Another money saving hack - Safelite

[pfarber]

I've used them before in PA, but the ole GC needs a new windshield. Well, after 245k my windshield is so bad that any frontal sunshine turns into a kliedescope of tiny chips from highway driving.

First ALWAYS check your CCs for discounts. Chase gives 10% back on Safelite.
Second you can get $100 off from safelite by: 1. schedule appt. No need to prepay. I did, and it still works, refunded difference. 2. go back and reschedule appt. Its a bit of a hassle, but at the bottom of the page there is a cancel button. Click it, you will get a 100% legit $100 off offer.

So I get $100 off and 10% ($28) back. My final cost was $287 from them to come to me. There is a sus recycling fee of $39. Cheaper to take it to the dump. Not sure if that can be removed. I'll ask when they show up.

 

[RyanB]

Is it an OEM replacement though…?

 

[pfarber]

Is it an OEM replacement though…?

I don't really mind if its not. OEM install at Dodge is $1k. $600 MSRP, 2 hours shop @ $230/hr + tax, shop fee, etc. I avoid local shops for things like this as if I need warranty service out of State there is going to be a Safelite shop nearby. Bob the local guy isn't gonna travel.

Some auto insurance has glass covered under comprehensive... My 12 year old van is not worth the expense of comp/collision and now you have a claim on your policy. Most people also have $500-$1000 deductible... so most of its out of pocket anyway.

I can get 4 replacements for the cost of 1 OEM. Rocks don't care who made or installed the glass.

Still doesn't negate the fact that you can get $100 off with a click of about 3 buttons.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

...and now you have a claim on your policy.

That probably depends on the insurer. I've had chips replaced by the dealer and insurance picked it up without showing a claim nor rate increase.

 

[Matthew]

Chips seem to be 100% covered by insurance, in my experience. It’s easier/cheaper to fix a chip than wait for it to crack.

But a sandblasted windshield in the sun is definitely no fun. Paying out of pocket for the ability to see again can be something that gets deferred a very long time.

 

[X3 Skier]

State Farm used to do chip repair for free. No more so no big deal since both chips are Pax side.

 

[schmookeeg]

We took our BMW i3 to safelite to replace a driver-side window that got bipped (hello Oakland) -- took them 3 tries and 2 weeks and they still couldn't order the correct glass + weird installation clips that BMW requires. Each time we'd drop the car, they'd hold it for the day, then call us at the end of the day in eeyore voice saying the glass didn't come with the right clips and they need to re-order.

Took it to the dealer in anger, cost $200 more, and USAA wouldn't US Pay-Pay the difference despite their chosen vendor's incompetence. I'm sure safelite is great for normal window glass and all of this is actually a German over-engineering problem, but their bungling was too much for us to try them again

 

[Jim_R]

I can get 4 replacements for the cost of 1 OEM. Rocks don't care who made or installed the glass.

The rocks may not care, but I do. I've replaced a windshield 3 (or 4, depending how you count) times. While an "OEM" windshield is no guarantee of quality, I have had poor experiences with some non-OEM ones, with wavy distortions.

The first replacement I ever got, I was young and poor and got the cheapest I could find, but through a reputable company (Binswanger). The waviness was so bad the glass company agreed it was awful and replaced it "for free" (though I had to take another day off of work, so not exactly free). The replacement was also wavy, but not as bad, and the shop basically said, "It's good enough. Live with it." I hated that windshield for the rest of the time I owned the car.

The second time I had to replace a windshield, I went OEM (through Safelite). Even that one had some waviness, but not as bad as either of the first two.

The third time, OEM was not an option, so I went with "high quality" aftermarket (also through Safelite). It was about the same quality as the previous OEM replacement.

None of those replacement windshields was as good as the windshield the car came with from the factory.

