autoglass repair? What's the catch?

immoral_angeluk

We've got a chip on our windowscreen and I heard that autoglass do repairs for free as an insurance claim but it doesn't affect your no claims and there's no excess to pay...
Sounds too good to be true so what's the catch?

anewman

You need fully comp or windscreen cover on your insurance, and autoglass has to be one of your insurer's approved people I think. Read your insurance policy (boring I know but it should all be in there). Most people would say a chip needs repairing ASAP as it can get worse, but I've had one for nearly a year that hasn't got any bigger, but I might just be lucky.

hm71_2

MY OH has this done recently, we phoned his insurer first (first alternative) and said we'd heard a radio ad, and did they cover it, they said yes gave us a number to call and when u call autoglass they take your policy number etc.. but no charge made- he had 2 chips fixed took 1/2 hr and came to our home to do it. i assume its cheaper to fix it then pay for a whole new windscreen so it works out better for the insurance company.

immoral_angeluk

Brilliant.. just read my insurance policy and as I'm with churchill it's covered. Even said in the policy details about using autoglass... no excess and doesn't effect no claims. Woohoo! Got them coming out to us on saturday morning!
:T

Woby_Tide

as said previously, the gist is that it's cheaper to repair a chip than replace a windscreen. Bear in mind though that you'll have to sign a waiver that the chip repair process could actually crack the windscreen which would then require you to claim for it

CHR15

Also deoends how big the chip is and where it is.

I think a 5p piece has to cover the chip completely.

Also it can't be in the drivers field of view (draw two lines vertically from each side of the steering wheel)

morg_monster

No they can fix a chip in the drivers field of view AFAIK, a RAC windscreen chip guy fixed that kind of chip for me a couple of years ago for free under my Diamond fully comp insurance.

I think the drivers field of view thing is guidance on whether the chip will fail the MOT?

I was told that if the chip fits under a £1 coin the Autoglass/RAC guys can fix it like this for free. Valuable millimetres!

CHR15

Inflation!

NopainNogain_2

I'd certainally go for a repair, rather than have the hassle & expense of having the thing break on you!

However - I had a repair done a few years back - free, no loss of NCD as advertised, BUT for years afterwards I had to PAY EXTRA to renew my car insurance because I had "made a claim, even one that didn't affect your NCD" (and wasn't my fault, either!!) :huh:

joshm_2

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

We've got a chip on our windowscreen and I heard that autoglass do repairs for free as an insurance claim but it doesn't affect your no claims and there's no excess to pay...
Sounds too good to be true so what's the catch?

The catch is that the windscreen companies are taking your money indirectly through increased insurance premiums from unnecessary claims.

roddydogs

Post 9 is ridiculous-they dont stress the W/S in any way, they just fill the "Crack" with resin......but you still have the crack!