Is a Leaking Windscreen Covered by Car Insurance?

Dealing with a leaking windscreen can be a frustrating and potentially hazardous issue for drivers. Water ingress into a vehicle can lead to electrical problems mold growth and interior damage over time if left unchecked. Knowing whether your auto insurance policy covers leaking windscreen damage is important in case you encounter this common problem.

This article provides a comprehensive look at the causes of windscreen leaks, what insurance coverage applies, tips for getting a claim approved, and steps to prevent leaks in the first place.

What Causes Windscreens to Leak?

There are several common causes that can lead to a windscreen allowing water to leak into the cabin of a vehicle:

Worn out rubber seals around the windscreen, The seals deteriorate over time leading to small gaps or cracks
Chips, cracks or damage to the windscreen glass itself. Even minor chips can worsen into leaks.
Improper installation of the windscreen by a technician, leaving gaps where water can enter.
Rusted or corroded body panels underneath the windscreen where water seeps through.
Clogged sunroof or door drains that back up and overflow into the cabin.
Extreme weather events such as hail storms that damage the glass.

Regular maintenance and inspections can help identify issues before major leaking occurs. But even well-maintained windscreens eventually fail.

Will Car Insurance Cover a Leaking Windscreen?

Whether a leaking windscreen is covered by your auto insurance policy depends on several important factors:

Your coverage levels – Standard policies include comprehensive and collision coverage which would apply to windscreen leaks. Liability-only policies would not.
The cause of the leak – Damage from accidents, vandalism, weather events, or falling objects would likely be covered. Leaks solely due to worn seals or rust would generally not be covered.
Your deductible amount – Even with coverage, you pay your comprehensive deductible first (commonly $500-$1000). For minor leaks, paying yourself may be cheaper than a claim.
Your claims history – Too many comprehensive claims could increase your premiums at renewal time regardless of who was at fault.

Overall, a windscreen leak caused by an incident covered under your comprehensive policy should meet the criteria for making a claim after paying your deductible. Leaks due to lack of maintenance may not be covered.

Does Comprehensive Insurance Handle Leaking Windscreen Claims?

Comprehensive car insurance provides coverage for damage to your vehicle resulting from non-collision incidents, excluding normal wear and tear issues. Covered events include:

Hail, flood, falling tree limb, or other weather events
Theft or vandalism
Hitting an animal in the road
And more

If your windscreen develops a leak due to hail damage, vandalism, or another comprehensive claim cause, it should be covered under this policy component. Make sure you have comprehensive coverage with a reasonable deductible.

When Might Collision Insurance Assist With a Leaking Windscreen?

Collision coverage under your policy pays for damage to your vehicle resulting from accidents with other cars or objects. If your windscreen was damaged in a collision and later leaked, this would fall under your collision insurance.

For example, if a rock kicked up by another car on the highway chips your windscreen and it develops cracks that start leaking over time, make a claim under your collision insurance. This applies as long as you repair the damage and file the claim soon after the accident occurred.

Tips for Getting a Leaking Windscreen Covered

If you need to file an insurance claim on a leaking windscreen, these tips can improve your chances of getting it approved:

Review your policy to verify comprehensive and collision coverage with fair deductible amounts.
Determine what specifically caused the leak -collision, weather event, vandalism, etc.
Document the leak with photos showing where water enters the cabin.
Dry interior carpeting and upholstery immediately to prevent mold developing.
Provide any related police reports, especially for collision claims.
Get repair estimates from windscreen replacement shops to submit to the insurer.
Consider paying for minor leak repairs yourself rather than making a claim to avoid premium increases.

What Expenses Beyond the Windscreen Itself May Be Covered?

If your insurance claim for a leaking windscreen is approved, in addition to the windscreen replacement cost your policy may cover:

Damage to interior components – carpets, upholstery, electronics affected by water damage.
Any rust damage to body panels under the windscreen if the leak persisted for long.
Labor fees for professional windscreen installation technicians.
Recalibration of advanced driver assist systems built into the windscreen.
Short term rental car reimbursement if your vehicle is undrivable during the repair process.

Why Might a Leaking Windscreen Claim Be Denied?