 

[MonkeyClaw]

I've never had good luck with Safelite. They use a cheap windshield that seems to chip easier (anecdotally) and they try to reuse old clips instead of replacing them. The techs I've interacted with tended to be very new to the game. They replaced the windshield on my FJ Cruiser and the top trim panel flew off a week later while driving down the interstate. At first they tried to deny it was their fault, even though I had pointed out that the trim wasn't installed correctly when I got the car back. It seems the only reason the insurance companies use them is because they are national. We always tell our insurance company that we won't use Safelite, and they have always been fine with us choosing someone else. YMMV

 

[pfarber]

That probably depends on the insurer. I've had chips replaced by the dealer and insurance picked it up without showing a claim nor rate increase.

A chip is not an entire windshield.

So you wouldn't take a $100 discount? I'm curious... Do you have comp ins? What's your deductable? Most people carry $500 deductable so taking $100 off the top is like a 30% savings.

 

[Clip4]

I've used them before in PA, but the ole GC needs a new windshield. Well, after 245k my windshield is so bad that any frontal sunshine turns into a kliedescope of tiny chips from highway driving.

First ALWAYS check your CCs for discounts. Chase gives 10% back on Safelite.
Second you can get $100 off from safelite by: 1. schedule appt. No need to prepay. I did, and it still works, refunded difference. 2. go back and reschedule appt. Its a bit of a hassle, but at the bottom of the page there is a cancel button. Click it, you will get a 100% legit $100 off offer.

So I get $100 off and 10% ($28) back. My final cost was $287 from them to come to me. There is a sus recycling fee of $39. Cheaper to take it to the dump. Not sure if that can be removed. I'll ask when they show up.

The cheapest solution is to quit tail gating and you won’t get all those tiny chips from highway driving.

 

[ElPaso Pilot]

Another option for the "sandblasted haze" in the sun -- not for cracks.

Cesium oxide powder with a buffing attachment on a drill. A bit of elbow grease and time, but I have had fantastic results on older vehicles with years of grit blast damage -- including one where the previous owner ran the wipers extensively without a wiper blade, cutting arcs into the windshield.

This makes old glass looks new again.

https://www.amazon.com/Glass-Polishing-Windshield-Scratch-Gordon/dp/B083778RJX/

Some random Amazon image, but I saw similar results. Didn't use the above brand, but it was the pink powder that gets mixed with water.

 

[luvflyin]

I've used them before in PA, but the ole GC needs a new windshield. Well, after 245k my windshield is so bad that any frontal sunshine turns into a kliedescope of tiny chips from highway driving.

First ALWAYS check your CCs for discounts. Chase gives 10% back on Safelite.
Second you can get $100 off from safelite by: 1. schedule appt. No need to prepay. I did, and it still works, refunded difference. 2. go back and reschedule appt. Its a bit of a hassle, but at the bottom of the page there is a cancel button. Click it, you will get a 100% legit $100 off offer.

So I get $100 off and 10% ($28) back. My final cost was $287 from them to come to me. There is a sus recycling fee of $39. Cheaper to take it to the dump. Not sure if that can be removed. I'll ask when they show up.

How do you do that, check your CC for discounts?

 

[X3 Skier]

The cheapest solution is to quit tail gating and you won’t get all those tiny chips from highway driving.

My pitting comes from the dust of the volcanic ash used for treating the roads. Can’t see them until directly driving towards sunset. Gets bad enough to eventuality requiringreplacement.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

A chip is not an entire windshield.

So you wouldn't take a $100 discount? I'm curious... Do you have comp ins? What's your deductable? Most people carry $500 deductable so taking $100 off the top is like a 30% savings.

My comment:

That probably depends on the insurer. I've had chips replaced by the dealer and insurance picked it up without showing a claim nor rate increase.

Would make more sense in the context of this thread if I'd written it as" I've had a chipped windshield replaced by the dealer and insurance picked it up without showing a claim nor rate increase." The chip was bad enough to warrant a full replacement. If you had reasonably asked me "How does one replace a chip?", I'd have made the sentence more understandable".

However, my point still holds for either chip replacement or a total windshield replacement- depending on your policy, the repair to your car glass may be covered in full with without deductible or treated as a claim or trigger a rate increase.

