New tech in windscreens could cost you thousands or even write off your car
- The number of motor insurance policies that don’t provide windscreen cover has tripled in the last four years
- Almost half of policies will not pay the full cost to have your windscreen replaced
- Just under half apply a ‘market value’ to windscreen cover which means older cars could be written off if the cost of a high-tech windscreen is more than the market value of the car
Motor insurance experts are warning drivers to check their policies to avoid getting caught out by expensive windscreen replacement costs.
Mike Powell, Motor Insurance Expert at Defaqto, said: “As windscreens become increasingly hi-tech, the cost of replacing them can vary from £250 to £2,500. At the same time, we’ve started to see a number of ‘comprehensive’ motor insurance policies remove windscreen cover from their offering.”
Defaqto data shows that the percentage of insurance products that do not offer this benefit has tripled since 2020.
“Our concern is that although these products clearly explain that cover is not available, some consumers may simply look at the overall price and not realise that windscreen cover is excluded.”
The cover limit provided for the costs of windscreen replacements has also changed. Five years ago, 71% of comprehensive insurance policies would pay out the full costs to replace a windscreen. By 2024 that had reduced to 53%, with just under half of all products now applying a ‘market value’ clause.
Many modern cars have Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) such as emergency brake assist, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping and centering, which are typically controlled by sensors in the windscreen. When a windscreen is replaced, these sensors need to be ‘recalibrated’ so that the ADAS systems continue to work.
The team at Defaqto has been tracking what is stated within insurance providers’ policy documentation to confirm that the costs for a ‘windscreen recalibration’ are covered under the windscreen cover of a comprehensive car insurance policy.
“We look at whether cover is clearly defined with specific wording, is not clearly defined, or if cover is specifically excluded. Back in 2020, 85% of policies did not clearly define whether cover was provided or not. Today, there are still around four in ten products that do not clearly define this area of cover, so although the market is improving, it’s an important aspect to check before purchasing cover.”
Here are Mike’s top tips when considering which motor insurance policy is best for you:
- Always check whether your policy includes windscreen cover. Don’t assume that because you have bought comprehensive cover this benefit is automatically included. Products that receive a 5 or 4 Star Defaqto Rating will include windscreen cover, as this is a ‘core’ feature that must be included to receive these Ratings.
- Make sure that you are aware of any overall limit that may be applicable for windscreen replacement claims. High-tech windscreen replacements may cost more than your cover limit.
- When making a windscreen claim it is essential that you use an ‘approved repairer’ listed by your insurance provider. If you use your own repairer (i.e. your local garage) you may find that your policy has lower cover limits, or that a higher excess is applicable.
- If the policy wording does not specifically mention if cover is provided for ‘windscreen recalibration costs’, always check with your insurance provider directly to confirm that these are included.
- Before purchasing your policy, always check the excess that is applicable for a ‘windscreen replacement’. This means that you won’t be shocked when you need to claim, and you have to pay your excess.
- If you get a chip in your windscreen, typically insurance providers will pay for the costs of repairing the chip and usually apply a lower excess for these types of claims. Acting early and getting the chip repaired could save you money in the long run, as you won’t have to pay a higher excess when your windscreen needs replacing.
Defaqto maintains the UK’s most comprehensive financial product database, providing independent expertise, insights, tools and technology to help everyone make smarter financial decisions, and has put together the above based on data available on 26 February 2024.