Cracked windscreen

elsien

Just noticed a large crack on my windscreen, top middle, behind the mirror. There's a chip then the crack comes straight down 2 inches and then diagonally about another 5 inches.
Just wondering if the windscreen's likely to go mid drive - I do a couple of hours motorway driving a day.
Plus cheapest way to get it fixed - insurance excess is £100 so not sure it's worth claiming on for a replacement windscreen. 2006 Skoda Fabia.

Ozzuk

It will be laminated so unlikely fail completely, however with this time of year the heat differences could cause the crack to expand very rapidly and suddenly.

You'll have to check your insurance policy but I don't think claims for replacement will impact it (aside from excess) so its really down to either sourcing through a scrap merchant and finding someone to fit, or buying new.

Likely, the £100 is the cheapeast/easiest option, fitting a windscreen isn't really DIY.

s_b

Ask your local garage that maintains your car what independent windscreen fitter they use,i wouldn't pay more than £130 new fitted for a screen for one of these cars and im being generous.
Alternative if you can find a good Guy, he can indeed go to scrappy cut one out and affix it in your car but its not an easy solution and one i only use for an odball car not something common like a schkoda
only go insurance if you have insurance windscreen cover

gilbert_and_sullivan

Yep, small indy local screen guy every time.

I don't bother claiming for the odd screen, when you go years without any claims whatsoever the renewals can be seriously cheap.

Glassman

s_b wrote: »

Ask your local garage that maintains your car what independent windscreen fitter they use,i wouldn't pay more than £130 new fitted for a screen for one of these cars and im being generous.

Are you an MP?

Where did you get that "generous" 130-quid from, the eighties?

s_b wrote: »

Alternative if you can find a good Guy, he can indeed go to scrappy cut one out and affix it in your car but its not an easy solution and one i only use for an odball car not something common like a schkoda
only go insurance if you have insurance windscreen cover

Sound advice from someone who has no idea what they're talking about.

s_b

Glassman wrote: »

Are you an MP?

Where did you get that "generous" 130-quid from, the eighties?




Sound advice from someone who has no idea what they're talking about.

im sorry?
is there a problem here?
i have 2 independents i can call on depending what i need doing and
for your interest i also fit my own screens if i need to, have since 78
also buying new windscreens is a closed shop to outsiders something i class as a cartel you will know this though

Glassman

s_b wrote: »

im sorry?
is there a problem here?
i have 2 independents i can call on depending what i need doing and
for your interest i also fit my own screens if i need to, have since 78
also buying new windscreens is a closed shop to outsiders something i class as a cartel you will know this though

It's a problem if you see it as one, but you should keep your business to yourself. Every industry will have its budget, or bangers 'n' mash merchants but it should never be used as any kind of benchmark.

Buying cheap never ends well (although I maintain that 130 quid for a Fabia windscreen is way below viable). It may not be for the immediate consumer, but somebody somewhere will eventually cop the bitter taste of the sweetness of low price.

Do you know what a cartel is?

s_b

Glassman wrote: »

It's a problem if you see it as one, but you should keep your business to yourself. Every industry will have its budget, or bangers 'n' mash merchants but it should never be used as any kind of benchmark. the windscreen market is one where you set up in business and fit screens,its a market where there is room for everyone and they can fix their prices accordingly

Buying cheap never ends well (although I maintain that 130 quid for a Fabia windscreen is way below viable). It may not be for the immediate consumer, but somebody somewhere will eventually cop the bitter taste of the sweetness of low price. buying cheap has nothing to do with it its called operating in a free market something this country the UK still does

Do you know what a cartel is? as i explained going to one of the manufacturer wholesalers to purchase a new windscreen to purchase cash and carry they wont supply this can only be because the windscreen fitters are in a cartel or if you prefer a closed shop

you know as well as i do that the big boys over charge for their products,if you are an independant then you also know that most of your business comes via people like me who refer you to our customers if you do a good job at a reasonable price,we all have to eat but we dont need to eat caviar everynight,certainly monesavers on this forum dont

over to you

BeenThroughItAll

s_b wrote: »

you know as well as i do that the big boys over charge for their products,if you are an independant then you also know that most of your business comes via people like me who refer you to our customers if you do a good job at a reasonable price,we all have to eat but we dont need to eat caviar everynight,certainly monesavers on this forum dont

over to you

You're aware that most of that post is basically meaningless, aren't you? I can only assume it's deliberate as no one can even accidentally write something as unutterably dreadful as that. It was like an accident in an encyclopaedia factory.

caliew

Hi,

I have worked in insurance for a number of years and have just left due to childcare reasons, some underwriters offer unlimited windscreen cover, if you have say a chip on the windscreen sometimes you don't need to pay the excess if its just a chip, however if it is a full windscreen replacement then usually it is subjected to a lower excess of £50 or £75, surprised its £100 but there you go it might well be. Its entirely up to you as a consumer if you want to go through insurance or organise the replacement itself, also I think there is some legal requirements on driving around with a cracked windscreen if its affecting viewing. If you choose to get the work carried out independently most insurance underwriters tend to ask if there has been any claims, accidents or losses in the last 5 years and thats even if its been subjected to an insurance claim, this will be classed as a windscreen damage and usually still needs to be recorded on your file for risk. Hope this helps

bob_a_builder

and usually still needs to be recorded on your file for risk.

And this will be to fit in with the insurance industry mantra ," if you have had one incident then you are much more likely to have another " even when you played no part in the event ?

Not sure how this can apply in the cases when your parked car is randomly hit by a 3rd party, and even less so when we are talking random stones flying up off the road hitting your screen