Will My Insurance Rates Increase After a Windshield Claim?

Last Updated on October 8, 2023

If you have recently made a windshield insurance claim, then you may be concerned about higher insurance premiums.

Most windshield claims are comprehensive claims and do not impact insurance premiums.

Insurance companies do not typically raise rates after one or two comprehensive insurance claims, but they may raise premiums after collision coverage claims. 

Will your insurance rates increase after a windshield claim? Will you pay higher premiums because you made a claim? Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about how insurance rates change after a windshield insurance claim.

Key Takeaways:

• Most windshield claims are comprehensive claims and do not impact insurance premiums, unless you have multiple claims in a short period of time.
• Some insurers offer free or discounted windshield repairs or replacements with no deductible, depending on your state and policy.
• You may want to pay out of pocket for windshield replacement if the cost is close to your deductible, as making a claim could raise your premiums in the future.
• You should contact your insurer to check how a windshield claim will affect your rates, as policies vary by state and company.

Most Insurers Don’t Raise Rates After a Windshield Claim

Any time you file a claim, insurers have the option to raise premiums.

In most cases, however, insurers will not raise rates for a windshield repair or replacement claim, assuming it falls under comprehensive coverage (as most windshield repair and replacement claims do).

However, if you have made multiple windshield replacement claims in the last three to five years, then insurers could raise rates.

Or, if you’re filing a windshield replacement claim under collision coverage (say, if damage occurred after an accident with another vehicle), then insurers will likely raise rates. Collision coverage claims occur after an accident with another vehicle, and they indicate you’re a riskier driver to insure.

How Insurance Covers Windshield Repairs & Replacements

To understand whether or not your premiums increase after a windshield claim, it helps to understand how insurance covers windshield repairs and replacements.

• Many insurers provide windshield repairs with no deductible. If your windshield only needs to be repaired (not replaced), then you may be able to make a claim and pay zero deductible. Your insurance company is unlikely to raise rates after windshield repairs.
• If your windshield needs to be replaced and cannot be repaired, then your insurer will likely charge a deductible, and your insurer may raise rates. Insurers charge a deductible for comprehensive claims and collision claims.
• At-fault collision claims almost always raise your insurance premiums. Your actions caused an accident with another driver, leading to damage to your vehicle. Your insurer sees you as a higher-risk individual to insure, so they’ll raise premiums.
• Comprehensive claims are unlikely to raise insurance premiums regardless of fault. Most windshield replacement claims fall under comprehensive coverage, which means most windshield replacement claims will not raise premiums.

However, if you have multiple windshield replacement claims within a short period of time, or if you have made multiple comprehensive insurance claims in the last few years, then your insurer could raise rates. Most insurers have the option to raise premiums after any insurance claim – even a single comprehensive claim for windshield replacement.

Some States Ban Insurance Companies from Raising Rates After Windshield Claims

Two states, California and Oklahoma, ban insurance companies from raising premiums after a claim where you were not at fault.

If the damage to your windshield occurred through no fault of your own, for example, then your insurer cannot raise rates if you live in California or Oklahoma.

Even if you don’t live in these two states, your insurer could avoid charging higher rates after a windshield claim because of company policy.

Contact your insurer to ask if a windshield claim will raise rates. Policies vary between insurers and states.

Windshield Claims Could Lead to a Small Increase in Premiums

Most windshield replacement claims will not raise rates because they fall under comprehensive coverage.

However, some insurers raise rates after any claim – including comprehensive claims where you were not at fault.

Fortunately, if your insurer decides to raise rates after your windshield replacement claim, this increase should not be large. Your insurer may only increase premiums by 2.5% to 5%, for example – especially if the damage to your windshield was not a result of your actions.

Ultimately, insurance is all about risk. If your driving behavior led to your windshield damage, then your insurance company could see you as a higher risk and raise premiums. If you have a higher-than-average number of windshield claims in a short period of time, then your insurer could raise premiums because of this higher risk.

Consider Paying Out of Pocket for Windshield Replacement

It’s not always worth it to file a claim for windshield replacement. In fact, many drivers are better off paying for windshield replacement out of pocket.

Let’s say it costs $600 to replace your windshield. Your comprehensive coverage deductible is $500. Technically, you’re saving $100 by making a claim. However, your insurer raises rates by 5% after making a claim, adding $50 to your car insurance premiums for the next five years. You may have saved money today, but you’re paying more in higher premiums over the coming years.

Run the numbers to see if it’s worth filing a claim for windshield replacement. Depending on your insurer and policy, you may be better off paying out of pocket.

Note: Three states (Florida, Kentucky, and South Carolina) require insurers to offer windshield repairs and replacements with no deductible. If you live in these three states, you can replace a windshield without paying anything out of pocket. In other states, insurers may offer full glass coverage or other policies to waive or lower the windshield claim deductible.

Windshield Repairs Rarely Increase Premiums

If your windshield needs to be repaired but doesn’t need to be replaced, then you’re unlikely to pay higher insurance premiums after the claim.

In fact, most insurers don’t even charge a deductible for windshield repairs. You visit an authorized windshield repair center, the center repairs your windshield, and you pay nothing out of pocket. The insurer covers the full cost of repairing the windshield.

If your windshield can be repaired, then you should not be concerned about the deductible or higher premiums in the future. In most cases, your insurer does not charge a deductible or raise premiums for claims involving windshield repairs.

Contact Your Insurer to Check the Impact of a Windshield Claim

Ultimately, some insurers raise rates after any claim – including a windshield claim – while others do not. Contact your insurer to determine if your insurer will raise rates after a windshield claim.

Insurance companies may or may not charge higher premiums based on:

• State insurance laws
• Previous claims you have made
• Your driving history
• The type of claim
• The type of windshield service (like a repair or a replacement)

Based on all of these factors, a driver in one state could pay significantly higher rates after an insurance claim, while another driver in that state could pay the exact same premiums.

For an accurate answer on how windshield claims impact insurance premiums, contact your insurer.

Final Word

Your insurance rates could increase after any claim – including a windshield claim.

However, your rates will unlikely increase after a windshield claim where you are not at fault – like a typical comprehensive claim for windshield repairs or replacements.

Nevertheless, some insurers raise rates if you’ve made multiple comprehensive claims in a short period of time. Most insurers raise rates after any at-fault collision claim – although they may not raise rates significantly after a single windshield replacement claim.

Contact your insurer if you’re concerned about how a windshield claim will impact rates.