So this comment doesn't apply to my situation (and many others) as I have full glass coverage:

So you wouldn't take a $100 discount? I'm curious... Do you have comp ins? What's your deductable? Most people carry $500 deductable so taking $100 off the top is like a 30% savings.

I don't need to worry about the "deductable". for these sort of glass repairs.

 

[Domenick]

The cheapest solution is to quit tail gating and you won’t get all those tiny chips from highway driving.

My truck's windshield (passenger side) sports a 4" diameter perfectly circular crack, NOT FROM TAILGATING. In fact it is two concentric circular cracks. Some ******* addict living along I-5 in Seattle chucked a rock at me. I'm sure his fried, addled neurons thought is was extremely entertaining. Unfortunately, such creatures are a protected species in Seattle.

The long linear crack on the driver's side was caused NOT BY TAILGATING, but by an ******* dump truck driver who didn't rinse off his truck.

The only defense I've found for getting windshield dings is to not fix them. For some reason, cracks and dings seem to provide some sort of magic shield. New windshields seem to have an attractive quality.

 

[pfarber]

How do you do that, check your CC for discounts?

It depends. Some CC web sites have a separate menu item for discounts while others put the links on the page like an ad. Chase has a 'Chase Offers' tile.

One thing that might affect what you see is your credit score. I'm in the high 850+, my wife who only recently got her own CC's doesn't see the same discounts. Since she is an authorized user on my CCs that doesn't count for her score.



I already have the statement credit applied less than 3 days after service.

 

[pfarber]

The cheapest solution is to quit tail gating and you won’t get all those tiny chips from highway driving.

A little passive-agressive there ain't we? My other car was hit by a rock (and chipped) thrown up by a car at least 40ft ahead of me. I was doing 45. hardly tailgating.

My minivan was bought used as was a pilot car for a trucking company there are mounting holes for a CB and a full safety flasher system was installed. I even had to yank out the GPS they installed for logging. All the damage was bought, not self inflicted. I bought the van just at the end of COVID and after my F150 was totalled in a hit n run. I was lucky to find a vehicle not completely trash, even though my van had issues.

 

[pfarber]

However, my point still holds for either chip replacement or a total windshield replacement- depending on your policy, the repair to your car glass may be covered in full with without deductible or treated as a claim or trigger a rate increase.

Apples to coconuts. If you believe that its free, then go forth and be merry, but you have to have comprehensive coverage OR pay for glass coverage OR both. Waiving the deductible is not 'free windshields'. Comprehensive insurance is $150-400 a year, and only 3 States have a requirement to waive the deductible. The glass on my car was 14 years old and still very useable. I just had an extra couple 'hunnert to spend this month so I treated myself to a clear windshield.

I guess you'll never ever ever want to save $100 + 20% even though a person tells you how to do it with the most meager effort on your part. $100 in your pocket for clicking 3 buttons? The nerve of some people lol

DO you really think that the ins company is doing it 'for free'? I don't think you understand how insurance and premiums work. DO you also think that getting a tax refund is 'free money' from the government?

tl;dr: comprehensive monthly payments are a think.

 

[pfarber]

Update on install. Been 48 hours since the install, no leaks even though its rained. Glass is clear and no issue. I don't have any cameras so there was no need for any re-calibration.

Some highlights.. and these are very very very minor nitpicks:
There were a few adhesive crumbs on my dash. They could of wiped off the dash. Safelite has sent me 10 emails total, plus two phone calls from the installer. I get that they want a smooth experience and that there are some (lol who am I kidding, most) people who simply don't follow directions and make installs harder. They didn't do a super job cleaning the windshield. WHen I used my wiper I could clearly see the suction rings used during install. Again, very minor nits to pick for a less than $300 install.

As this is my second time using Safelite (once about 8 years ago in another state) both have been fast, easy, affordable and had a good result with a clear windshield. Bonus that I saved $100 and 20% simply by doing a modicum of research.

