Scratched windscreen / MOT

spikeymike41

Hi all,

My car's windscreen recently got scratched on the driver side. It's not in direct view when driving, you'd only see it under certain lighting/surrounding and looking towards the sky. The hairline scratches are about 5cm long, you can feel it if you run your fingernail across it.

My question is... Would this fail the MOT? Its barely visible and it doesn't affect the vision whilst driving. My car is under 3 years old but its due an MOT in a few months, so I'm not sure whether to get the windscreen replaced or not. I know my insurance has £75 excess, done by Autoglass.

Appreciate any advice.
Cheers.

Joe_Horner

You should be ok if it's as you described. The tester's manual has this to say in its notes re windscreen damage:

Scratches on the windscreen, i.e. light surface scratching, are not to be considered as damage. However, an area of concentrated scratching such as caused by the prolonged use of a defective wiper blade which obscures vision is to be considered a Reason for Rejection if it meets thefail criteria

If you'd describe it as "light surface scratching" rather than "an area of concentrated scratches which obscures vision" then I'd leave it and see what happens.

NewUserHere

Even so, i'd question whether it would have been worth using your insurance company! Don't you still have to declare a claim on the policy for the next 5 years? That'll cost you a lot more than a windscreen.

Last one I had I was being quoted £250-£400 from these national companies - in the end I found a local place that did it for £120!!!

Hintza

Wait and see.

molerat

NewUserHere wrote: »

Even so, i'd question whether it would have been worth using your insurance company! Don't you still have to declare a claim on the policy for the next 5 years? That'll cost you a lot more than a windscreen.

Last one I had I was being quoted £250-£400 from these national companies - in the end I found a local place that did it for £120!!!

A windscreen claim added around £1 to my quotes.

spikeymike41

NewUserHere wrote: »

Even so, i'd question whether it would have been worth using your insurance company! Don't you still have to declare a claim on the policy for the next 5 years? That'll cost you a lot more than a windscreen.

Last one I had I was being quoted £250-£400 from these national companies - in the end I found a local place that did it for £120!!!

Think it said last 3 years on Direct Line, which is who I'm with. Not sure how much it'll increase my insurance but I could run a quote tonight and see.

Hintza wrote: »

Wait and see.

Actually, having had another look this morning before going to work. it's more like 8cm, some scratches overlapping...

Does anyone know how much windscreen replacements cost with Autoglass without going through insurance?