How to report car glass damage to your insurer correctly and save costs
25.05.25
7
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
A stone chip in the windscreen is annoying, but with the right knowledge it can be settled quickly. Find out here how to report glass damage to your car insurance and what to bear in mind in order to minimise costs and retain the full range of cover.
Topics on this page
The topic in brief and concise terms
Report glass damage to your car insurance provider immediately, ideally within seven days, so as not to jeopardise your claim.
Partial comprehensive insurance usually covers the cost of glass damage caused by external influences (e.g. stone chips) without affecting your no-claims class.
For a simple chip repair, many insurers waive the excess; when the windscreen is replaced, it is usually payable.
Understanding glass damage: the facts and first steps after the incident
With a bang, it has happened: a stone chip has damaged your windscreen. Every year in Germany, around two million glass damage claims are reported to motor insurers. The most common cause is in fact stone chips, but hail or burglary/theft can also lead to glass damage. The important thing is to act calmly once the damage has been discovered and check roadworthiness; if the damage is extensive and impairs visibility, the vehicle should no longer be driven. Prompt documentation of the damage with photos is very helpful for later reporting to the insurer.
The partial comprehensive insurance is usually your first point of contact here. It covers damage to your vehicle’s glazing caused by external influences such as stone chips or hail. Fortunately, settling a glass damage claim through partial comprehensive cover does not usually result in a higher no-claims discount class. This means your insurance premium remains unchanged, even if you need to make use of this service. The exact terms and reporting deadlines are crucial for a smooth process.
Optimising claims reporting: deadlines and necessary details for your insurance
Promptly reporting glass damage to your car insurance provider is a crucial factor. Most insurers, such as HUK-Coburg, recommend reporting it no later than seven days after the damage occurs. Some providers, such as Check24, also specify a seven-day deadline. Be sure to meet this deadline to avoid jeopardising your right to benefits. To make the report, you will usually need your policy number, vehicle details, the time and place of the damage, and a precise description of what happened. Photos of the damage are extremely helpful.
These days, the report can usually be made easily online, by phone or in writing. Many insurers offer digital portals for quick claims reporting. With some providers, such as Allianz, if the repair is carried out by a glass partner, a separate advance claim report may not be necessary, as the workshop handles this directly. It is best to clarify this directly with your insurer or a partner workshop. A precise and complete report significantly speeds up the entire process and ensures that all necessary information is available for assessment.
Repair or replacement: managing cost coverage and deductibles smartly
Whether a damaged windscreen can be repaired or needs replacing depends on the type, size and position of the damage. Small stone chips, often no larger than a two-euro coin and outside the driver’s field of vision, can often be repaired. The costs for this are often under one hundred euros. Many insurers waive the agreed excess for repairs under partial cover. This is a significant advantage, as the repair is then usually free of charge for you.
A windscreen replacement is unavoidable if the damage is larger, cracks have formed, or the damage is directly in the driver’s line of sight. The cost of replacing a windscreen can, especially in modern vehicles with driver assistance systems, be as much as four thousand euros. The GDV reports average costs of 838 euros per glass claim in 2023. For a replacement, the contractually agreed excess is usually due, for example one hundred and fifty euros. The garage then bills the remaining amount directly to your insurer. Please note any workshop restrictions agreed in your policy.
The following points help when 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 field of vision and at least ten centimetres from the edge?
Type of damage: Is it a single impact without cracking?
Depth of the damage: Is the damage only superficial?
Number of damages: Is there only a single damage?
Adhering to these criteria increases the chance of a cost-effective repair. Understanding the difference between partial cover and comprehensive cover is also relevant here.
Leveraging expert knowledge: legal aspects and recent rulings on glass damage
In insurance law, there are several interesting aspects and rulings you should be aware of when reporting glass damage to your motor insurance. A ruling by the Cologne Local Court (case no. 523 DS 77/13) warns against arrangements with workshops in which a discount equivalent to the excess is granted, while the full amount is billed to the insurer. Such conduct constitutes fraud and can lead to loss of insurance cover. Honesty when reporting a claim is therefore not only a matter of morality, but is also legally required.
