Car Windscreen Insurance Claiming

BigBirdy on 26/06/2023 - 17:20

My car windscreen was chipped a few weeks ago, presumably by a rock, in the bottom centre. Two cracks, each about 20cm long are slowly growing toward the upper corners off the screen, not yet in front of driver or passenger. 10yo XTrail, no fancy cameras or sensors.

I've got excess-free windscreen cover in my car insurance.

What I don't know is whether a claim on the windscreen cover will affect my rating, and whether it will be a declarable in future quotes for insurance (ie have you made any claims in the last xx years). I looked through my policy, but it doesn't answer any of this. I have an enviable accident-free record that I'd prefer to retain, and keep my premiums as low as possible.

Does anyone have experience claiming windscreen, how it affected their rating and premiums, and whether it is a declarable for future quotes/policies?

Automotive

Comments

  • CodeXD on 26/06/2023 - 17:22
    +3

    Call up insurance and ask.

    /thread

  • hasher22 on 26/06/2023 - 17:28
    +2

    It will be noted on future claims in the same insurer when you renew.

    I have excess-free glass repair and I claimed it last year and this year it was on my claims list. But I don't know if my premium went up from it as every other insurer were more expensive when I shopped around and I decided to stay.

    Each insurer is different but my renewal, it didn't affect my rating as I still got the top no claims rating on my renewal. But when you make the claim, if you do, ask if it will affect your rating. P.s i dont have no-claims rating protection.

    • fatpizza on 26/06/2023 - 17:33
      +1

      That's been my experience. I'm with SGIO and whilst I don't pay an excess it still counts as a claim. When I was on the phone they did they did tell me that if it's a chip that can be repaired then it may be cheaper in the long run to just get it fixed out of pocket.

      • hasher22 on 26/06/2023 - 17:52
        +1

        Agree, I had the rep tell me that as well but also the rep said it 'shouldn't affect my no claims bonus and I took that gamble. And it didn't :)

        My windscreen repair came to $550 so I assume the bill may affect one's renewal policy from claims, how much the bill was, policy, no claims bonus rating protection add on etc… too many variables.

  • Drakesy on 26/06/2023 - 17:51
    +7

    I love having insurance that makes you frightened to use your insurance!

  • Euphemistic on 26/06/2023 - 17:58
    +1

    It will probably factor into your future premiums somehow, but you’ve paid for excess free glass - might as well use it. It won’t effect premiums as much as an at fault crash.

  • Ryanek on 26/06/2023 - 18:40

    I have claimed twice now on windshield insurance with Bingle and it has not affected my premium.

    In any case, why wouldn't you claim? A new windscreen with installation is very expensive.

  • Ocker on 26/06/2023 - 19:15

    A new windscreen for your car will likely cost around a couple of hundred bucks so why worry about insurance?

    • brendanm on 26/06/2023 - 20:10

      Free is better than paying a few hundred bucks?

    • Archi on 27/06/2023 - 09:06
      +1

      not on new cars that have sensors on the windscreen that needs to go back to manufacturer for recalibration.

    • Euphemistic on 27/06/2023 - 11:19

      Use insurance over paying a few hundred because if you’ve got excess free windscreen cover, you’ve already paid for a windscreen in increased premiums.

  • BigBirdy on 26/06/2023 - 20:05

    Thank you everyone for the advice. Since it appears likely to affect my claims history, I'll investigate arranging a self-paid replacement and make a decision based on the cost

  • brendanm on 26/06/2023 - 20:09
    +1

    I claimed one on my wife's car a couple of years back. No increase in premium. Says I have "1 claim" on that insurance website. I was getting quotes for my new car on the weekend, mentioned the "1 claim" for windsreen, and they all said they don't care about it, and my no claims bonus is intact.

  • SmiTTy on 27/06/2023 - 01:38
    +1

    It shouldnt affect your next year's premium

    I went through similar thing. so before I made a claim I did some online quotes through a few companies with and without declaring a windscreen claim. The prices were the same which meant a windscreen replacement doesn't affect premium (for those 2-3 companies I got quotes for)

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