windscreen chip-how does insurance pay?

mutley74

I have a small chip on windscreen. I notice that Autoglass says that if one has comprehensive cover the insurer may pay for the repair? If so how does this work, as surely insurers dont want to pay un-necessary claims without affecting my NCB.

any advice/tips on this please

Gordon_Hose

You call Autoglass for a repair/replace, they turn up at the agreed time and repair/replace your windscreen. They recover the cost from the insurance company they gave you when you called them. They also collect any excess payments when you book your appointment.

I may not affect your NCB, but it will be listed as a claim and that can affect premiums in the future.

fred7777

You need to check your insurance documents as different insurers have different rules and Autoglass won't explain the details as they don't know them and want the business.
In general insurers are happy to pay the very low cost of fixing a chip as it avoids paying out the larger costs of replacing a windscreen. However different insurers have different rules about who does the work and how much they pay.
In my experience when I needed a new windscreen (costing £300) due to a large crack which appeared from nowhere one hot summer, the insurers paid £175 because there was a £125 excess and it didn't effect my no claims.

Lirin

I've just had mine replaced- a crack caused by a stone from a lorry.

Cost me £50 excess, but didn't affect the no claims or premiums.

Quentin

Lirin wrote: »

Cost me £50 excess, but didn't affect the no claims or premiums.

You will have to declare this claim to any other insurers should you want to move.

And although your "no claims" isn't affected that is not always the case.

eg Swiftcover don't give you any NCD for the year should you make a windscreen claim.

And the claim usually will cause your premium to get a loading. (Though not till renewal)

mutley74

thanks for replies. my insurer is Morethan, and autoglass have approved them on the system when i called to enquire to fix any chips, with nothing to pay. but i am concerned that this still have to de declared for future insurance quotes.

Quentin

Do some virtual quotes on line with and without this claim to see what difference claiming (or not claiming) off your insurance makes to your premiums.

You could find it is cheap for a repair via an independent glass company, as opposed to using a national like a/g.

mutley74

Quentin wrote: »

Do some virtual quotes on line with and without this claim to see what difference claiming (or not claiming) off your insurance makes to your premiums.

You could find it is cheap for a repair via an independent glass company, as opposed to using a national like a/g.

will do when i get home.
But i phoned my insurer (morethan) and they said any repairs for glass are covered by policy and do not affect NCB and do not count as a claim under policy.
(but still worth looking into when i get home).

Gordon_Hose

Repairs generally don't count as a claim.

Quentin

mutley74 wrote: »

will do when i get home.
But i phoned my insurer (morethan) and they said any repairs for glass are covered by policy and do not affect NCB and do not count as a claim under policy.
(but still worth looking into when i get home).

Did you speak to the claims department, or a cs rep?

Before you go ahead and claim, get them to confirm all this in writing to you. Also ask them to confirm your premium won't be affected, and that this claim need not be declared to other insurers should you want to move away from them. (Though they cannot excuse you from declaring claims to other insurers!)

Lirin

Quentin, my insurance said the same as above. Since the insurance is reasonably specialised (and cheap!) it's unlikely I'd be changing companies next year, but I'll wait and see what quote they come up with. Sent me an email stating that, which may be handy....
They did say wouldn't affect it in any way, but will see!