Does Travelers Cover Windshield Replacement?
Last Updated on October 15, 2023
If you have full coverage car insurance with Travelers, then Travelers should cover the cost of replacing your windshield, minus your deductible.
Travelers, like most insurers, waives your deductible for windshield repairs but requires your deductible for windshield replacements. Typically, you pay a $250 deductible and Travelers covers all remaining costs of windshield replacement.
Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about replacing a windshield with Travelers.
Table of Contents:
- Yes, Travelers Covers Windshield Replacements
- Repairing Versus Replacing your Windshield
- Accident Versus Non-Accident Windshield Damage
- Some Drivers Pay Zero Deductible for All Windshield Claims
- Will Travelers Raise Rates After a Windshield Claim?
- How to File a Windshield Replacement Claim with Travelers
Yes, Travelers Covers Windshield Replacements
If you have full coverage car insurance with Travelers, then Travelers should cover windshield repairs or replacements.
Full coverage car insurance is optional in all states. It includes collision and comprehensive coverage, which protects your vehicle in different ways.
Collision coverage covers the cost of repairing your vehicle after a collision, while comprehensive coverage covers vandalism, accidents involving animals, hail damage, storm damage, fallen branches, and other non-accident-related damages.
If you only have basic liability coverage with Travelers, then you need to pay for windshield repairs and replacements out of pocket. If you have full coverage car insurance, however, then Travelers will cover the cost of repairing your windshield (while waiving the deductible) or replacing your windshield (while paying the deductible).
Repairing Versus Replacing Your Windshield
Sometimes, an auto glass repair center can repair your damage, saving you from buying a new windshield and paying your deductible.
In other cases, the auto glass repair center cannot repair your damage, and you need a brand new windshield.
You pay your deductible for windshield replacements, but you do not pay a deductible for windshield repairs. Here’s how it works:
Windshield Repairs (No Deductible Required): If your windshield chips can be covered by a quarter, or if your windshield cracks can be covered by a dollar bill, and if there’s no damage in the driver’s primary viewing area, then the repair shop should be able to repair your windshield instead of replacing it. In this situation, you make a claim through Travelers, and Travelers waives your deductible. You pay no added cost, and Travelers covers the full cost of the chip and crack repair.
Windshield Replacements (Deductible Required): If your windshield has chips larger than a quarter and cracks longer than a dollar bill, or if there’s damage in the driver’s primary viewing area, then your windshield may need to be replaced. In this situation, you pay your Travelers deductible (typically around $250 for comprehensive coverage), and Travelers covers the remaining cost of replacing your windshield.
Accident Versus Non-Accident Windshield Damage
Most windshield insurance claims fall under your comprehensive coverage. You pay your comprehensive coverage deductible, and Travelers covers all remaining costs of windshield repairs and replacements.
However, some windshield claims fall under your collision coverage, which means different rules apply.
Collision Coverage Covers Accident Damages to Your Windshield: If your windshield was damaged in an accident, then you make a claim through your collision coverage (if you were at-fault) or the other driver’s insurance policy (if the other driver was at fault). You pay your collision coverage deductible (typically around $500), and your insurer covers the full cost of restoring your vehicle, including your windshield, to pre-accident condition.
Comprehensive Coverage Covers All Other Damages: Most windshield damage falls under comprehensive coverage. If hail damages your windshield, for example, or if a truck kicks up a rock on the highway, then you file a claim through your Travelers comprehensive coverage. You pay your comprehensive coverage deductible (typically around $250), and Travelers covers all remaining costs of replacing your windshield.
Some Drivers Pay Zero Deductible for All Windshield Claims
If you live in Florida, Kentucky, or South Carolina, then you pay a $0 deductible for all windshield repair and replacement claims. Due to state insurance law, insurers cannot charge a deductible for most windshield repairs and replacements.
Similarly, drivers in some states have the option to buy full glass coverage, which comes with similar benefits. You pay a few extra dollars for car insurance, but you pay a $0 deductible for any windshield repair or replacement claims. In fact, some states require Travelers (and all other insurers) to offer full glass coverage to policyholders. If you live in Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York, then you can buy full glass coverage through Travelers and avoid paying any deductible for windshield repairs and replacements.
Will Travelers Raise Rates After a Windshield Claim?
Travelers will not raise rates after a windshield damage claim under comprehensive coverage, but they could raise rates for collision coverage claims.
Travelers will not raise rates for comprehensive coverage claims. Most windshield repairs and replacements fall under comprehensive coverage. You pay a deductible, Travelers covers the full cost of windshield replacement, and you continue to pay the same premiums.
Travelers may raise rates for collision coverage claims. If your windshield damage was caused by an accident where you were at fault, then you can make a claim through your collision coverage. In this situation, you pay your collision coverage deductible and Travelers covers the remaining cost of replacing your windshield. Travelers raises rates after any claim involving an at-fault accident (unless you have accident forgiveness).
How to File a Windshield Replacement Claim with Travelers
Travelers makes it easy to report an auto glass claim online or over the phone. Just contact Travelers to initiate the claim, and Travelers will explain the next steps.
- Report your auto glass claim by calling Travelers at 1-800-238-6225. Or, report your glass claim online.
- Get repairs. You can repair your vehicle at one of Travelers’ recommended repair shops. Or, you can choose your own windshield repair shop. Travelers should cover the damage either way.
- Pay your deductible. If your windshield needs to be replaced, then you should need to pay your deductible. After paying your deductible, Travelers should cover all remaining costs of replacing your windshield.
Depending on how the damage occurred, it may be worth paying out of pocket for windshield replacement. If you damaged your windshield in an at-fault accident, for example, or if your deductible is higher than the repair bill, then you’re better paying out of pocket.
Final Word on Travelers’ Windshield Replacement Coverage
Travelers covers windshield replacement similar to how other insurers cover windshield replacement: Travelers should cover windshield replacement for all drivers with full coverage car insurance.
You make a claim with Travelers, then repair your windshield at a local repair shop. You pay your deductible (typically $250 to $500), and Travelers covers all remaining costs. If your windshield only needs repairs, or if you have full glass coverage, then you pay zero deductible for windshield repairs or replacements.
Contact Travelers to initiate your windshield replacement claim today.
