Here’s a question we get asked a lot “If your car’s back tailgate window breaks, is it covered as part of your auto insurance?”
In most cases, if your agent has added glass coverage to your auto insurance policy, then you are covered for all the glass in your car, not just the windshield.
Many customers believe that glass coverage on their policy only covers the front windshield and haven’t filed claims for damage to any of the other windows, including the side and back windows. It is important to check with your agent to see if you have this coverage.
Does a glass claim impact your auto insurance rates?
As consumers, most of you know that a collision claim against your insurance policy will adversely affect your premium, which is usually true. Typically, many glass claims fall under the “comprehensive” section of your policy, also called “other than collision’, which includes losses such as hitting an animal, fire, wind, falling objects, hail, theft, or vandalism. In most cases, this type of claim doesn’t impact your auto rates. With that being said, the rating systems are very complex and can factor in hundreds of variables; one of those variables being claims frequency. This means that your insurance carrier may be looking at all claims including comprehensive and glass claims over a period of time, generally 3 to 5 years. As a result of this, while a comprehensive claim may not have a direct charge; it can determine eligibility and rating tier. This could ultimately affect your overall premium.
We are happy to help answer any insurance questions you may have as the insurance industry gets more and more complex. As independent insurance agents, we can advise you on what the insurance companies are looking for in their rating, what you can do to keep your insurance premiums in control and what companies might be a good fit for you. Call us today if you have any questions regarding your insurance coverages, we are happy to help. Feel free to reach us at www.keslarinsurance.com or 603-273-0953.
