Is Windshield Replacement Covered by Comprehensive Insurance?

General information only. This is not insurance advice, and it does not describe any particular insurer's rules. Your policy and your agent are the final word.

Comprehensive, collision or liability?

Auto policies are made of separate coverages, and the cause of the damage decides which one applies:

The Kansas Insurance Department's shopper's guide describes comprehensive as coverage for damage not caused by a collision, and notes that liability coverage pays for damage to others, not your own vehicle (Kansas Insurance Department, Auto Insurance Shopper's Guide).

The deductible decides what you pay

Comprehensive coverage comes with a deductible, the amount you pay before the insurer pays. Common choices are a few hundred dollars up to $1,000 or more. If the windshield costs less than your deductible, insurance pays nothing. If it costs more, insurance pays the difference.

Some policies include, or let you add, glass coverage that lowers or eliminates the deductible for glass. The Kansas Insurance Department lists auto glass coverage as an optional coverage that can provide partial or full coverage of a damaged windshield (Kansas Insurance Department, Auto Insurance Shopper's Guide). Policies differ on whether it covers only the windshield or all glass, and whether repairs and replacements are treated the same. Look for words like "full glass" or "glass deductible" on your declarations page.

Is Kansas a zero-deductible windshield state?

No. A few states require insurers to waive the deductible on windshield or glass claims for people with comprehensive coverage. The commonly cited ones are Florida, Kentucky and South Carolina (Progressive, zero-deductible windshield states). Kansas is not one of them, so in Kansas the deductible generally applies unless your own policy says otherwise. If you see an ad promising a windshield at no cost to you, that usually depends on having a policy with glass coverage.

Repairs vs replacements

Chip repairs cost much less than replacements, and some policies waive or reduce the deductible for repairs to encourage drivers to fix chips before they spread. Others treat repairs like any other glass claim. If your policy waives the deductible for repairs, fixing a chip quickly may cost you nothing; if not, a repair is usually cheaper than the deductible anyway. See how much windshield chip repair costs.

A quick way to decide whether to file

1. Find your comprehensive deductible and any glass coverage on your declarations page or app.
2. Get a quote for the repair or replacement, including any camera calibration.
3. Compare. If the quote is less than or close to your deductible, paying yourself is usually simpler. If it is well above the deductible, or you have glass coverage, a claim may make sense.
4. Ask your agent how a glass claim is treated on your policy if you are worried about future premiums.

What to have ready when you file

• Your policy number and the date and place the damage happened.
• Photos of the damage, including a close-up with a coin for scale.
• The vehicle's VIN and any features in the glass (camera, rain sensor, heads-up display).
• A quote from the shop you want to use, with glass type and calibration listed.

Hail claims

After a hailstorm, glass and body damage are both usually comprehensive. Many insurers handle glass first so you can drive the vehicle safely while body repairs are scheduled. Ask whether the glass and body work will be one claim with one deductible or handled separately, because that can change what you pay. See hail damage to car glass in Wichita.

Your choice of shop in Kansas

Kansas law says an insurer may not require you to use a particular glass company or location. It may give you a list of shops; if you choose another, it may ask for up to three competitive bids and is not required to pay more than the lowest prevailing market price in your area (K.S.A. 40-2,155). Our Kansas insurance claims page covers the claim steps in detail.

What about ADAS calibration?

When a replacement is covered, calibration the automaker requires is commonly treated as part of the glass job, but confirm it with your insurer and make sure your quote lists it. See ADAS calibration.

Leased and financed vehicles

If you lease or have a loan, the lender usually requires comprehensive and collision coverage, often with a maximum deductible. Some leases also have rules about the glass used. Check your agreement before choosing.

Related services

• Windshield Insurance Claims in Kansas: Comprehensive coverage, deductibles and your right to choose a glass shop in Kansas.
• Windshield Replacement: New windshield for cracks too long to repair, shattered glass and hail damage, including camera calibration when needed.
• Rock Chip Repair: Fill rock chips from highways and gravel roads before they run into a crack.

Sources: Kansas Insurance Department, Auto Insurance Shopper's Guide; K.S.A. 40-2,155; Progressive, zero-deductible windshield states.

Good to know: Requesting a quote is free and there is no obligation. Ask for a written quote that lists the glass, any calibration and the warranty terms.