Another important ruling was handed down by the Saarbrücken Regional Court (10 February 2023, case no. 13 S 109/22). According to this, an insurer may also be obliged to cover the cost of replacing a windscreen even where there are numerous stone chips without any direct cracking, if these impair road safety. This is particularly relevant because modern windscreens often reveal many small chips only on closer inspection. The cost of automotive glass has risen significantly over the past ten years; windscreens alone became almost fifty per cent more expensive. The average labour rates charged by motor repair workshops in 2023 were €188.
Our expert tip: Always clarify in advance with your insurer or a partner workshop the exact procedure and cost coverage. Keep careful records of the damage and the communications. This helps to avoid misunderstandings and supports your claim for a proper claim notification.
Long-term effects and prevention: How to stay optimally protected
Settling glass damage through partial comprehensive cover generally has no negative impact on your no-claims bonus (NCB). This means your insurance premium for motor third-party liability and, where applicable, comprehensive cover does not increase as a result. This is an important difference compared with settling damage through fully comprehensive cover, where a downgrade can occur. The cost of glass damage is a significant expense for insurers; in 2023 they paid around EUR 1.7 billion for this.
To help prevent glass damage, anticipatory driving is essential. Keep a sufficient distance from vehicles in front, especially on gravel roads or in roadworks areas. An intact windscreen wiper system and clean windows also help to detect hazards at an early stage. Should damage still occur, you now know how to report it to your motor insurance. For comprehensive cover in the area of car & mobility, we at nextsure will be happy to advise you.
Please note the following tips for prevention and in the event of a claim:
Always keep at least a three-second gap to the vehicle in front.
Reduce your speed on unpaved roads or in roadworks areas by up to twenty per cent.
Check your windows regularly for small damage; a small chip can quickly develop into a crack.
Have small stone chips repaired promptly; this is often free of charge for you and prevents more extensive damage.
In the event of damage: temporarily secure the area with a windscreen patch to minimise the ingress of dirt and moisture before visiting a garage.
These measures can help reduce the risk of glass damage and make the claims process easier if the worst happens. Good comprehensive cover is an important building block here.
More useful links
The GDV (General Association of the German Insurance Industry e.V.) provides media information on glass damage, vehicle statistics and motor vehicle insurance.
Statista offers data on comprehensive motor insurance claims for passenger cars in Germany, broken down by type of claim.
Further media information from the GDV sheds light on glass damage in the period from 2013 to 2023.
The Verbraucherzentrale NRW offers legal advice on insurance and provides information about your rights in the event of a claim.
A comprehensive guide from the Verbraucherzentrale on the topic of insurance is available as a PDF document.
Wikipedia offers a general overview of motor insurance.
FAQ
Which documents do I need to submit to report glass damage to my car insurance?
To report glass damage, you will usually need your policy number, your vehicle’s official registration number, information about how, where and when the damage occurred, as well as photos of the damage.
Does my partial comprehensive cover also include damage to headlights and mirrors?
Yes, glass damage to headlights and wing mirrors is generally also covered by partial comprehensive insurance.
What happens if I have to use an approved garage?
With a repair-shop restriction, your insurer specifies which partner garage must carry out the repair. If you do not comply, the reimbursement may be reduced. Clarify this in advance.
Can I also have the glass damage paid out to me (cash settlement)?
A notional settlement is rather unusual for glass damage and is often not in the insurer's interests, as the repair or replacement is intended to restore road safety. Please clarify this option directly with your insurer; direct handling with a workshop is often preferred.
What if the stone chip is in the driver’s line of sight?
As a rule, a chip in the driver's direct field of vision must not be repaired. In most cases, the windscreen needs to be replaced to ensure road safety.
How long does it take to repair or replace a windscreen?
A stone chip repair often takes only about thirty to sixty minutes. Depending on the vehicle model and the adhesive drying times, a windscreen replacement can take several hours, sometimes up to a day.
