Replacing The Windshield In Your Car Or Truck
Posted on: 28 June 2018
The most common reason to replace a windshield in any vehicle is damage to the glass, either from an accident or from road debris. The windshield glass in your car or truck is pretty durable, but with the right impact, it can be cracked, or worse, broken. If you find you need to replace a windshield, there are some things to consider before you have the new one installed.
Glass and Insurance
Before you assume that the windshield will be replaced by your insurance company, you should take a look at your policy or call your insurance agent to get an idea what is covered and what is not. Not every insurance company is the same, and while some have very good glass coverage, others do not.
For many people, the deductible for the insurance is higher than the cost of replacing the glass. If that is the case, you will spend less paying for the glass in cash and are less likely to see your insurance premiums increase due to the claim. If you have a very good policy, this might not be the case but check before assuming that you will be covered.
Original Equipment Glass Versus Aftermarket
While most of the time the differences between original equipment glass and aftermarket glass is not noticeable, you may have an antenna or a heating filament in the glass on your car. If that is the case, you need to be sure that the aftermarket glass contains the same optional items for it to work correctly on your car.
If they do not, you will not have a lot of choices. You will need to get the original equipment glass installed in the car. These specialty windshields can be very expensive, so check with your dealer for an estimate before you submit any request to your insurance company. The windshield will also, more than likely, be installed by a tech at the dealership.
Replacing Old Glass
There are times when the windshield needs to be replaced for no other reason than it is old and starting to show signs of wear that come with years of use. This can be the case in classic cars and trucks and can range from pitted glass to milky corners of the glass from delamination and moisture penetrating the glass layers.
These windshields are harder to find but can be installed by a competent mechanic with the tools and knowledge to do so. If you can't find a mechanic to change the glass, check with a windshield replacement company such as City Wide Auto Glass. They often have someone there with the experience needed to change it for you.
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