 

[Bob Noel]

My truck's windshield (passenger side) sports a 4" diameter perfectly circular crack, NOT FROM TAILGATING. In fact it is two concentric circular cracks. Some ******* addict living along I-5 in Seattle chucked a rock at me. I'm sure his fried, addled neurons thought is was extremely entertaining. Unfortunately, such creatures are a protected species in Seattle.

The long linear crack on the driver's side was caused NOT BY TAILGATING, but by an ******* dump truck driver who didn't rinse off his truck.

The only defense I've found for getting windshield dings it to not fix them. For some reason, cracks and dings seem to provide some sort of magic shield. New windshields seem to have an attractive quality.

otoh - reading this thread seemed to attract a chip on my car's windshield - first one over 50 years of driving. On the highway yesterday, BING, small chip on the pax side. small cracks radiating away. A quarter can't quite cover the cracks. No obvious source for the rock kicked up.

Now I'll get to see how my insurance will handle it.

argh.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Apples to coconuts. If you believe that its free, then go forth and be merry, but you have to have comprehensive coverage OR pay for glass coverage OR both.
Waiving the deductible is not 'free windshields'.

I never said it was free. I appreciate the convenience of taking a car to the dealer and just getting things fixed, and it is paid except for any deductible if in an accident, or the glass coverage handles a window replacement. The last accident I had, many years ago, was just before a business trip. I took the car to the dealer and it was fixed and ready for me upon my return. As the other driver was clearly at fault, my insurer even got my deductible from the other driver's insurance, so I had no out-of-pocket loss.

Let's see what you wrote:

My 12 year old van is not worth the expense of comp/collision and now you have a claim on your policy. Most people also have $500-$1000 deductible... so most of its out of pocket anyway.

- I said that most policies don't treat a broken window as a claim- it probably depends on the insurer and your claims record. Some insurers will repair a chip and cover the deductible.
- I also said that if one has glass coverage (as I do), the policy handles the glass replacement. No deductible or anything on your claim record.
-I was merely disputing your misinformation, but I never indicated that you were wasting your time in reducing the cost to replace your windshield.

Comprehensive insurance is $150-400 a year, and only 3 States have a requirement to waive the deductible. The glass on my car was 14 years old and still very useable. I just had an extra couple 'hunnert to spend this month so I treated myself to a clear windshield.

Good for you that you could save money to replace a pitted windshield that wouldn't be covered by insurance. You had a unique situation. If one pays for glass coverage, the deductible doesn't apply.

I guess you'll never ever ever want to save $100 + 20% even though a person tells you how to do it with the most meager effort on your part. $100 in your pocket for clicking 3 buttons? The nerve of some people lol

This situation doesn't apply to me. I've already paid for glass replacement if I need it. I use discounts and rebates as I need them.

I get notifications of savings for various vendors and classes of companies to use a particular credit card. One of my cards is offering me 5% cash back for using that card at home improvement stores- this is something I can actually use so I'm taking advantage of it. I know it isn't free money- the CC company is getting it from vendor fees, interest payments, and other fees. Although I see exceptions with some vendors, most stores charge the same for a product or service whether I pay via card or cash. As I pay my CC card in full each month, my cash back is being subsidized by many people, but I don't see the costs directly.

DO you really think that the ins company is doing it 'for free'? I don't think you understand how insurance and premiums work. DO you also think that getting a tax refund is 'free money' from the government?

I never thought it was "free". I've no idea how you decided that I thought it was. I pay for a service and, so far, I have gotten that service with no issues at all.

I also wonder why you feel you are the arbiter of how I (or anyone else) choose to spend money.

tl;dr: comprehensive monthly payments are a think.

I "think" they work for me. Maybe not for others.

 

[pfarber]

without showing a claim nor rate increase.

This is your statement. I see you are trying to thread the needle with your explanation but you are failing to admit two things:
every policy you renew charges you for a windshield that you most likely never use. On top of that, unless you live in one of THREE states there is a required payment you have to make for the coverage you don't seem to want to admit to.

You are NOT PAYING FOR A SERVICE. You are paying to shift the cost of the repair. And you will never, ever win.

