Forget car dent removal for a moment, having a chipped windscreen can be annoying, particularly if it turns into a crack that starts to spread across your field of vision and not even tape can stop it. The first thing to do when you notice a chip or crack in your windscreen is to act – fast. The quicker you do something, the easier it will be to repair it rather than having to replace the entire screen. Here at our accident repair centre we see our fair share of cracked screens! Here’s what to do…
Dig Out Your Paperwork
Yep it’s time to go looking. First of all, you need to check your car insurance documents.
The way insurers treat windscreens can vary from company to company, but the majority cover replacement windscreens or repairs. Most insurers have preferred companies they use to repair damaged windscreens for their customers. For example, Autoglass. However, there is always the option to choose your own accident repair centre specialists as we always say.
The Devil is in The Detail
Some insurers don’t charge any excess (the amount of money you pay towards the claim) as long as you use their preferred windscreen company (typical). Some will charge excess for replacements but not repairs. Others will make you pay the excess whoever you go to and whatever you’ve done.
Of course, the excess varies from company to company. With some insurers, the excess can be so high it’s cheaper to pay from your own pocket so consider this carefully. This is why it’s so important to check your insurance policy before you contact any windscreen companies directly.
Windscreen Cover is A Good Thing
Windscreen repair companies are used to dealing with insurers, and it’s in their interest for you to use their services. So, they’re on your side and will usually help to smooth out the process.
If your insurance doesn’t cover windscreen repair or replacement, you may be pleasantly surprised at how affordable a small or simple repair can be. But if your car has features such as rain-sensing windscreen wipers, or a heated or panoramic windscreen, the cost of a replacement can be high. Ford use a special type of windowscreen for example and believe us we know Ford. Car dent removal in this instance can be tricky.
Will Windscreen Repair Affect My Insurance or No Claim Discount?
So now is the big question we have been waiting for. Well, It’s worth mentioning you’ve made a windscreen claim when an insurer asks if you’ve used your insurance because technically you have.
How they then use that information depends entirely on individual insurers. Some will take a year off your No Claim Discount if you’ve made a windscreen claim, some might increase your next premium. Others won’t be in the slightest bit interested. All we can say is when renewal comes up look at confused.com or other comparison sites as there always deals to be had.
Do You Need to Have A Stone Chip Repaired?
The simple answer is yes, no matter how small a chip in a windscreen is, it will need repairing. This is because any imperfection is a weakness in the windscreen’s surface and you do not want that caving in belive us we see this a lot being an accident repair centre.
According to Autoglass, the windscreen provides up to 30% of a car’s structural strength. As a lot of force goes through it, particularly over rough roads, a chip can develop into a crack at any point. While chips can be repaired, cracks can’t – so it’s potentially a lot cheaper to have windscreen damage assessed and fixed promptly before it deteriorates.
How Do Windscreen Repair Services Work?
To repair a chipped windscreen, the technician cleans the area then fills it with a clear resin that has a similar optical property to glass. This enables you to see through it, and prevents dirt or moisture from getting in and vibrations from affecting it… all of which can cause the screen to crack.