Cost & Insurance FAQs for Auto Glass

Cash price for a chip repair runs $50 to $100, depending on the number of impact points. With insurance, repair is often free: most carriers waive the deductible for repair because it’s much cheaper than the replacement they’d otherwise pay for. We’ll verify your coverage in two minutes when you call (916) 995-9999 in California or (480) 855-0123 in Arizona.

Cash replacement varies by vehicle: standard sedans run $250 to $500, trucks and SUVs run $350 to $700, and vehicles with rain sensors, HUD, lane-departure cameras, or other ADAS features run $400 to $1,200, plus calibration when required. EVs (Tesla, Polestar, Rivian, EV-spec Lexus) and luxury vehicles tend to run higher. Specialty glass (RVs, motorhomes, glass roofs) is quoted individually. Send us your year, make, model, and VIN and we’ll give you an exact price the same day.

If you have Comprehensive coverage on your auto policy, yes. Comprehensive is the part of your policy that covers things that aren’t collisions: theft, fire, hail, falling objects, road debris. Windshield damage falls under it. If you only have liability, glass isn’t covered. Most carriers waive the deductible for repair (we file directly). Replacement costs you your deductible unless you have full glass coverage. We work with every major carrier and file the claim for you.

No. Calling your insurance company to ask about your coverage or deductible is not a claim. It’s an inquiry. Inquiries don’t get reported to claim databases (CLUE) and don’t affect your rates. The rate question only comes up if you actually file a claim, and even then there are protections (see the next FAQ). When in doubt, you can also call us first, give us your insurance info, and we’ll verify your coverage without you ever picking up the phone with your carrier.

Usually no, but with caveats. In California, Insurance Code §1861.02 (Proposition 103) limits which factors insurers can use to set your rates, and a single comprehensive glass claim is generally not one of them. In Arizona, A.R.S. §20-263 specifically prevents insurers from raising rates because of a not-at-fault loss, which includes most road-debris glass damage. So one glass claim in isolation almost never moves your premium. Multiple claims of any type within a short period can. Talk to your agent if you’ve filed other claims recently.

Yes, if you elected zero-deductible glass coverage when you set up your auto policy. Arizona’s full-glass coverage statute, A.R.S. §20-264, requires every insurer to OFFER zero-deductible glass coverage to comprehensive policyholders. The key word is offer: drivers must actually elect it. It usually adds a few dollars per month to your premium. If you elected it, your windshield replacement is free to you (we bill the insurer directly for the full amount). If you didn’t elect it, your standard deductible applies. Check your declarations page under Comprehensive for a line that says “Zero Deductible Glass” or similar.

Comprehensive (sometimes labeled “Other Than Collision”) covers damage to your vehicle from things you didn’t cause: rocks from the road, hail, falling tree branches, vandalism, theft, fire. Cracked or broken auto glass falls into this category. If you have Comprehensive, your glass is covered up to your policy limits, minus your deductible (unless you have full glass coverage in AZ or have purchased a separate glass rider in CA). Liability-only policies do not cover glass. If you’re not sure what you have, send us a photo of your declarations page and we’ll tell you in plain English.

Then it’s cheaper to pay cash. There’s no point filing an insurance claim for a $75 chip repair if your deductible is $500. We’ll quote both ways (cash and through insurance) so you can pick the lower number. For chip repair specifically, cash is almost always the right choice if you’re paying any deductible at all, since most chip repairs are under $100. For full replacement, the math depends on your specific vehicle and deductible. We do this calculation with customers daily.

Cash, all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover), checks, Zelle, and Venmo. Payment is due at time of service. We don’t charge service fees on any payment method. For insurance claims we bill the carrier directly so you only pay your deductible (or nothing, in the case of zero-deductible glass coverage in Arizona). We don’t offer financing, payment plans, or discount programs: our pricing is fair upfront for everyone.

Liability-only policies cover damage you cause to other people’s property, not your own vehicle. So your windshield isn’t covered. You can either pay cash for the repair or replacement, or call your insurance company and ask to add Comprehensive coverage to your policy (it usually takes effect within a day, but pre-existing damage is excluded so you’d need to handle the current crack out of pocket regardless). We accept cash, card, check, Zelle, and Venmo. Repair is often $50 to $100; replacement varies by vehicle.

If you have Comprehensive coverage in California, almost always yes. ADAS calibration is treated as a required part of the windshield claim by most carriers (because the camera was disturbed during the replacement and federal safety standards require it to be re-aimed). We submit calibration on the same claim form. In rare cases an insurer may require a separate authorization, which we handle. ADAS calibration is offered in California only; we do not promote or schedule ADAS work in Arizona. Learn more about ADAS calibration →

Yes. Give us your insurance carrier and policy number when you call. We verify your coverage, file the claim with your insurer, handle the back-and-forth on authorization, and bill them directly. You only pay your deductible (or nothing if you have zero-deductible glass coverage in AZ). Most customers never have to call their insurance company at all. We’ve been doing this since 1997 and we’re on the preferred vendor list with State Farm, USAA, AAA, and others.