie Finds A Windshield Replacement Service
Here’s another animation from Auto Glass Locator. Please let us know if you have any funny stories related to auto glass and would like to see them turned into animations. Enjoy!
Thanks for watching.
Windshield Replacement and Rust
Windshield Replacement and Rust Issues
It is right around the time that you need to replace your windshield that you will notice if you are having an issue with rust. Older vehicles start to rust in certain areas such as the pinch-weld where the windshield sits, and if you do not deal with the rust right away, it can spread like a cancer across the entire body of your vehicle.
Rust around the windshield can allow water and moisture to enter your vehicle. As rust spreads from a key area around the windshield, it can weaken the seal that holds the windshield in. If the channel around the windshield is severely rusted, you can be risking your safety by continuing to drive your car without dealing with the issue.
Usually a rust spot is just the “tip of the iceberg”. The rust that you can see is called surface rust, but it could be pretty extensive underneath the paint. A good indication of how far the rust extends is where you can see that the paint has “bubbled”. Once the paint bubbles, it will start to crack and chip off, revealing the rust spot underneath.
One of the best things that you can do is take your car to a body shop and have them inspect and investigate the problem. A bodyman can give you an estimate to let you know how much a repair would cost. If you are a “project person”, you may be interested in undertaking the repairs yourself. You will have to remove the entire windshield and inspect the channel behind the seal to see how extensive the damage really is.
Once a rust spot starts and then spreads, the rubber seal that holds the windshield in cannot be properly placed inside the channel. This compromises the strength of the seal and can become extremely dangerous. Small rust spots can be covered up with silicone and effectively sealed, but this is only a temporary “fix” and you will need to keep a careful watch to see if the spot spreads at all.
It is also possible to have an issue with rust in your windshield channel if you have a windshield replaced by someone who does not know what they are doing. It is important to always have a windshield repaired or replaced by a professional who can offer a warranty on their work. This allows you to take your vehicle back to that shop if you have any issues down the road with leakage or improper installation.
A professional windshield installation technician should be properly trained to ensure that the installation is done right the first time. When an old windshield is fully removed, it can leave scratches or pits in the channel. At the time that a new windshield is installed, the channel is generally treated with a primer to ensure that the area does not rust. Properly trained windshield installation professionals know all of the important details to ensure that your installation is done correctly so that you will not run into issues with rust after the new windshield has been installed.
Visit: http://www.autoglasslocator.com to find a reliable auto glass shop in your city.
