Does Mercury Insurance Cover Windshield Replacement?

Getting a crack or chip in your windshield can be annoying and dangerous. That’s why many drivers wonder if their car insurance will help pay for windshield repair or replacement. At Mercury Insurance, the answer is yes—if you have the right coverage.

What is Comprehensive Coverage?

Comprehensive coverage is an optional add-on with your Mercury auto policy. It covers damage to your vehicle that occurs outside of a collision. This includes:

• Theft
• Vandalism
• Weather events like hail or windstorms
• Falling objects like tree branches
• Fire
• Glass damage (including windshields)

So if something hits your windshield and cracks it, comprehensive insurance can pay for a new one. This coverage also applies if someone deliberately breaks your windshield.

Does Mercury Insurance Cover Windshield Replacement?

Yes, Mercury will pay for windshield replacement or repair services for customers who have comprehensive coverage, though a deductible will apply unless state laws or policy details say otherwise.

Comprehensive insurance from Mercury covers windshields damaged by weather vandalism and theft among other things. So if your windshield gets hit by hail and needs to be replaced, your comprehensive coverage would take care of it. The same goes for if a vandal throws a rock at your windshield and cracks it.

Without comprehensive insurance, you’d have to pay the full cost of any windshield repairs or replacement yourself This can get expensive fast, with new windshields often costing $200-600 or more. That’s why comprehensive coverage is a good idea for many drivers

Will Insurance Cover Rock Chips and Cracks?

In addition to replacing fully shattered windshields, comprehensive coverage from Mercury can also pay for minor rock chip or crack repairs. If you get a small ding or chip, your insurance may cover the cost of resin repairs to prevent it from spreading.

However keep in mind that your deductible still applies. If your comprehensive deductible is $500 you’d need to pay that amount out of pocket before your insurance would pay anything for a chip repair. In many cases, it’s actually cheaper to just pay for small windshield repairs yourself rather than going through insurance.

But for larger cracks or full windshield replacement, using your Mercury Insurance comprehensive coverage can save you money. Just be prepared for the deductible, which is usually $100-500 for comprehensive claims.

Does Mercury Waive Deductibles for Windshield Repair?

Mercury allows each state to set its own rules about windshield deductible waivers. So whether or not you’ll pay a deductible for windshield repair or replacement depends on where you live.

Here are some states where Mercury Insurance waives deductibles for windshield claims:

• Florida
• Kentucky
• South Carolina
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Massachusetts

In these states, you can get your windshield repaired or replaced through your Mercury policy without paying any deductible. Mercury will cover the full cost as long as you have comprehensive coverage.

In other states, your standard comprehensive deductible applies to windshield claims. However, there are often caps on how much you have to pay. For example, in California, windshield deductibles are capped at $100. So even if your regular deductible is $500, you’d only pay $100 of that for a windshield replacement.

Check with your local Mercury agent to find out the specific rules in your state.

Does Insurance Cover OEM vs. Aftermarket Windshields?

Most auto insurance companies, including Mercury, will pay for aftermarket windshields by default. Aftermarket windshields are cheaper generic replacements made by third parties.

But you can usually get original manufacturer equipment (OEM) windshields covered as well. These are made by your car’s actual manufacturer and are more expensive. With Mercury Insurance comprehensive coverage, you can likely get an OEM windshield as long as you pay the price difference.

For example, if an OEM windshield costs $600 to replace and an aftermarket one costs $300, your policy would cover the $300 aftermarket cost. You’d then pay the $300 price difference yourself for the OEM windshield.

Using Mercury’s Glass Repair Program

To make windshield repairs and replacements easy, Mercury Insurance offers a glass repair program. This provides access to a nationwide network of trusted auto glass shops and repair technicians.

When you need windshield work done, simply call Mercury Insurance or file a claim online. They’ll then refer you to a glass shop in their network to schedule repairs. The shop will bill Mercury Insurance directly so you don’t have to pay upfront costs.

Using Mercury’s preferred vendors also ensures quality workmanship and OEM parts. Their glass technicians are thoroughly vetted to provide excellent customer service.

The Bottom Line

Check your Mercury Insurance policy details to see if you carry comprehensive coverage. If so, windshield repairs and replacements are covered in case of damage from weather, rocks, vandalism and more.

Just be aware that in most states, you’ll pay your standard comprehensive deductible for windshield claims. But in the long run, using your insurance to replace a cracked windshield is much cheaper than paying for it all yourself. Contact a Mercury agent to learn more or file a windshield claim.