Replacing windscreen

Glassman

d0nkeyk0ng wrote: »

I've read reports that if the windscreen hasn't been fitted properly, then the sensors don't work or go haywire.

It's like with anything, you get what you pay for. That said, if you're paying for a service you should therefore expect the end product to be usable, and fit for purpose. I see there are a few examples of how cheap some vendors can be (cheap for a reason?) however even the 'insurance approved' firms have fitters who can be just as shoddy.

The best available products are genuine, 'OE' grade parts (with the car manufacturer logo on them). Anything without will not be as good and is therefore much cheaper. With either product, fundamentally, it is only as good as the person installing it.

Claiming on insurance will almost definitely mean you'll get a cheap replacement, usually from China or Poland. This also applies to the cheaper quotes from independent fitters.

takman

Glassman wrote: »

AXA ins WILL impact your NCB after making a windscreen claim.

I would also be very interested to speak to anybody claiming there will be no rise in premium after a windscreen claim.

You should try some dummy quotes on comparison sites. I've found that one windscreen claim in the previous year with an otherwise claim free history and generally low risk car and driver does not result in a rise in premium. If you look on this forum some people have had small at fault claims and not had a rise in premium.

takman

Glassman wrote: »

It's like with anything, you get what you pay for. That said, if you're paying for a service you should therefore expect the end product to be usable, and fit for purpose. I see there are a few examples of how cheap some vendors can be (cheap for a reason?) however even the 'insurance approved' firms have fitters who can be just as shoddy.

The best available products are genuine, 'OE' grade parts (with the car manufacturer logo on them). Anything without will not be as good and is therefore much cheaper. With either product, fundamentally, it is only as good as the person installing it.

So your saying that only decent companies will make windscreens with the manufacturers logo on?. How do you know that these sane companies also don't make the same windscreens under a different brand just like all other car parts are produced?. So that results in cheaper parts at the same quality.

Glassman wrote: »

Claiming on insurance will almost definitely mean you'll get a cheap replacement, usually from China or Poland. This also applies to the cheaper quotes from independent fitters.

I've claimed twice on insurance in the past for windscreens and both used Autoglass. So are you saying if I book them myself and pay the £600 they will also use cheap replacements or are you saying they have a special contract with insurance companies to use cheaper windscreens when carrying out replacements for them?

Glassman

takman wrote: »

You should try some dummy quotes on comparison sites. I've found that one windscreen claim in the previous year with an otherwise claim free history and generally low risk car and driver does not result in a rise in premium. If you look on this forum some people have had small at fault claims and not had a rise in premium.

Stay with the same insurer, to compare premiums after claiming for a windscreen. Many will state there is no impact on NCD, but the 'rising cost of insurance' will take all factors into consideration. Even unclaimed losses.

Glassman

takman wrote: »

So your saying that only decent companies will make windscreens with the manufacturers logo on?.

I'm saying there are two tiers (in parts) in terms of quality. The best available parts are the 'genuine' brands, manufactured under license. The lesser quality 'aftermarket' parts are divided further into: those made by the same manufacturers as the OE examples, and the 'non OEM' brands which are usually the cheapest (and most inferior quality of the lot).

takman wrote: »

How do you know that these sane companies also don't make the same windscreens under a different brand just like all other car parts are produced?. So that results in cheaper parts at the same quality.

There are no facts available to debunk your suggestion. There are (commercially sensitive) reasons for this and the manufacturers will probably be reluctant to disclose such information on the basis that they produce two versions of the same part. It's a hugely complex subject which I have been researching for a long time. The most active research has been over the last five years, but my industry experience stretches to 25.

http://www.glasstecpaul.com/dealer-part-windscreens/

http://www.glasstecpaul.com/windscreen-manufacturers-what-do-they-really-mean/

takman wrote: »

I've claimed twice on insurance in the past for windscreens and both used Autoglass. So are you saying if I book them myself and pay the £600 they will also use cheap replacements or are you saying they have a special contract with insurance companies to use cheaper windscreens when carrying out replacements for them?

If you have your windscreen replaced, unless you book the car into a main agent, assume the replacement windscreen will be a non-genuine part (unless you specifically request it, or the installer offers you the choice). The price will be commensurate with the cost of that part (ie, the better quality 'authentic' part usually is dearer than the lesser quality aftermarket equivalent).

There is no industry standard in terms of pricing. The cost of supplying and fitting the same windscreen can go from £145.00 to £600.00 (using the figures quoted above). Autoglass will quote you 600-quid (and probably charge the insurance company the same, but a discount may be applied retrospectively at the end of the billing period/fiscal year). This is not to say 600 is the going rate. A local one-man-band might offer you the same screen for considerably less, or a larger independent (benefiting from bulk-buy discounts) may go even cheaper... as with a lot of businesses, there will always be someone who beats the cheapest quote.

takman

Glassman wrote: »

Stay with the same insurer, to compare premiums after claiming for a windscreen. Many will state there is no impact on NCD, but the 'rising cost of insurance' will take all factors into consideration. Even unclaimed losses.

The only time I have stayed with the same insurer after claiming for a windscreen was a few years ago when I was with Admiral because they were cheapest on comparison sites. They were also cheaper than the previous year after haggling, but I wouldn't say this conclusively means that claiming for a windscreen won't increase premiums in all scenarios.

Glassman

takman wrote: »

The only time I have stayed with the same insurer after claiming for a windscreen was a few years ago when I was with Admiral because they were cheapest on comparison sites. They were also cheaper than the previous year after haggling, but I wouldn't say this conclusively means that claiming for a windscreen won't increase premiums in all scenarios.

Perhaps not, but you say you did have to haggle to get a cheaper quote.

Insurers are now also asking for disclosure of previous windscreen claims.