There are instances where an insurance claim for a leaking windscreen might be denied, such as:

Your policy only includes basic liability coverage that wouldn’t apply.
The damage clearly resulted from lack of maintenance or seal deterioration over time.
The cause, such as hail or flooding, is specifically excluded under your policy provisions.
Undeclared modifications have been made to your vehicle’s windscreen.
Suspicion of fraud if damage appears intentionally caused.
Too many comprehensive claims showing a pattern of negligent maintenance or care.

Carefully reviewing the insurer’s provided reason for a claim denial can help determine if you have grounds for appeal or need to seek repair payment elsewhere.

What Are the Options if Your Leak Isn’t Covered?

If your insurance provider won’t cover a leaking windscreen, here are some potential options to deal with the needed replacement:

Pay out-of-pocket if it is cheaper than your high deductible. Get quotes from windscreen repair shops.
Check if a credit card you used for the vehicle rental or repairs offers any coverage.
See if the vehicle manufacturer warranty still applies to windscreen components.
Consider an extended third-party warranty that could help pay the replacement cost.
Try DIY windscreen repair kits to fill cracks and chips causing leaks.
Sell the vehicle as-is to avoid the cost of replacement altogether.
Limit driving when raining until you can save up for the repair cost.

Preventing Windscreen Leaks in the First Place

Here are some tips to help prevent frustrating windscreen leaks from occurring:

Replace windscreen wiper blades annually or immediately when cracked or worn.
Clean the windscreen regularly with proper cleaners to avoid seal deterioration.
Apply windscreen protectant sealants every 6 months to preserve and waterproof seals.
Repair even small chips right away before they can develop into cracks.
Avoid exposing your vehicle to debris that could cause glass damage.
Inspect seals around the windscreen for gaps, cracks or wear every 6 months.
Keep door, sunroof and AC drain tubes clear of debris to prevent water backup.
Listen for wind noise that may indicate a failing seal.
Look for water droplets on interior surfaces after rain or washing as early signs of leaks.

With vigilant prevention and care, you can extend the life of your windscreen seals and glass to avoid the headache of water leaks into the cabin. Understanding whether you have applicable insurance coverage is also important should you ever need to make a claim on a leaking windscreen replacement. Check your policy today so you know what to expect.

leaking windscreen covered by insurance

Use a pliable sealant to fix improper seals

Butyl sealant or something else that stays flexible should be used instead of the windshield sealant if the leak is caused by a skip in it. This should be done under pressure with an air caulking gun. ¹.

After letting the sealant dry for a few minutes, repeat the water test. If all goes well, you’ll be free of leaks and comfortable in your car no matter the weather. ¹.

Signs of a windshield leak

Windshield leaks can be a real frustration for drivers. You might be able to spot some of the most common leak signs, like the smell of water, foggy windows, rust stains, or carpets or furniture that are wet. But the frustration often stems from not knowing where the water is coming from.

Just because the carpet is wet in the trunk doesn’t mean that’s where the leak is located. Water can enter from the front floor and flow through the channels under the carpeting to fill the back floor. This is possible because cars can be sloped. ¹.

If this isn’t fixed, the car could develop mold, mildew and rust. A type of underpadding that gives off an unpleasant smell when wet and grows mold spores has been used by manufacturers for the past 10 or 15 years. So if you smell an odor in your vehicle, you may have a water leak. ¹.

Does Auto Insurance Cover Windshield Repair or Replacement?

Does Car Insurance Cover windscreen repair?

Windscreen coverage often comes as a part of comprehensive insurance, ensuring that not only is your windscreen covered, but other damages to the vehicle are too. Some policies may offer windscreen repair with zero deductible, which means no out-of-pocket cost for the repair. Before deciding on windscreen coverage:

Does insurance cover windshield damage?

Full glass coverage: Some insurance providers offer separate full glass coverage without deductibles, unlike collision and comprehensive coverage (more on that later). Insurance doesn’t always cover windshield damage. Your damage won’t be covered under these circumstances: You lack comprehensive coverage.

Does comprehensive insurance cover windshield glass repairs?

If you have comprehensive insurance, you won’t pay anything for repairs as we don’t apply a deductible in that case. Note that comprehensive coverage is optional, but most drivers add comprehensive insurance to their car insurance policy to get covered for windshield glass repairs.

Does car insurance cover windshield & auto glass?

Your windshield and auto glass are covered by your car insurance if you carry comprehensive coverage. This coverage can protect your vehicle from non-collision damages including weather damage (like hail , flooding, etc.), theft and animal damage (including colliding with larger animals such as deer).