Does YOUR car insurance cover a broken windshield? AA is urging drivers to check this as it is now included in fewer deals
- According to the AA, many car insurance policies exclude cover for windscreens
- Other policies only cover glass if motorist insurers pay an extra premium
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The AA is calling on motorists to check their insurance policies as more and more deals fail to provide cover for damaged windscreens.
Not only that, but more and more car insurance policies have higher deductibles for windscreen damage – meaning motorists have to pay more to even make a claim.
An AA poll found that more than eight in ten motorists (86 percent) consider having windscreen cover on their insurance policy ‘important’, with three-fifths saying it is ‘very important’.
And windshields are now more expensive to replace than ever.
Big bills: Replacing a windshield can cost hundreds of dollars as newer cars have fancy features in the glass that increase bills
As more and more technology is installed in cars, a windshield is more than just a simple sheet of glass. Thanks to heating elements, sensors and even cameras, the average cost of replacing a windscreen is €700.
But now AA Insurance is advising drivers to check their car insurance policy, as some insurers are removing windscreen cover in a bid to offer cheaper policies.
Many insurance contracts advertised as ‘basic’ or ‘essential’ have cheap premiums but may omit aspects such as windshield cover, according to AA Insurance.
Gus Park, managing director of AA Insurance Services, said: ‘With household budgets under pressure, the temptation is to find cheaper alternatives, but when it comes to car insurance it can be a matter of not knowing what you’re missing.
‘Windscreen cover is usually removed on entry level insurance policies, so it’s worth checking what you’re covered for.
‘Claiming for window damage is one of the most common reasons why motorists use their policy. If this is not included, drivers are likely to lose the savings they earned from purchasing a ‘basic’ policy.
Financial data firm Defaqto backed the AA’s findings, saying the number of car insurance contracts excluding windscreen cover was small but rising.
Defaqto said only 6 percent of auto insurance policies offer no windshield coverage at all, down from 2 percent in 2019.
But this figure could be higher than it seems, as many other deals only offer windscreen insurance if the driver pays an additional fee.
Mike Powell, car insurance expert at Defaqto, said: ‘Windscreen cover is included in the vast majority of comprehensive products. However, we are seeing a trend towards this being removed and a cheaper premium being offered as a result.
“Insurers who choose to purchase these types of products may find that this could be a false economy, especially if they need to replace a windscreen.”
Defaqto also notices that the excesses when replacing windscreens are increasing. The average deductible for a windscreen has increased from €79 in 2019 to €107 today.
Powell added: “One of the reasons for this increase is the new technology being used in windshields today.
‘Most modern cars require the windscreen to be recalibrated due to the advanced driver assistance systems controlled by the sensors in the windscreen.
“Another major reason is the cost of windshield glass, which, like most auto parts, has increased.”