# So I need to replace my windshield? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 8, 2015, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-need-to-replace-my-windshield/714523 "2015-03-08T13:24:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-need-to-replace-my-windshield/714523/41 "2015-03-10T15:13:30Z")
A friend of mine and his wife have 3 cars, all 3 got cracked windshields after last Thursday’s morning of sleet and freezing rain followed by heavy snow and then 15 degree temperatures that night. I’ve read that vehicle windshields are an outer layer of glass, then a layer of plastic, then another layer of glass. If you have a chip/ding/crack on your windshield that penetrates the outer layer of glass then water can get in there and when it freezes, expands and cracks the windshield. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-need-to-replace-my-windshield/714523/42 "2015-03-10T17:03:06Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > A friend of mine and his wife have 3 cars, all 3 got cracked windshields after last Thursday’s morning of sleet and freezing rain followed by heavy snow and then 15 degree temperatures that night. > > I’ve read that vehicle windshields are an outer layer of glass, then a layer of plastic, then another layer of glass. If you have a chip/ding/crack on your windshield that penetrates the outer layer of glass then water can get in there and when it freezes, expands and cracks the windshield. I must be on a lot of ignore lists… ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-need-to-replace-my-windshield/714523/43 "2015-03-10T18:07:30Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I must be on a lot of ignore lists… We’re not allowed to say… 🙂 Anyhoo, I have Nationwide and I’m sure I have always had comprehensive insurance, but I had to add glass coverage after paying for a windshield replacement. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-need-to-replace-my-windshield/714523/44 "2015-03-10T18:11:17Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Check with your insurance company to see what the deductible is on getting it replaced. My current insurance company has no deductible for windshield replacement AND getting it replaced (as long as it’s not part of a bigger accident) won’t raise my premiums. . > > Finally, as others are saying a cracked windshield is a safety hazard. I’m not sure if a cracked windshield will let flying debris through (like what Musicat was saying) since it’s laminated. > With my new insurance company, I have comprehensive set to $500 and then windshield damage set to ‘no deductible’. Yes. It’s not usually a issue with your insurance company, it’s a safety hazard and yes, you should lower your deductible for comprehensive to zero. _Collision_ is expensive, _comprehensive_ is not. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-need-to-replace-my-windshield/714523/45 "2015-03-10T18:13:26Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > Thanks guys! I think I’ll wait for a bit. My inspection isn’t due until the end of the year. I think my insurance only covers glass repair, probably not a crack like this or a complete replacement, at least not without the deductible, which is $500 in my case. Hope Santa has a big sled this year. Just call them, ask. ---
**Author:** ![Beelzebubba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Beelzebubba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beelzebubba)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-need-to-replace-my-windshield/714523/46 "2015-03-12T17:30:59Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > My insurance company lets you add no-deductable glass coverage to your comprehensive policy, which I think adds like $100 a year. The difference in premiums and deductibles for glass coverage will vary from state to state, with no two being exactly the same. We have 51 different insurance systems in this country (each state + D.C.) which makes it all more complicated than it is in the first place! Typically, your glass replacement coverage deductible is the same as you Comprehensive (aka- ‘Other Than Collision’) deductible. If your insurance company offers the option of a lower deductible for glass coverage, which some companies do in some states, that lower deductible would apply. For example, here in Georgia, my Comprehensive deductible is $250, Collision is $500 but I chose ‘Full Glass Coverage’ for an extra $23/year. I have $0 deductible on glass repair/replacement and (in Georgia) Comprehensive claims (including Glass) do not cause a rate increase. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-need-to-replace-my-windshield/714523.md?page=2)