Windscreen Chip - Why is Repair Free?

anotheruser

I don't really understand this whole "we'll repair for free" and "no claims not affected" for windscreen chips.

Obviously the company will charge someone, so if you have the right cover, your insurance will pay out, which is costing them money. Last I checked, insurance companies hate paying out, so why is this aspect so freely given as a freebie?

Thanks

Nodding_Donkey

Because it is cheaper for them to pay a repair charge than to pay for a new windscreen at a later date.

christineperseus

I'm with Direct Line - it costs £10 for repair and counts as a claim!!!!

bryanb

Only ever had 1 chip repair, was told it's "Liquid glass" When I said there is no such substance he admitted it's silicone. It lasted about 3 weeks. there was no charge to me but presumably the insurance companies pay because it's cheaper than a windscreen.

ilikewatch

anotheruser wrote: »

I don't really understand this whole "we'll repair for free" and "no claims not affected" for windscreen chips.

Obviously the company will charge someone, so if you have the right cover, your insurance will pay out, which is costing them money. Last I checked, insurance companies hate paying out, so why is this aspect so freely given as a freebie?

Thanks

Almost all chips will eventually turn into cracks unless repaired, and chip repairs have a very high permanent success rate. With a repair costing the insurance company £40-£50 (I think) and a replacement windscreen potentially costing several hundred pounds (especially for cars with heated screens etc.) it makes a lot of sense for insurers to save money in the long run by repairing chips early on.

Stoke

Also with Direct Line. They claim it doesn't affect your NCD, however when I phoned up for a renewal, they asked if I had any claims in the last 5 years, I said about the accident I had, and then they turned round and said "oh yes, and you also have a windscreen claim".

In my opinion, it's worth looking locally for repair garages etc or even using your own kit.

anotheruser

Thanks for the quick replies.

I don't particularly plan to stay with the AA (my current insurance company) unless they offer something great so if they count it as a claim internally, it won't get added to my list - but I will make doubly sure on that one.

My chip is only small, and I suspect they wouldn't be able to repair it at all but it's a heated screen so would be a little worried using it come winter time.

WINTER IS COMING!

ilikewatch

bryanb wrote: »

Only ever had 1 chip repair, was told it's "Liquid glass" When I said there is no such substance he admitted it's silicone. It lasted about 3 weeks. there was no charge to me but presumably the insurance companies pay because it's cheaper than a windscreen.

It should be a UV cured resin - if they used silicone I'm not surprised it only lasted 3 weeks! I had 2 large chips repaired in my last company car - although they were about the maximum size that could be repaired by resin injection the repair was almost invisible and lasted 3 years/120K before I replaced the car.

anotheruser

See this is where I get a little confused.
THIS USER says it will count as a claim, which I am not so sure about.
I appreciate each company is different but if it's going to count as a claim, you may as well get a replacement, which isn't ideal for all parties involved.

motorguy

anotheruser wrote: »

See this is where I get a little confused.
THIS USER says it will count as a claim, which I am not so sure about.
I appreciate each company is different but if it's going to count as a claim, you may as well get a replacement, which isn't ideal for all parties involved.

I would have thought they may well register it as a claim against your policy, but not necessarily weight your insurance against you because of it.

I £50 windscreen claim is clearly not going to have the same impact as ploughing into another car blind drunk and causing £20,000 of damage.

However, i would have thought if you claimed regularly off your insurance for a new windscreen - say every six months regularly for several years - then they would be entitled to weight your insurance based on the fact that you must be driving on roads that cause regular damage to your windscreen.

InsideInsurance

It does count as a claim but that doesnt mean it effects either NCD or Premium. Most exclude glass claims explicitly from effecting NCD, a tiny number of insurers say you wont earn a years NCD in the year of a glass claim but you dont lose any either.

I "forgot" to declare a glass repair claim when switching insurers last year, remembered before the policy incepted, called the new insurer and they added it without any increase in premiums etc.


You dont get a choice over repair or replace. The glass companies have guidelines and must stick to them. If it can be repaired safely then thats what will happen, if it cannot be it'll be replaced.