Why does auto glass insurance coverage have a $0 deductible?

[SmackFu]

I had to get my windshield replaced this week, and so once again ran into this quirk of insurance policies. I have a $0 deductible on the safety glass part of my comprehensive insurance. I don't think it was an option when I got the insurance -- otherwise I would have turned it down. So I assume it is mandatory with comp, at least in this state (CT). Which leads to the question:

Does anyone know why the safety glass is split out on the comprehensive insurance, and why the deductible is $0? Is it always $0, or am I just lucky?

[pmh]

2 reasons I have heard:

1) Most damage to windsheilds start out with small cracks or chips that can be repaired without replacing the entire pane. Paying a small amout to repair the glass at this stage is preferable to paying the cost to replace the entire windsheild after the crack spreads. $0 deductable is an incentive to do the repair at the earliest opportunity.

2) Since the windsheild is an important safety feature, Insurance companies want it to be in good condition. A higher deductable would encourage the driver to delay repair or replacement until it became absolutely neccesary. This could expose the insurance carrier to higher damage payments and/or lawsuits.

[GraceTX]

In Texas, glass companies have figured out a way to charge the insurance company back for your deductible so you don't have to pay it. When I worked at State Farm (many, many years ago), we were told NOT to recommend our clients to any of these companies. Of course if you went to one of them anyway, we ended up eating the $50 or whatever the deductible.

[brad_d]

I'm in California, and my policy waives the deductible when I get a windshield repaired, but not if I get one replaced altogether - probably for the reason pmh cited.

Which sucks for me right now. A couple of weeks ago I caught a small flying rock and a little crack started down on the lower right corner. As quickly as I could, I got myself in on an insurance claim to a glass repair shop, where it would be repaired for free (i.e., fully covered w/ no deductible).

Problem is, the repair attempt didn't succeed - the guy was a little shady on details, but he told me that stresses are higher near the corners, and that repair attempts frequently don't work in those areas.

Now the damned thing is growing, and I'm worried that I'm going to have to replace the whole stupid windshield eventually. Ranger front windshields are comparatively cheap (~$160 installed), but that's less than my deductible, so I'm on the hook for it all.

Grr.....

[zut]

Huh. I'm reasonably certain that under my insurance (MI), glass repair is NOT split out of the comprehensive. I guess I'm not really sure, since I have $0 comprehensive deductible, so either way it's invisible to me.

BTW, [b]brad[b], you might consider looking into $0 comprehensive deductible. Last I checked, under my insurance, the premium difference was small (<$10 per six months), and I've had six new windshields, plus one deer accident, in twelve years, so I'm way ahead.

[Drum God]

I had to have the back window replaced (we live next to a golf course) and I can assure you that our deductible was noticibly higher than $0. In fact, I had to cough up $200 for the job. Still, the total repair was over $1000, so I came out ahead.

Now, the cars live in the garage instead of the driveway.