Does Insurance Cover Windshield Replacement? How Glass Claims Work in Canada and the U.S.
Does insurance cover windshield replacement?
It can, through comprehensive coverage. In Canada, comprehensive insurance may cover damage to your windshield, and your deductible is the amount you pay before the insurer pays the rest. In the U.S., Florida law removes the deductible for windshield damage on a comprehensive policy, and Kentucky and South Carolina have no-deductible glass rules. In other states, you may have to pay a deductible for windshield repairs.
Sources, as of 2026
This guide uses the car insurance page of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, the ICBC and Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) glass claim pages, the MPI deductible sheet, the glass laws of Florida (section 627.7288), Kentucky (KRS 304.20-060) and South Carolina (section 38-77-280), two Texas Department of Insurance consumer pages and a AAA cost page. The AAA page shows no date, and no official CAD price range was found.
Windshield deductibles by province and state
| Place | Windshield repair | Windshield replacement |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia (ICBC) | No deductible when the damage meets all four conditions listed below | Your Comprehensive deductible, when the windshield is unsafe and not appropriate to repair |
| Manitoba (MPI) | MPI decides on repair or replacement. No deductible for a repair at the "$200 Plus" deductible level (CAD); a deductible at the other levels | A deductible at every level, including "$200 Plus" |
| Saskatchewan (SGI) | Ask SGI | Ask SGI |
| Florida | No deductible for windshield damage on a policy with comprehensive or combined additional coverage, issued in Florida by an authorized insurer | Same rule |
| Kentucky | No deductible on a glass-only claim | Same rule |
| South Carolina | No deductible for automobile safety glass; confirm it with your insurer before you file | Same rule |
| Other provinces and states | Your policy sets the glass cover and the deductible; ask your insurer or broker | Same as a repair |
ICBC's four conditions for a free windshield repair in BC
- The chip or crack is smaller than a loonie (the Canadian one-dollar coin).
- After the repair, no mark larger than about 6 mm (¼ in) is left in the driver's line of vision.
- The damage is not a long crack.
- The glass has no older damage, such as a long crack, that does not qualify for a repair.
How a windshield claim affects your premium in Canada
In Manitoba, a windshield repair claim does not affect your premiums or future deductibles. Elsewhere in Canada, insurers may consider factors such as your driving record, your claim history, the type of coverage you choose and the amount of your deductible when they set your premium. Before you file, ask your insurer or broker how a glass claim counts on your record, and keep the answer in writing.
Who picks the glass shop on a windshield claim?
Does insurance pay for ADAS calibration after a new windshield?
Calibration adjusts the sensors of the advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), either with stationary targets (static calibration) or during a test drive (dynamic calibration). In Kentucky, the glass law counts calibration or recalibration as part of the glass repair or replacement when the incident requires new glass, so a glass-only claim on a qualifying policy pays for it with no deductible. Elsewhere, ask your insurer before the work whether the claim covers the calibration. For body damage, see how ADAS calibration affects collision repair costs.
Windshield repair and replacement prices in the U.S. (AAA)
- Small chip repair: USD 60 to 100.
- Crack repair: USD 100 to 150.
- Full windshield replacement: USD 250 to 1,500 or more.
- Typical ADAS recalibration: USD 360.
Claim or pay yourself? Worked examples in CAD and USD
| Example (use your own quote and deductible) | Quote | You pay | A claim pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chip repair, CAD 500 deductible | CAD 90 | CAD 90: the quote is below the deductible, so pay the shop yourself | CAD 0 |
| Same chip repair in British Columbia, when it qualifies for a free repair | CAD 90 | CAD 0 | CAD 90 |
| Replacement, CAD 500 deductible | CAD 1,300 | CAD 500 | CAD 800 (1,300 − 500) |
| Chip repair, USD 500 deductible | USD 80 | USD 80: below the deductible, so pay the shop yourself | USD 0 |
| Replacement with ADAS recalibration, USD 500 deductible, when your policy covers the recalibration | USD 1,260 (900 + 360) | USD 500 | USD 760 (1,260 − 500) |
| Same replacement and recalibration in Kentucky, on a glass-only claim | USD 1,260 | USD 0 | USD 1,260 |
| Windshield replacement in Florida, on a comprehensive policy | USD 900 | USD 0 | USD 900 |
How to file a windshield claim, step by step
- 1Check the damage
Note the size of the chip or crack and where it sits on the glass.
- 2Take photos
Photograph the damage up close and from a distance before any work starts.
- 3Ask about repair, replacement and calibration
Ask the shop if the damage can be repaired or needs a new windshield, and if your vehicle needs calibration after the work.
- 4Report the claim
Report the claim the way your insurer asks, before the work starts, and write down the claim number.
- 5Keep the invoice
Make sure the final invoice matches the work on the claim, and keep it with your photos.
Related guides
- Should You Pay for Collision Repair Yourself or File an Insurance Claim?
The same claim-or-pay choice for body damage after a collision.
- Right to Appraisal in Auto Insurance Disputes: What Canadian Drivers Should Know
Your options when you disagree with the amount your insurer offers.
Key Takeaways
- Comprehensive coverage is where your policy may cover windshield damage, and its deductible is your share of a claim.
- Florida, Kentucky and South Carolina have no-deductible glass rules, and BC and Manitoba waive the deductible on some repairs.
- Ask a windshield and auto glass shop for a written quote, then compare it with your deductible before you decide to file a claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will ICBC pay if I use my own shop for a windshield replacement?
ICBC can consider paying you back. If you choose a supplier that ICBC has not accredited, report the claim to ICBC first to get a glass claim number. Then pay the shop in full, take photos of the damage and the new glass, and send the photos and the repair invoice to ICBC.
Can the glass shop file my windshield claim for me?
In Manitoba, yes for most claims: you can handle most glass claims directly with a participating repair shop. Some cases need a call to MPI first, for example a rental vehicle, a temporary permit, dealer or repairer plates, work you already paid for, or a motorcycle. With other insurers, ask whether a shop in their network can start the claim.
Will a windshield claim raise my insurance in Texas?
It can. Texas home and auto insurers can raise your premium for filing most types of claims, but they cannot charge you more for a claim that the company did not pay. You must also pay a deductible for a comprehensive claim in Texas, as for collision and uninsured or underinsured motorist claims.
Does Kentucky's no-deductible glass law apply to my policy?
It applies to a policy issued or renewed on or after 2 April 2024 that has comprehensive coverage, or other than collision coverage, when the claim is for glass only. On such a policy, the insurer must give complete coverage for the glass repair or replacement, with no deductible and no minimum amount.
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