Correctly report auto glass damage to the insurance and save costs
25 May 2025
3
Minutes
Katrin Straub
CEO at nextsure
A chip in the windscreen is annoying, but with the right knowledge, it's quickly managed. Find out here how to report glass damage to your car insurance and what to consider to minimise costs and receive full coverage.
Topics on this page
The topic in brief and concise terms
Report a glass damage to your car insurance promptly, ideally within seven days, to avoid jeopardising your claim.
The partial coverage insurance usually covers the costs for glass damage caused by external influences (e.g., stone chips) without affecting the no-claims class.
For a simple stone chip repair, many insurers waive the excess; however, this usually applies when the windscreen is replaced.
Understanding glass damage: The facts and first steps after the incident
A crack and it's happened: A stone chip has damaged your windscreen. Each year in Germany, around two million glass damage claims are reported to car insurers. The most common cause is indeed stone chips, but hail or burglary can also lead to glass damage. It is important to act calmly after discovering the damage and to check the road safety of the vehicle; if there are larger damages that obstruct visibility, the vehicle should no longer be driven. Prompt documentation of the damage with photos is very helpful for later reporting to the insurance company.
The comprehensive insurance is usually your first point of contact here. It covers damage to your vehicle's glass caused by external influences such as stone chips or hail. Fortunately, settling a glass damage claim through comprehensive insurance typically does not lead to an upgrade in your no-claims discount. This means your insurance premium remains constant, even if you need to use this service. The exact conditions and deadlines for reporting are crucial for smooth processing.
Optimising Claim Reports: Deadlines and Essential Information for Your Insurance
The prompt reporting of glass damage to your car insurance is a crucial factor. Most insurers, such as HUK-Coburg, recommend reporting the damage within seven days at the latest. Some providers like Check24 also specify a seven-day deadline. It is essential to adhere to this deadline to not jeopardize your entitlement to benefits. For the report, you typically need your insurance number, details about the vehicle, the time and location of the damage, and a precise description of the incident. Photos of the damage are extremely helpful.
Nowadays, you can usually report it easily online, by phone, or in writing. Many insurers offer digital portals for quick claim reporting. With some providers, such as Allianz, if repair is done by a glass partner, a separate pre-report might not be necessary as the workshop handles this directly. It's best to clarify this directly with your insurer or a partner company. A precise and complete report notably speeds up the whole process and ensures that all necessary information is available for examination.
Repair or replacement: smart management of costs and deductibles
Whether a damaged windscreen can be repaired or requires replacement depends on the type, size, and position of the damage. Smaller stone chips, often no larger than a two-euro coin and outside the driver's line of sight, can frequently be repaired. The costs for this are often under one hundred euros. Many insurance companies waive the agreed excess in the comprehensive cover in the event of repair. This is a significant advantage, as the repair is usually free of charge for you.
A replacement of the windscreen is unavoidable if the damage is more extensive, cracks have formed, or the damage is in the direct line of sight of the driver. The costs for a windscreen replacement can, particularly with modern vehicles equipped with driver assistance systems, be up to four thousand euros. The GDV reports an average cost of 838 euros per glass damage in 2023. In the case of a replacement, the contractually agreed excess is usually due, for example, one hundred and fifty euros. The workshop then settles the remaining amount directly with your insurance. Please note any workshop binding that may be agreed in your contract.
The following points help in deciding between repair and replacement:
Size of the damage: Is it smaller than a two-euro coin?
Position: Is the damage outside the driver's direct line of sight and at least ten centimetres from the edge?
Type of damage: Is it a single impact without crack formation?
Depth of the damage: Is the damage only superficial?
Number of damages: Is there only a single piece of damage?
Complying with these criteria increases the chances of a cost-effective repair. Knowledge of the difference between comprehensive and fully comprehensive cover is also relevant here.
