- Which states have free windshield replacement?
- Free windshield replacement
- Free windshield repair
- Windshield insurance, by company
- No-deductible windshield replacement
- How much does it cost to replace a windshield?
- Will my insurance go up if I get my windshield replaced?
- Does liability insurance cover window repair?
- Does gap insurance cover windshield replacement?
- Don't drive with a cracked windshield
- Frequently asked questions
Free windshield replacement is mandated under some state car insurance laws. If you live in a free windshield state, your insurance company must pay for your windshield repair or replacement without you paying a deductible.
However, free windshield replacement laws apply to the comprehensive portion of your auto policy, not a liability. That means free windshield replacement laws apply only to policyholders with comprehensive car insurance.
Other states offer separate glass coverage with no deductible or a separate, lower deductible than your comprehensive insurance. Regardless of where you live, insurance companies will sometimes repair windshields without you paying a deductible.
Here we will explain the details.
- If you carry comprehensive insurance coverage, Florida, Kentucky, and South Carolina are the only states that waive the car insurance deductible for windshield repair or replacement.
- Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York allow separate glass coverage with no deductible on your glass claim.
- Some insurers offer glass coverage policies with no deductible regardless of where you live.
- Gap insurance doesn’t cover windshield repair or replacement.
Which states have free windshield replacement?
The three free windshield replacement states are Florida, Kentucky and South Carolina, which waive the car insurance deductible for windshield repair or replacement and are referred to as having free windshield replacement or zero deductible states.
This isn’t a free windshield replacement, though, since you have to pay for comprehensive insurance coverage as part of your auto insurance policy to claim your windshield.
State laws differ on what glass claims come without a deductible. Florida only waives the deductible for windshields, but Kentucky and South Carolina cover all glass replacements without a deductible.
Free windshield replacement
Even if you don’t live in a free windshield state, you may have the choice to buy glass coverage that doesn’t include a deductible. The following states offer the option of separate glass coverage with no deductible on your glass claim:
- Arizona
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- New York
In Massachusetts, you can purchase glass coverage with free windshield repair or replacement or a $100 deductible separate from your comprehensive deductible.
Regardless of where you live, getting free windshield replacement under your comprehensive coverage may be possible. Insurance companies may offer policies with no deductible, so you should ask specifically about glass coverage.
Free windshield repair
Insurance companies often repair windshields for free, meaning no deductible is applied to a comprehensive claim.
Windshield insurance, by company
We’ve covered what happens if you live in a free windshield state (Florida, Kentucky and South Carolina) or in a state where there is the option for coverage with a lower deductible or no deductible on your glass claim (Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota and New York). Here we outline how some major carriers cover windshield damage if you live in one of the other 42 states.
USAA windshield replacement and repair: Waives the deductible for repairs but not a replacement.
Geico windshield replacement and repair: Waives deductible for repairs but not a replacement.
Progressive windshield replacement and repair: Waives deductible for repairs if the crack is less than six inches long.
No-deductible windshield replacement
Even if you do not live in a state with free windshield replacement, you can always ask your insurance carrier if it can waive the deductible for your windshield claim.
If you prefer not to pay a deductible when claiming your windshield (but don’t live in a zero deductible state), then when doing your car insurance comparison shopping, look around for companies offering a $0 deductible for glass coverage. This option may cost you more, but if you live in an area where having your windshield damaged is likely, it could save you money in the long run.
How much does it cost to replace a windshield?
The cost to replace a windshield depends on the make, year and model of your vehicle, the severity and location of the damage and the type of glass used, but on average, expect to pay $200 to $400. The cost will be more if you have a luxury or antique car.
Will my insurance go up if I get my windshield replaced?
Typically, claiming a windshield replacement won’t affect your premium. Your insurance rates won’t increase by much if you get your windshield replaced, even if you don’t live in a state with free windshield replacement laws.
If you file a comprehensive claim to repair or replace your windshield, generally, your rates won’t go up, as most comprehensive claims don’t incur a rate increase. If you see a bump in your premium, it will be minimal. The average comprehensive claim hikes rates by less than 3%, or just $39 a year, based on a CarInsurance.com rate analysis.
Does liability insurance cover window repair?
No, your liability insurance won’t cover window repair. Your liability insurance won’t pay for window repair. Still, if you are hit by another driver and that driver is at fault for the accident, the other driver’s liability insurance will cover the damage to your windshield or windows.
Liability insurance only pays for damage you cause to other vehicles and injuries you cause to others but does not cover your own car. That’s why you need to have comprehensive insurance for glass damage.
Does gap insurance cover windshield replacement?
Gap insurance doesn’t cover windshield repair or replacement. Gap insurance pays out the difference between the actual cash value of your car and the outstanding balance on your loan or lease if the car is totaled.
Don’t drive with a cracked windshield
You may be tempted to drive with a cracked windshield if it’s a minor ding and isn’t in your line of vision. But it’s dangerous to do so. Considered a primary safety feature in any automobile, today’s windshields are designed to:
- Protect occupants in a rollover: A windshield is akin to a load-bearing wall in a house. If it doesn’t remain firmly in place, the roof will collapse under its weight, injuring or killing those inside.
- Keep passengers inside the vehicle: In a crash, it’s almost always best not to be ejected. An intact and properly installed windshield not only keeps people in, but it also keeps road and crashes debris out. According to Safelite, damaged glass is 60% to 70% weaker than intact glass.
- Cushion the passenger airbag: Airbags deploy with extreme force. The passenger’s front airbag strikes the windshield first. The passenger is left unprotected if the windshield comes unmoored or the glass is weak.
- Ensure visibility: Cheap or chipped glass can distort optics, shatter under the stress of normal driving vibration or temperature variation, and impair wiper blades.
Frequently asked questions
Does liability insurance cover windshield replacement?
Liability insurance only pays for a windshield replacement if another person caused the damage. If you were in an accident and it was the other driver’s fault, you can file a claim against their liability insurance policy.
Do you have to pay a deductible for a cracked windshield?
Your car insurance company may waive the deductible if your windshield is repaired for a covered comprehensive loss. But if the windshield needs to be replaced, you’ll still be covered, but you may have to pay the deductible.
Ask the Insurance Expert
Laura Longero
Executive Editor
Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.
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Leslie Kasperowicz
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Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.
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Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.