Does Making a Glass Claim Raise Your Insurance Rates? What to Know

Filing an insurance claim for windshield or other glass damage is quick and convenient thanks to zero deductible glass coverage But will it cause your car insurance rates to increase? This is a common question for drivers weighing the pros and cons of making a glass claim

After researching how insurers handle glass claims, talking to agents, and reviewing rate filings, I have the answers. Here is what drivers need to know about the rate impact of windshield and auto glass claims.

How Auto Insurers View Glass Claims

To understand if glass claims raise insurance rates, you first need insight into how insurers view these claims. There are a few key perspectives to consider:

• Glass claims are frequent – According to the National Windshield Repair Association (NWRA) over 16 million windshields are repaired or replaced each year. This makes glass one of the most frequent claims for auto insurance companies.

• Glass claims are inexpensive – The average cost of a windshield replacement is around $350, according to Safelite Autoglass. A repair costs even less, averaging $50-75. Compared to collision repairs that can cost thousands, glass claims have low severity.

• External causes – Unlike at-fault accidents which result from driver negligence, glass damage is often caused by external factors outside the policyholder’s control (like road debris).

• No-fault coverage – In most states, glass coverage is offered on a no-fault basis. Drivers don’t have to prove fault to make a glass claim.

Given the high frequency but low severity of glass claims, most insurers don’t penalize drivers for using this coverage. The no-fault nature also reduces concerns over fault risk.

Do Insurers Raise Rates for Glass Claims?

The main factor that determines if glass claims will raise your car insurance rates is your state. States have different laws and regulations guiding how insurers can use glass claims in their rating models.

There are three basic approaches auto insurers take:

1. States Where Glass Claims Don’t Impact Rates

In a few states, insurers are prohibited from raising premiums based on glass claims. These include:

• Florida
• Kentucky
• South Carolina
• Hawaii

In these states, you can file as many glass claims as needed without worrying about rate hikes. This is required by laws banning insurers from applying glass claim surcharges.

2. States Where Glass Claims Have Little Impact

In most states, auto insurers can technically raise rates for multiple glass claims but choose not to. This includes major insurers like State Farm, Allstate, GEICO, Progressive and more.

Glass claims often have “little to no impact” on premiums according to rate filings by State Farm, Allstate, Liberty Mutual and others.

These insurers only raise rates if there is an exceptional number of glass claims indicating higher risk. Even then, the increase is modest compared to at-fault accidents.

3. States Where Multiple Glass Claims May Increase Rates

A minority of insurers in some states still apply slight rate penalties for multiple glass claims. This is more common among smaller regional carriers.

For example, in its Minnesota rate manual American Family Insurance says it may apply up to a 10% surcharge if glass claims exceed three in a three-year period.

But among most major insurers, this practice is dying out due to the frequent, no-fault nature of glass claims.

When Will a Glass Claim Raise Insurance Rates?

As we’ve seen, a single glass claim is very unlikely to increase premiums with most top insurers. But what if you need to make multiple glass claims in a short period?

Here are the main scenarios where frequent glass claims could potentially impact your rates:

• 3+ claims in 1-2 years – If you file more than two glass claims with the same vehicle in a short timeframe, your insurer may see you as higher risk.

• With smaller insurers – Larger national brands are less likely to raise rates for glass claims. But some smaller companies still consider frequent glass claims a risk factor.

• In fault-based states – A few states like California and Pennsylvania still allow no-fault windshield coverage but require collision coverage for glass damage in other situations. Fault-based glass claims are more likely to impact rates.

• With other violations – If you also have traffic violations or at-fault accidents, glass claims could compound the rate increase.

The impact also depends on your prior insurance history. Drivers with perfect records are less likely to be penalized for occasional glass claims than high-risk policyholders.

How Much Could Glass Claims Increase My Premium?

If your insurer does raise rates for multiple glass claims, how much could it increase your premium? Among insurers that allow it, the rate impact is generally modest compared to at-fault accidents.

For example, GEICO says in a California filing that it applies no surcharge for the first glass claim but may add a maximum of 10% for each additional claim in a 12-month period. Allstate uses a similar 10% cap on glass claim surcharges in Nebraska.

Meanwhile, a single at-fault accident can increase your rates by 47% on average, and major violations like DUI can nearly triple premiums.

So while it’s possible frequent glass claims could impact your rates with some insurers, the potential increase is small compared to many other common rate factors.

Tips to Avoid Potential Rate Increases

If you’re concerned about the impact on your premiums, there are a few simple strategies to avoid potential rate hikes:

• Fix small chips immediately – This prevents cracks from spreading into more costly repairs. Use glass coverage now to avoid larger claims later.

• Remove debris quickly – Don’t let branches or debris sit on your vehicle where they can damage the glass over time.

• Park carefully – Avoid parking under overpasses or near construction areas where debris can fall onto your vehicle.

• Limit glass add-ons – Opting for glass deductible waivers or full glass coverage on multiple vehicles could signal higher risk.

• Space out claims – Waiting a year or more between glass repairs can help avoid frequent claim concerns.

With a little preventative care, you can likely avoid multiple glass claims and any related rate impacts.

The Bottom Line

For most drivers, filing the occasional glass claim will not result in premium increases. This is especially true with leading national insurers and in states that prohibit claim-based rate hikes.

But frequent glass claims within a short timeframe may signal higher risk to some insurers. The resulting rate increase is generally modest compared to at-fault accidents. However, multiple claims could compound rate hikes for high-risk drivers.

Weighing the potential for premium increases against repair costs can help guide smart claiming decisions. But overall, the convenience and zero deductible benefit of glass coverage makes it ideal for quick repairs that keep your vehicle safe to drive.