Utilise expert knowledge: Legal aspects and recent rulings on glass damage
In insurance law, there are several interesting aspects and court decisions you should be aware of when reporting glass damage to your car insurance. A judgement from the District Court of Cologne (Case No.: 523 DS 77/13) warns against agreements with garages where a discount equivalent to the deductible is granted, but the full amount is billed to the insurer. Such conduct constitutes fraud and may result in the loss of insurance cover. Therefore, honesty in reporting damage is not only a matter of morality but also a legal requirement.
Another important judgement was made by the Regional Court of Saarbrücken (10 February 2023, Case No. 13 S 109/22). According to this decision, an insurer can be obliged to cover the costs of a windscreen replacement even if there are numerous stone chips without direct crack formation, as long as these impair road safety. This is especially relevant as modern windscreens often show many small chips upon closer inspection. The cost of auto glass has risen significantly in the last ten years; the price of windscreens alone has increased by almost fifty percent. The average hourly rates of car repair shops in 2023 were 188 euros.
Our expert tip: Always clarify the exact procedure and cost coverage with your insurer or a partner garage in advance. Carefully document the damage and the communication. This helps to avoid misunderstandings and support your claims for a correct damage report.
Long-term effects and prevention: How to stay optimally protected
The settlement of glass damage via comprehensive insurance usually has no negative impact on your no-claims class (SF class). This means your insurance premium for third-party liability and possibly comprehensive insurance does not increase as a result. This is an important difference from the settlement of damages via full comprehensive insurance, where a downgrade can occur. The costs for glass damage are substantial for insurers; in 2023, they paid around 1.7 billion euros for this.
To prevent glass damage, anticipatory driving is essential. Maintain a sufficient distance from vehicles ahead, especially on gravel roads or construction areas. A functioning windshield washer system and clean windows also contribute to the early detection of hazards. Should damage still occur, you now know how to report it to your car insurance. For comprehensive coverage in the area of auto & mobility, we at nextsure are happy to provide you with advice.
Consider the following tips for prevention and in the event of damage:
Always maintain at least a three-second distance from the vehicle in front.
Reduce your speed on unpaved roads or in construction areas by up to twenty percent.
Regularly check your windows for small damages; a small chip can quickly develop into a crack.
Have small stone chips repaired promptly, often this is free for you and prevents major damage.
In case of damage: Secure the area temporarily with a windscreen patch to minimize the ingress of dirt and moisture before visiting a workshop.
These measures can help reduce the risk of glass damage and ease the resolution if it occurs. A good comprehensive insurance is an important component.
More useful links
The GDV (Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft e.V.) provides media information on glass damage, vehicle statistics, and car insurance.
Statista offers data on partial comprehensive damage in motor vehicle insurance in Germany, broken down by type of damage.
Further media information from the GDV highlights glass damage from 2013 to 2023.
The Consumer Centre NRW provides legal advice on insurance and informs you about your rights in the event of damage.
A comprehensive guide from the Consumer Centre on insurance is available as a PDF document.
Wikipedia offers a general overview of car insurance.
FAQ
What documents do I need to report a glass damage claim to my car insurance?
To report a glass damage, you typically need your insurance policy number, the official registration number of your vehicle, information about how, where, and when the damage occurred, as well as photos of the damage.
Does my partial coverage also include damage to headlights and mirrors?
Yes, glass damage to headlights and exterior mirrors is usually covered by partial comprehensive insurance.
What happens if I have a garage tie?
With a garage commitment, your insurer dictates which partner garage the damage must be repaired at. If you do not comply, it may lead to a reduction in the reimbursement. Clarify this in advance.
Can I also get the glass damage paid out (fictional invoice)?
A fictitious billing is rather uncommon in the case of glass damage and often not in the insurer's interest, as the repair or replacement is intended to restore road safety. Clarify this option directly with your insurance; often, direct processing with a workshop is preferred.
What if the stone chip is in the driver's field of vision?
A stone chip in the driver's direct field of vision usually cannot be repaired. In most cases, it is necessary to replace the windscreen to ensure road safety.
How long does it take to repair or replace a car window?
A stone chip repair often takes only about thirty to sixty minutes. A windscreen replacement can take several hours, sometimes up to a day, depending on the vehicle model and adhesive drying times.
