Car Insurance Cover Broken Window: What You Need to Know
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It’s all too easy to break a window in your car, whether another vehicle tosses up a rock on the highway or an object, like a tree, falls onto your car. Replacing auto glass, especially a windshield, can get expensive. Does car insurance cover a broken window? The answer depends on the type of coverage you have and how the window broke.
If your window breaks because of an accident with another vehicle, your collision coverage would pay for the replacement if you were at fault. If the other driver was at fault, their insurance should cover the replacement.
But if your window breaks in an event not caused by a collision, like if a rock hits it, then your insurance will only cover the cost if you have a comprehensive policy. Comprehensive car insurance covers non-collision events, and it gives you more protection than just a collision policy.
If you don’t want to buy comprehensive insurance, then auto insurance full glass coverage is another option. This type of insurance is available as a rider in some states, so you can get glass coverage while saving money compared to the cost of a comprehensive policy. Contact your auto insurance company to see if a glass coverage rider is available.
Comprehensive car insurance covers damage that occurs to your vehicle from theft and vandalism. If a thief broke your window to access your car, your collision insurance would usually cover the replacement.
Whether windshield damage is covered depends on your policy. If you damage your windshield during an accident, either your or the other driver’s collision insurance will cover the damage. If your windshield is damaged by an event other than a collision, like a flying rock or a baseball your neighbors throw, then a comprehensive policy will usually pay for the repair or replacement cost.
Auto insurance covers the cost of replacing a rear window depending on what caused it to break. If the break occurs during an accident, a collision policy would cover the damage. But if another event causes the break, like a falling tree or vandalism, the replacement will only be covered if you have comprehensive coverage.
If you’re not sure about what type of car insurance you have, contact your insurance company to ask. If you only have collision insurance, you may want to purchase comprehensive insurance or buy an auto glass rider to make sure your windows and windshields are covered.
The cost of these policies can vary, so it’s best to compare multiple quotes. You can get free auto insurance quotes online today. Then, compare the prices of the coverage, the deductible amounts, and any exclusions and policy limits to decide which is right for you.
Paige Cerulli Paige Cerulli is a freelance content writer and journalist who specializes in personal finance topics. She graduated from Westfield State University and brings more than a decade of professional writing experience to the ConsumerCoverage team. Paige’s work has appeared in outlets including USA Today, Business Insider, and more.
