Scratches on windscreen
A few months back I was driving through a forest trail in Scotland and some stones got kicked up onto my wiper blades. After using my wipers to clear the dust, it's left scratches in an arc right in the driver's eyeline. I tried repairing it my self but if anything I made it worse. They aren't deep scratches, you can't even feel them with your finger nail. I've been quoted £60 to get it repaired by a local repair shop. I do have windscreen cover which is free repairs and £75 to replace my windscreen (Honda Civic). The people I spoke to seem to think it's unlikely their repairers (Autoglass) will repair it so it looks like it will be a replacement job.
I'm not sure what to do. I've been reassured by my broker that claiming windscreen damage won't affect my no claims discount nor will I need to declare to most insurance companies when getting a quote and they ask if I have claimed in the last 5 years. I've also heard that some people have had loads of trouble with leaks after getting a windscreen replaced, but on the other hand I doubt the repair option will get rid of all the scratches.
What do you think is the best option to take?
I'm not sure what to do. I've been reassured by my broker that claiming windscreen damage won't affect my no claims discount nor will I need to declare to most insurance companies when getting a quote and they ask if I have claimed in the last 5 years. I've also heard that some people have had loads of trouble with leaks after getting a windscreen replaced, but on the other hand I doubt the repair option will get rid of all the scratches.
What do you think is the best option to take?
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Comments
Pay the excess and get a new screen.
I had a new screen fitted by Autoglass before Christmas, I have nothing but praise for how the whole situation was handled, including the fitting....my car is a Peugeot 407 with a difficult fitting job.
No problems, either at the time or later.
I've also called in the local Autoglass depot to have a couple of small chips repaired. There's no charge for this on my policy.
I have had two screen replacements through two different insurance companies and on all renewals since then they have been included in the 'have you claimed before' section.
That doesn't happen with my insurance company (LV=). Once the screen's been replaced, and I've paid the excess, that's the end of it.
Anyway, why should you need to tell your insurance company, since they already know about it - they paid the glass company.
Of course, it may be different if you're changing insurer.
I'm with them as well and it had no affect on my premium.
There are glass specialists who can deal with scratches, but much depends on the type of damage (eg depth, concentration of scratches, or what they were caused by) and which glass it is (the process generates a lot of heat dependent on the effort required and there is a propensity for the glass to distort, or even crack; side and rear windows will take a lot more).
If there is insurance cover, be careful with what you can, or cannot claim for. Much depends on the wording in each policy and what it defines as damage; some will even differentiate between stone-chips, cracks and 'cosmetic' damage.
Whilst claiming for a replacement windscreen has no relation to NCD, Swift Cover (AXA) will suspend NCD for a year after a glass claim. Other prospective insurers are also require prior disclosure of any glass claims. It is also worth noting that most - if not all - insurance activity is recorded on the Claims & Underwriters Exchange database (CUE).
It won't
;-)