You rate HAS INCREASED: by adding comprehensive and paying for a zero deductible glass rider you paid up front. You may not be paying at the time you replace your glass, but you are 100% paying every time you renew your policy.

Your insurance carrier is 1000000% tracking your claims. They are not a charity and if you are cracking glass above what the spreadsheet calculates as a loss you will see 1. a rate increase or 2. a denial of coverage. That's just how insurance works. Its all about how much you take out vs what you are putting in.

As for all this talk about convenience.. lol wut? You had to wait a day? You had to drive to a shop? That's for the common folks. Safelite did it in two hours, at my home. At the day and time I chose.

I checked my policy (Progressive) and adding comprehensive with a $100 deductable and a $50 glass rider increases my premuim for a 2014 Grand Caravan by

Total premium increase: $184.03​

for a 6 month policy.

So by YOUR math ("no rate increase") that's simply not true. You are just betting 'against the house' and your blind is $184 a hand. In 4 years I replaced one windshield for $250-ish dollars... but by YOUR math I would get glass for $0.... becuase in those 4 years I bet ($184.03 * 2 renewals a year * 4 years) $1472.

So LITTERALLY, by your maths, a free windshield would only cost me $1472. And you still have to give up your car for a day.

WOW! Insurance really is your friend!

And the neat part is if I have a high end vehicle, the comprehensive coverage is still a huge loss as the premuim will rise proportional to the known repair costs.

 

[clear_prop]

I had Safelite replace a windshield on my car, and it was the waviest POS. They replaced it at their cost it was so bad.

Needed a windshield replaced a few years later on another car, and Safelite was scheduling three weeks out. Called a local no-name place, and they said bring it in any time. Replaced it the same day for 1/3 of Safelite's quote, and the glass was perfect on the first try.

Both cars were old with liability only, so no insurance coverage.

 

[sourdough44]

The $$ saving hack is to DIY.

 

[Clip4]

A little passive-agressive there ain't we? My other car was hit by a rock (and chipped) thrown up by a car at least 40ft ahead of me. I was doing 45. hardly tailgating.

My minivan was bought used as was a pilot car for a trucking company there are mounting holes for a CB and a full safety flasher system was installed. I even had to yank out the GPS they installed for logging. All the damage was bought, not self inflicted. I bought the van just at the end of COVID and after my F150 was totalled in a hit n run. I was lucky to find a vehicle not completely trash, even though my van had issues.

This post concerned fine chips. Those are from the small objects hitting the windshield and don’t break it. Those same small chips are apparent in the paint on the leading edge of the hood and bumper of people who follow to close.

 

[ElPaso Pilot]

This post concerned fine chips. Those are from the small objects hitting the windshield and don’t break it. Those same small chips are apparent in the paint on the leading edge of the hood and bumper of people who follow to close.

Or live in areas where grit is regularly blowing around from wind, sand, and oncoming traffic stirring up said crap on the road, even when no one is in front of you.

 

[pfarber]

The $$ saving hack is to DIY.

This is kinda what my glass looked like (not my actual car)

https://i.redd.it/yqygn5btfitb1.jpg

No way glue/filler is gonna save that glass. I have used another kit on a chip, and its 70% better. If the chip makes it to the laminate between the glass then this kind of repair is useless.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

This is your statement. I see you are trying to thread the needle with your explanation but you are failing to admit two things:
every policy you renew charges you for a windshield that you most likely never use. On top of that, unless you live in one of THREE states there is a required payment you have to make for the coverage you don't seem to want to admit to.

Perhaps I pay for a portion of a windshield with each renewal rather than the whole thing. I've used the service a few times and it just worked, wherever I chose to have the window fixed. I always admitted that I pay for better service. Someone runs into me just before a business trip? The car is ready upon my return. My wife hits a deer while I'm gone? She takes it to a dealer and it is fixed upon my return.

It's my money and I can spend it as I wish.

You are NOT PAYING FOR A SERVICE. You are paying to shift the cost of the repair. And you will never, ever win.

