Can I Get Free Windshield Replacement?
Last Updated on October 9, 2023
Some states require auto insurance companies to offer free windshield replacement.
If you live in Florida, Kentucky, or South Carolina, then your insurance company must offer free windshield replacement. These three states require insurers to offer zero deductible windshield coverage.
If you qualify for free windshield replacement, then you can replace a damaged windshield without paying a deductible. Typically, insurance companies charge a deductible of $100 to $250 for windshield replacement. However, Florida, Kentucky, and South Carolina have passed laws requiring insurers to waive this deductible for windshield claims.
Don’t live in Florida, Kentucky, or South Carolina? You can still obtain free windshield replacement. Most insurers offer glass coverage with no deductible (or a small deductible). Some insurers also offer free windshield replacement to customers regardless of state law.
Table of Contents:
- States with Free Windshield Replacement
- Other States with Zero Deductible Glass Coverage
- How to Obtain Free Windshield Replacement in Any State
- Companies with Free Windshield Replacement
- How Much Does Windshield Replacement Cost?
- Does Liability Insurance Cover Windshield Repairs and Replacements?
States with Free Windshield Replacement
Three states require insurers to offer free windshield replacement, including:
- Florida
- Kentucky
- South Carolina
In each of these three states, insurers must waive your deductible for windshield repairs and replacements. That’s why they’re known as ‘free windshield replacement states’ or ‘zero deductible states.’
Of course, calling it ‘free’ is misleading: you must pay to carry comprehensive insurance coverage to qualify for free windshield replacement. If you have minimum liability coverage (the lowest amount required in Florida, Kentucky, and South Carolina), then you will not receive free windshield replacement.
Comprehensive coverage is part of a full coverage car insurance policy (along with collision coverage). Comprehensive coverage covers theft, vandalism, windshield repairs, hail damage, and other costs that occur outside of accidents.
States apply free windshield laws in different ways. In Florida, for example, insurers only waive the deductible for windshield repairs and replacements. In Kentucky and South Carolina, however, insurers waive the deductible for all glass repairs and replacements (including your windshield, side windows, back windows, and other glass on your vehicle).
Other States with Zero Deductible Glass Coverage
You may be able to buy free windshield replacement even if you don’t live in Florida, Kentucky, or South Carolina.
Five states require insurers to offer separate glass coverage with zero deductible. You can pay extra to add zero deductible glass coverage to your policy. If you need to repair or replace your windshield, then you can make the claim without paying a deductible.
Five states that offer glass coverage with zero deductibles include:
State laws vary. Massachusetts, for example, allows drivers to choose whether they want zero deductible glass coverage or glass coverage with a $100 deductible.
How to Obtain Free Windshield Replacement in Any State
Don’t see your state listed here? That’s okay! You may still be able to obtain free windshield replacement from your insurer.
Regardless of where you live, you may be able to add zero deductible glass coverage to your insurance policy. The states listed above require insurers to offer this coverage. Many insurers offer this coverage even if it’s not required by law.
Depending on your insurer and state, you may be able to easily add zero deductible windshield replacement to your policy. Some companies also offer free windshield repairs – but not free windshield replacements. With other companies, it may cost just a few dollars per year to add free windshield replacement to your policy.
Contact your insurer to ask about free windshield replacement.
Companies with Free Windshield Replacement
Some companies offer free windshield replacement in all states. Some of America’s largest insurance companies, for example, offer free windshield replacement as an optional add-on in most states.
Company-specific free windshield replacement policies include:
- USAA: USAA will waive the deductible for windshield repairs, although you must pay the deductible if replacing your windshield.
- GEICO: GEICO will waive the deductible for windshield repairs, but you need to pay the deductible for windshield replacements.
- Allstate: If you live in Florida, Kentucky, or South Carolina, Allstate will waive the deductible and will cover the full cost of repairing or replacing your windshield.
- Progressive: Progressive waives the deductible for repairs if the crack is shorter than six inches. For windshield replacements and cracks longer than six inches, you must pay your deductible.
- State Farm: If you live in Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York, State Farm offers zero deductible windshield replacement.
- Farmers: If you live in Florida, Kentucky, or South Carolina, you’ll pay a $0 deductible with Farmers regardless of whether you need to repair or replace your windshield.
- Liberty Mutual: If you live in Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, or South Carolina, you will not pay for windshield replacement with Liberty Mutual.
- Nationwide: If you live in Florida, Kentucky, or South Carolina, Nationwide will not charge you a deductible for windshield replacement.
- Erie Insurance: Drivers in certain states and drivers with full glass coverage do not need to pay a deductible for windshield repairs and replacement with Erie Insurance.
- Travelers: If you live in certain states, or have full glass coverage with Travelers, you will not need to pay a deductible for windshield repair.
- AAA: If you live in Florida, Kentucky, or South Carolina, or you have full glass coverage with AAA, you will not need to pay a deductible to repair or replace your windshield.
- American Family: Drivers in Florida, Kentucky, and South Carolina pay a $0 deductible for windshield repairs and replacements with American Family.
As long as you have comprehensive coverage with any of these companies, you should qualify for free windshield repairs, although you need to pay the deductible for windshield replacements.
How Much Does Windshield Replacement Cost?
It costs around $200 to $400 to replace a windshield.
Most comprehensive coverage deductibles are around $250, which is why it may not be worth paying the deductible to make an insurance claim for your windshield.
However, many companies offer lower deductibles for glass repairs and replacements (say, $100 to $150), which can make it worthwhile to make a claim for your windshield repairs and replacements.
Does Liability Insurance Cover Windshield Repairs and Replacements?
Every state (except New Hampshire) requires drivers to carry liability insurance. If you only have liability insurance, however, then your liability insurance will not cover windshield repairs or replacements.
If you have full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverage), then you should be able to make a claim for windshield repairs and replacements.
Here are the three basic car insurance coverage options and how they work:
Liability Insurance (Required): Most states require drivers to carry bodily injury liability insurance (to cover injuries and medical expenses resulting from an accident) and property damage liability insurance (to cover damage to vehicles, homes, and personal property after an accident). Liability insurance does not cover glass repairs or replacements.
Collision Coverage (Optional): Collision coverage covers the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle after a collision with another vehicle. If your windshield or other glass were damaged in a collision with another vehicle, then you may be able to make a claim through your collision coverage.
Comprehensive Coverage (Optional): Comprehensive coverage covers theft, vandalism, hail damage, windshield damage, and other damages that occur outside of accidents. For most windshield repairs and replacements, you make a claim through your comprehensive coverage.
Final Word on Free Windshield Replacement
Driving with a cracked windshield is dangerous. A crack affects the integrity of your windshield. Your windshield is a crucial safety feature. It protects you and your occupants in multiple ways.
If you live in Florida, Kentucky, or South Carolina and have comprehensive coverage, then your insurer must offer free windshield replacement. Florida, Kentucky, and South Carolina are the three states in America that offer free windshield replacements.
In other states, drivers can add free windshield replacements or zero deductible glass coverage to their policy for a few extra dollars per year.
Contact your insurer to ask about zero deductible windshield replacement in your state.
