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.
Windshield Replacement and Comprehensive Insurance
Is the cost of a windshield replacement covered by the comprehensive portion of an automotive insurance policy? Yes, but you might be responsible for a deductible and in most cases the deductible is more than the cost of the install. However, there are a number of states which consider the need for a replacement as “no fault” and will either charge a much smaller deductible or nothing at all.
If you’re responsible for paying a deductible to have a windshield installed and know what your deductible is then call and get price quotes from various auto glass shops before scheduling service. This will help you determine whether it’s cost effective to file a claim on your insurance or just pay cash. A comprehensive claim shouldn’t raise your insurance premium on its own but it does count towards the total volume of claims that you file in a calendar year. This was explained to me by an insurance agent I had to deal with in the past. I had filed a $59 windshield repair claim for a customer in the past and a month later had to work with the insurance agent to remove this claim in order to cancel the increase my customer incurred on her policy. The customer ultimately paid me cash and her monthly premium returned to its normal amount. From that day forward I always let customers know that filing a windshield repair or replacement claim could cause an increase in their premium if they’ve had other claims which were filed during the year. I also tell them that the only person qualified to give a definitive answer as to whether a comprehensive claim will increase their insurance premium or not is their insurance agent.
Know what your deductible is prior to calling glass shops so you can determine whether or not to file a claim before scheduling service. My recommendation is to not risk an increase in your insurance premium if your deductible is only going to save you $50 to $100.
Scratch Removal or Windshield Replacement?
Do you need a windshield replacement or can scratches in the glass be polished out?
The issue of scratches in the front windshield is a question that seems to come up on occasion in the auto glass replacement business. In short, the answer is sometimes the scratches in the windshield can be polished out but if they are too deep then you will need to replace the glass. Here’s a good test to determine if scratches in a windshield are too deep for repair. Simply drag the back of your fingernail over the scratches and if the ridges can be felt without too much pressure then it’s safe to say it’s time for a new windshield.
What causes scratches in the front windshield?
The biggest offender is the metal edge of the wiper blade. This is something that caused me to need a windshield replacement. Inspect your wiper blades monthly and replace any that appear to be worn out or starting to wear out. Taking this step is a lot less expensive than paying for a new front windshield.
Here are some tips to help avoid scratching your windshield:
- Clean your windshield – If your windshield is extremely dirty try to rinse it off prior to turning on the wiper blades. Wiper blades are there to help keep the windshield clean but if you use them to clean an extremely dirty windshield you could damage the wiper blades and possibly scratch the glass by pushing the dirt around.
- Use your wiper fluid – If it’s not raining and you plan to turn on the wipers be sure to use wiper fluid. Dry wiper blades can trap small dust particles and other debris which can cause scratches.
- Replace your wiper blades – If your wiper blades appear to have nicks or tears in them which expose the metal to your windshield then you’re running the risk of damaging your windshield beyond repair.
The steps above take very little time and effort to follow. Just remember that checking your blades regularly takes less than 30 seconds which is a very small amount of time that could keep you from spending hundreds of dollars on a new windshield. Should you find yourself in need of a replacement visit our auto glass replacement quote page and let us connect you with a reliable shop in your area.