Insurance is indeed a service. I'm spreading the risk for the financial loss both over time and a pool of other people they pay that insurance company. No one, except the insurer, is trying to win, as any business wants to profit from product or services. I just want the glass fixed or replaced.

You rate HAS INCREASED: by adding comprehensive and paying for a zero deductible glass rider you paid up front. You may not be paying at the time you replace your glass, but you are 100% paying every time you renew your policy.

You know perfectly know that's not what I meant. I make a premium payment, I get broken glass, the insurer pays for the repair. For me, the premium doesn't increase in the next billing cycle for that single event compared to the previous premium. I know you understood that how I meant it.

Your insurance carrier is 1000000% tracking your claims. They are not a charity and if you are cracking glass above what the spreadsheet calculates as a loss you will see 1. a rate increase or 2. a denial of coverage. That's just how insurance works. Its all about how much you take out vs what you are putting in.

Yes, that's how actuarial tables work. The vast majority of us don't get into that situation, with exceptions for poor drivers.

As for all this talk about convenience.. lol wut? You had to wait a day? You had to drive to a shop? That's for the common folks. Safelite did it in two hours, at my home. At the day and time I chose.

I drove to the shop. I could either walk 200 meters to my house, or the dealer drove me to work and picked me up at the end of the day. "Common folk" use Safelite, too.

I checked my policy (Progressive) and adding comprehensive with a $100 deductable and a $50 glass rider increases my premuim for a 2014 Grand Caravan by

Total premium increase: $184.03​

for a 6 month policy.

So by YOUR math ("no rate increase") that's simply not true. You are just betting 'against the house' and your blind is $184 a hand. In 4 years I replaced one windshield for $250-ish dollars... but by YOUR math I would get glass for $0.... becuase in those 4 years I bet ($184.03 * 2 renewals a year * 4 years) $1472.

I see you are cherry-picking data. Try a more typical $500 deductible. You are also twisting my words- I never said that "...would get glass for $0". In any case, I'm wasn't faulting you for the manner of your repair. I simply noted that you misrepresented how some insurance policies work.

So LITTERALLY, by your maths, a free windshield would only cost me $1472. And you still have to give up your car for a day.

Again, you either aren't reading the posts here or you are misrepresenting what is posted as well as facts- I never said the windshield was "free". I don't need the car for a day as I mentioned above.

WOW! Insurance really is your friend!

And the neat part is if I have a high end vehicle, the comprehensive coverage is still a huge loss as the premuim will rise proportional to the known repair costs.

I can see why the Snap-on guy doesn't like working with you. If I were him, I'd point you in the direction of the MATCO truck too.

Again, My money, my time. Not yours. Someone posted their dissatisfaction with a new $170K car in another thread. It's his money and I don't have any reason to tell him how to spend it.

 

[Matthew]

This is kinda what my glass looked like (not my actual car)

https://i.redd.it/yqygn5btfitb1.jpg

No way glue/filler is gonna save that glass. I have used another kit on a chip, and its 70% better. If the chip makes it to the laminate between the glass then this kind of repair is useless.

Back when I lived in CO that was normal after a very few years. I remember seeing a NM car with a windshield that almost looked frosted. That’s from 60-80 mph speed limits plus 300 grit air. There were days when the wind was really whipping and I was sure I wasn’t even going to have any paint left.

 

[pfarber]

I see you are cherry-picking data. Try a more typical $500 deductible.

a $500 deductible for comprehensive makes no sense. COMP is NOT COLLISION. The few things that fall under comp. are generally not big ticket items.

I do understand your point of view, I really do. I'm just pointing out that its bad financial sense and even though you have convinced yourself it is, I have demonstrated that its not. Even if my comp premium for 6 months is only $100 ($200 a year for 4 years) its still $800 for a repair that costs $250. You would have to replace the glass every year to 'come ahead' and if you do that the insurance is not going to renew you because you've got to many claims. ie they are losing money on your account. There are only 3 states that they MUST provide the glass coverage... everywhere else is optional and you can be declined.

