Does Car Insurance Cover Windscreen Replacement?
Yes, most comprehensive car insurance policies include windscreen cover as standard. The large majority of comprehensive policies cover windscreen repair and replacement, with a separate lower excess that does not affect your no-claims discount.
Third-party, fire and theft and third-party only policies do not cover windscreen damage. If you have either of these, you pay the full repair or replacement cost yourself.
Windscreen replacement costs have risen sharply in recent years, typically £250 to £400 for a standard car. Cars with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) can cost £400 to £1,000 or more because the camera behind the windscreen must be recalibrated after fitting.
Yes on almost every comprehensive policy, and it is the one claim that usually costs you nothing beyond a small separate excess — glass cover sits outside the main claims process and leaves your no-claims discount untouched. Repair a chip early and many insurers waive the excess entirely; leave it to spread and you are paying for a full replacement, with ADAS recalibration on a modern car.
Compare comprehensive car insurance and check the glass excess.
- Which types of car insurance cover windscreen damage?
- How much does windscreen replacement cost?
- How much excess do you pay for a windscreen claim?
- Does a windscreen claim affect your no-claims discount?
- Can you legally drive with a damaged windscreen?
- What should you do if your windscreen is damaged?
- Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Which types of car insurance cover windscreen damage?
Only comprehensive insurance typically includes windscreen cover. TPFT only covers glass damaged by fire or theft, not chips or cracks from road debris.
What does windscreen cover include?
| Cover type | Chip repair | Full replacement | ADAS recalibration | Side and rear windows |
| Comprehensive (with windscreen cover) | Yes | Yes | Usually | Usually (sunroofs vary) |
| Third-party, fire and theft | No | No | No | No |
| Third-party only | No | No | No | No |
Not every comprehensive policy includes windscreen cover automatically. A minority exclude it, so check your policy schedule to confirm it is included before you need it.
Does windscreen cover include side and rear windows?
Most policies that include windscreen cover also extend to side and rear window damage. Sunroof glass is included less often and varies by insurer.
How much does windscreen replacement cost?
A standard windscreen replacement costs £250 to £400, and ADAS-equipped vehicles can cost £400 to £1,000 or more. Chip repairs are much cheaper at £50 to £70.
What are typical costs?
| Repair type | Typical cost | Typical excess |
| Chip repair (single) | £50-£70 | £0-£25 |
| Windscreen replacement (standard car) | £250-£400 | £75-£125 |
| Windscreen replacement (ADAS vehicle) | £400-£1,000+ | £75-£125 (plus recalibration) |
| Side window replacement | £80-£350 | £75-£125 |
| Rear window replacement | £150-£350 | £75-£125 |
Repairing a chip early prevents it from spreading into a crack that requires a full replacement. A £50 chip repair is far cheaper than a £400 to £1,000 replacement.
Does ADAS recalibration add to the cost?
Yes, because ADAS recalibration typically costs £100 to £200 on top of the replacement. Most comprehensive policies include recalibration in their windscreen cover, but a significant minority do not.
If your car has lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking, or a forward-facing camera, the camera must be precisely realigned after a new windscreen is fitted. Skipping recalibration means your safety systems may not work correctly.
How much excess do you pay for a windscreen claim?
Windscreen claims have their own separate excess, which is typically much lower than your main policy excess. Some policies charge no excess at all for chip repairs.
How does windscreen excess compare to your main excess?
Your main policy excess might be £250 to £500, but windscreen repair excess is typically £0 to £25 and replacement excess is £75 to £125. The two are completely separate, so a windscreen claim does not use up your main excess.
Chip repair excesses most commonly fall between £20 and £49, while full replacement excesses are usually £70 or more. Check your policy schedule for the exact amounts that apply to your cover.
Does a windscreen claim affect your no-claims discount?
With most insurers, no. Windscreen claims are treated separately from other types of claim and do not reduce your no-claims discount or count towards your claims history.
Are there any exceptions?
Some insurers count windscreen claims against your NCD if you make multiple claims in a short period. Check your policy wording, because not all insurers guarantee that windscreen claims are NCD-neutral.
Even when windscreen claims do not affect your NCD, you must declare them when switching insurers. Our car insurance costs guide explains how claims history affects the quotes you receive.
Will your premium increase after a windscreen claim?
Usually not, because most insurers treat windscreen claims as a standard maintenance cost rather than a risk indicator. However, multiple windscreen claims in a single policy year could prompt a review at renewal.
Can you legally drive with a damaged windscreen?
A damaged windscreen can result in an MOT failure and a fine of up to £100 if the police consider it dangerous. The MOT test checks windscreen condition as part of the vehicle inspection.
What are the MOT failure thresholds?
Any damage larger than 10mm in the driver’s direct line of sight (a 290mm strip centred on the steering wheel) is an automatic MOT failure. Damage larger than 40mm anywhere else on the windscreen also fails.
A chip smaller than 10mm in the driver’s zone or smaller than 40mm elsewhere will pass the MOT. However, small chips can spread quickly, so repairing them early avoids a future failure.
Can you get penalty points for a damaged windscreen?
Yes, because driving with a seriously damaged windscreen is an offence under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations. The police can issue a fixed penalty notice and up to three penalty points.
Our tips to lower your premium explain how penalty points and convictions affect your insurance costs.
What should you do if your windscreen is damaged?
Call your insurer’s dedicated windscreen claims line as soon as you notice the damage. Most insurers have a separate number for windscreen claims and can arrange repair or replacement within one to two days.
What steps should you follow?
Describe the size and location of the damage to your insurer. They will determine whether a chip repair or full replacement is needed and direct you to an approved repairer.
Use your insurer’s approved repairer to ensure the work meets safety standards and is fully guaranteed.
Can you choose your own repairer?
You can, but your insurer may cap the payout at a lower amount if you use a non-approved repairer. Some policies limit reimbursement to £25 for repairs and £50 for replacements when using non-approved repairers.
Check your policy terms for any restrictions on repairer choice before booking the work.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Usually yes, because the large majority of comprehensive policies include windscreen cover as standard. Check your policy schedule to confirm, because a minority exclude it.
With most insurers, no, because windscreen claims are treated separately and do not reduce your NCD. Check your policy wording to confirm how your insurer handles windscreen claims.
Windscreen excess is separate from your main policy excess. Chip repairs typically cost £0 to £25, and full replacements typically carry an excess of £75 to £125.
Most comprehensive policies include ADAS recalibration in their windscreen cover, but a significant minority do not. Confirm with your insurer if your car has a forward-facing camera.
Yes, if the chip is smaller than 28mm and not within 7cm of the windscreen edge. Chips in the driver’s direct line of sight must be smaller than 10mm to qualify for repair rather than replacement.
A standard windscreen costs £250 to £400, and ADAS vehicles cost £400 to £1,000 or more. Side windows cost £80 to £350, and rear windows cost £150 to £350.