Does Insurance Cover Windshield Replacement?

In some provinces, understanding whether your car insurance covers windshield replacement or repair is tricky. Here in Manitoba, where we only have one car insurance provider (MPI), things are a lot easier.

Manitoba Public Insurance covers windshield replacement and windshield repair through Autopac, thanks to the comprehensive coverage offered to motorists in the province. Whether you’ve got a chipped or cracked windshield that needs repairs or a windshield that needs to be replaced entirely, your Autopac coverage will respond in most circumstances. 

In this article, we’ll cover how your car insurance protects you from windshield damage in greater detail; read on! 

Understanding Windshield Damage & Your Insurance Options

Windshield damage is fairly common; whether it’s due to flying debris chipping your windshield, vandalism, or attempted theft, most drivers will experience windshield damage at least once.

Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) covers windshield damage under Autopac’s glass damage coverage; this coverage also protects your windows. The basic all-perils coverage available to all Manitoba drivers covers glass damage in the event of vandalism, debris, collision, and many other circumstances.

In other jurisdictions, windshield damage may or may not be covered by your insurer based on the level of coverage you have and the time of damage that was incurred. Contact your insurer or your insurance broker to learn more.

Types Of Auto Insurance That Cover Windshield Damage

In Manitoba, the basic all-perils coverage available to all drivers of regular passenger vehicles (not used for business) covers glass damage, including windshield damage. When you’re operating a passenger vehicle for hire, a transportation vehicle, or other types of vehicles used for business, glass damage should be covered by your MPI policy, but it’s important to review your coverages with an insurance broker to understand your deductible and other factors.

Special Glass Coverage Options

MPI doesn’t offer special coverage for glass; glass replacement and glass repair are already covered by your policy in most circumstances. There is, however, a way to reduce the deductible that you pay on glass repairs to $0, making repairs for chips and other minor damage effectively free. We’ll discuss this more in the next section, where we explain how your deductible affects glass claims.

When Does Insurance Pay For Glass Replacement?

Covered Scenarios & Exceptions

In most cases, the all-perils Autopac coverage offered by MPI will cover glass damage, including windshield repair and replacement. There are a number of exceptions and corner cases to keep in mind, however. Here are a few:

• While damage to the glass is typically covered, rusting is not; this means that if rust needs to be removed before the glass can be replaced, you’ll be on the hook for the rust removal costs.
• Glass damage will not be covered in circumstances where MPI wouldn’t normally respond. This means windshield repair and replacement will not be covered if you willingly let an uninsured individual drive your vehicle if you were under the influence, if you were racing, or if your vehicle was otherwise being used for illegal purposes.
• When your vehicle is not insured under basic all-perils coverage (for example, if you’re driving it when you have lay-up coverage purchased), glass damage will not be covered if it occurred while you were driving the vehicle.
• Passenger vehicles for hire, transport vehicles, and other vehicles being used for business purposes should be covered by specific policies. If you’re using a vehicle that is not properly insured for business purposes, you may not have auto glass replacement or repair coverage. 

Understanding Your Deductible

MPI’s comprehensive car insurance will cover your vehicle for glass damage, but you may have to pay some money out of pocket; this portion is called your deductible. On a basic deductible, drivers must pay $750 out of pocket for a windshield repair or windshield replacement.

For drivers who don’t want to pay as much out of pocket, MPI offers lower deductibles; in exchange, you must pay a higher premium. Here are the deductibles that MPI offers:

• $750 (Basic)
• $500
• $300
• $200 Standard
• $200 Plus

Drivers who opt for the $200 Plus deductible still need to pay the $200 for glass replacement, but pay $0 for glass repair. This means that when there’s a chip in your windshield, you can have it repaired for free by an authorized glass repair shop.

The Claims Process Explained

Filing Your Claim

Glass claims are among the easiest claims to file with MPI. The glass repair shop you work with will submit the claim on your behalf using MPI’s web-based application, Mitchell Cloud Glass. We recommend checking your coverage with your insurance broker before visiting a glass repair shop to file a claim; doing so will help you understand your deductible, and whether or not your glass claim is likely to be covered by your policy.

Choosing A Repair Shop

MPI makes it easy to find an authorized repair shop; simply visit its Find A Service page, select Glass Shops, and pick the city or town in which you’re located. From there, you can select Search, and the map will be populated with all of the authorized glass shops near you. Select one that’s close to you, and you’ll be ready to go!

We recommend Googling the glass shops near you for reviews; find the one that has the highest rating. You can also phone around to find the shops with the fastest repair times; doing a bit of research can pay off dividends, and thanks to MPI, every shop should cost the same to you out of pocket (your deductible).

Keep in mind that you may need to pay more out of pocket if the repair shop sees rust or other problems around your windshield; shop around, find a repair shop that suits your needs, and go with them!

Cost Considerations & Insurance Impacts

Premium Changes & Long-Term Effects

Outside of Manitoba, your car insurance company may increase your premiums after making a claim. Fortunately, here in Manitoba, auto glass replacement won’t lead to an increase in your premium, even if you replace the entire windshield.

MPI increases or decreases your premiums based on your driver safety rating (DSR); if you’re at fault for an accident, your premiums will increase, regardless of whether or not you make a glass coverage claim as a result of the accident.

The fact that our provincial insurance company covers glass repairs and replacements with no effect on your premiums is a huge advantage; there’s almost no reason not to repair a damaged windshield, and it’s often worth paying the deductible to conduct the repairs to avoid more serious damage over time.

Making An Informed Decision

With Manitoba Public Insurance covering you, you can get your windshield repaired whether you’re dealing with a simple chipped windshield or completely broken glass. To learn more about what your auto insurance covers, feel free to contact one of our brokers; we’ll go over your policy at no cost to you.