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Properly reporting glass damage on your car to the insurance can help save costs
A stone chip in the windscreen is annoying, but with the right knowledge, it can be quickly dealt with. Find out here how to report glass damage to your car insurance and what to consider in order to minimise costs and receive full coverage.
The topic in brief and concise terms
Report any glass damage to your car insurance promptly, ideally within seven days, to avoid jeopardising your claim.
Comprehensive partial insurance typically covers the costs for glass damage caused by external influences (e.g., stone chipping) without increasing the no-claims discount class.
When purely repairing a stone chip, many insurers waive the excess; however, it is usually due when replacing the windshield.
Understanding Glass Damage: The Facts and First Steps After the Incident
A bang, and it has happened: A stone chip has damaged your windscreen. In Germany, around two million glass damage claims are reported to car insurers every year. The most common cause is indeed a stone chip, but hail or burglary can also lead to glass damage. It is important to act judiciously after discovering the damage and to check road safety; if there are major damages that obstruct your view, the vehicle should not be driven further. Immediate documentation of the damage through photos is very helpful for later reporting to the insurance.
The comprehensive insurance is usually your first point of contact here. It covers damage to your vehicle's glass caused by external factors such as stone chips or hail. Fortunately, settling a glass damage claim through comprehensive insurance usually does not result in an increase in your no-claims bonus. Thus, your insurance premium remains constant, even if you need to use this service. The exact conditions and deadlines for reporting are crucial for a smooth process.
Optimising Claims Reporting: Deadlines and Required Information for Your Insurance
Promptly reporting a glass damage to your car insurance is a crucial factor. Most insurers, such as HUK-Coburg, recommend reporting at the latest within seven days of the damage occurring. Some providers like Check24 also mention a deadline of seven days. Be sure to adhere to this timeframe to avoid jeopardising your entitlement to benefits. For the report, you will generally need your insurance number, details of the vehicle, the time and location of the damage, as well as a precise description of the incident. Photos of the damage are extremely helpful.
These days, reporting can usually be done easily online, by phone, or in writing. Many insurers offer digital portals for quick claims reporting. With some providers, like Allianz, when the repair is carried out by a glass partner, a separate report may not be necessary in advance, as the workshop handles it directly. It's best to clarify this directly with your insurer or a partner workshop. A precise and complete report significantly expedites the entire process and ensures that all necessary information is available for assessment.
Repair or Replacement: Manage Costs and Deductibles Smartly
Whether a damaged window can be repaired or needs to be replaced depends on the nature, 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 often be repaired. The cost for this is often under one hundred euros. Many insurers waive the agreed excess for a repair under the comprehensive insurance. This provides a significant advantage as the repair is usually free for you.
Replacing the window is unavoidable if the damage is larger, cracks have formed, or the damage is within the driver's direct line of sight. The costs for replacing a window can, especially in modern vehicles with driver assistance systems, amount to up to four thousand euros. The GDV reports average costs of 838 euros per glass damage in 2023. In the event of a replacement, the contractual excess usually applies, for example, one hundred and fifty euros. The workshop then settles the remaining amount directly with your insurer. Note any workshop restrictions that may be stipulated 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 vision and at least ten centimetres from the edge?
Nature of the damage: Is it a single impact without any cracking?
Depth of the damage: Is the damage only surface deep?
Number of damages: Is there only a single damage?
Adhering to these criteria increases the chances of a cost-effective repair. Knowledge of the difference between comprehensive and fully comprehensive insurance is also relevant here.
Leverage expert knowledge: Legal aspects and recent judgments on glass damage
In insurance law, there are some interesting aspects and rulings that you should be aware of when reporting a glass damage to your car insurer. A ruling by the District Court of Cologne (AZ: 523 DS 77/13) warns against agreements with workshops in which a discount equal to the deductible is granted, but the full amount is billed to the insurer. Such actions constitute fraud and can lead to the loss of insurance cover. So, honesty in damage reporting is not only a question of morality but also a legal requirement.
Another important ruling was made by the Regional Court of Saarbrücken (10 February 2023, Az. 13 S 109/22). According to this, an insurer may be obliged to cover the costs of a windscreen replacement even if numerous stone chips are present without direct cracks, provided these impair road safety. This is particularly relevant as modern windscreens often show many small impacts only upon close inspection. The costs of auto glass have risen significantly in the last ten years; windshields alone have increased in price by almost fifty percent. The average hourly rates of car workshops were 188 euros in 2023.
Our expert tip: Always clarify with your insurance or a partner workshop the exact procedure and cost coverage in advance. Document the damage and communication carefully. This helps avoid misunderstandings and supports your claims for a correct damage report.
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More useful links
The GDV (German Insurance Association) provides media information on glass damage, vehicle statistics and car insurance.
Statista offers data on comprehensive insurance claims for cars in Germany, broken down by type of damage.
Further media information from the GDV highlights glass damage from 2013 to 2023.
The Verbraucherzentrale NRW offers legal advice on insurance and informs about your rights in the event of a claim.
A comprehensive guide from the Verbraucherzentrale on insurance is available as a PDF document.
Wikipedia provides a general overview of car insurance.
FAQ
What documents do I need to report a glass damage to my car insurance?
To report glass damage, you typically need your policy number, the vehicle's registration number, details of how, where, and when the damage occurred, as well as photos of the damage.
Does my partial coverage also cover damage to headlights and mirrors?
Yes, glass damage to headlights and external mirrors is usually covered by partial insurance.
What happens if I have a workshop binding?
With a workshop binding, your insurer specifies which partner workshop must repair the damage. If you do not comply, reimbursement may be reduced. Clarify this in advance.
Can I have the glass damage paid out (fictitious settlement)?
A fictitious settlement is uncommon for glass damage and often not in the insurer's interest, as repair or replacement is intended to restore road safety. Clarify this option directly with your insurer; 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 this case, a windscreen replacement is often necessary to ensure road safety.
How long does the repair or replacement of a car window take?
Stone chip repair often takes only about thirty to sixty minutes. A window replacement can take several hours, sometimes up to a day, depending on the vehicle model and glue drying times.