I'm not trying to change your mind... your money, your rules. And I doubt that you would ever admit that you've been overpaying for a 'service' (this tells me all I need to know about your understanding of insurance) online even though nobody knows who you are or even cares.

But its a good exercise in money management to pick and chose what coverage you actually need and the costs that they will actually save.

This would be a good topic for a Dave Ramsey segment. I wonder who Mr Ramsey would agree with?

 

[Cap'n Jack]

a $500 deductible for comprehensive makes no sense. COMP is NOT COLLISION. The few things that fall under comp. are generally not big ticket items.

I do understand your point of view, I really do. I'm just pointing out that its bad financial sense and even though you have convinced yourself it is, I have demonstrated that its not. Even if my comp premium for 6 months is only $100 ($200 a year, twice a year for 4 years) its still $800 for a repair that costs $250. You would have to replace the glass every year to 'come ahead' and if you do that the insurance is not going to renew you because you've got to many claims. ie they are losing money on your account. There are only 3 states that they MUST provide the glass coverage... everywhere else is optional and you can be declined.

I'm not trying to change your mind... your money, your rules. But its a good exercise in money management to pick and chose what coverage you actually need and the costs that they will actually save.

This would be a good topic for a Dave Ramsey segment.

Again you took the discussion far beyond what I said:
1) If I already paid the insurance, I can get the glass replaced very nearly anywhere I choose.

2) The claim is in the record but unless one is a poor driver or very unlucky, that doesn't affect the renewal rate for many (most?) policies.

My 12 year old van is not worth the expense of comp/collision and now you have a claim on your policy.

I've used my insurer for many decades. I'm sure there are less expensive options, but so far, they have always had my back the few times that I needed them. They never told me where to take the car, they never argued about the parts used (AFAIK). That is something called "goodwill". The day they lose that credibility with me, I will look for less expensive options.

 

[Bob Noel]

otoh - reading this thread seemed to attract a chip on my car's windshield - first one over 50 years of driving. On the highway yesterday, BING, small chip on the pax side. small cracks radiating away. A quarter can't quite cover the cracks. No obvious source for the rock kicked up.

Now I'll get to see how my insurance will handle it.

argh.

well, that was easy. Called the insurance agent, they contacted a local outfit, windshield was replaced (the chip was juuuuuust a little too big to repair). All the paperwork handled by the agent and the windshield replacement outfit.

coverd in full. zero out of pocket (yes, I know my premium paid for it... no such thing as free lunch)

To be honest, I'm not sure if massachusetts requires the windshield replacement be covered.

however, I haven't checked if the windshield leaks, but I'll let the sealant cure a little bit before testing it. knock on wood.

 

[pfarber]

This is just way to funny. Now if you are in da money and and paying for comp/collision on a car you are not financing thats great. You are winning.

But if you think that paying for comp/collision is a free windshield, then you have probably paid a few thousand dollars in premiums, and that is the cost of that windshield. Mass. is not a mandatory glass coverage state, you must have comp/collision coverage and a deducatable less than $500 to see anything 'free' or pay the addition glass deductible rider.

I notice that no one, besides myself posted their comp premium. On a 14 year old Grand Caravan, with a 50+ year old driver that has had no reported accidents in 5-10 years, my comp cost would be $184 every 6 months.

I'd really really like to see some numbers so we can see how 'free' these windshields are. No insurance company is going to 'goodwill' a $1000 windshield at a dealership.

Again, not trying to change minds, but really, REALLY trying to understand the 'free' aspect. You could put that comp premium in the S&P 500 and still be ahead rather than pay an insurance company.

 

[Bob Noel]

my local Ford dealer doesn't replace windshields. well, ok, their collision center does, but only for, ya know, collisions.

But in massachusetts it's hard to figure out what the cost is to cover "free" windshields because apparently insurance companies are required to cover the windshield.

 

[schmookeeg]

My pitting comes from the dust of the volcanic ash used for treating the roads. Can’t see them until directly driving towards sunset. Gets bad enough to eventuality requiringreplacement.

Well I guess stop tailgating volcanos.