Insurance experts - question

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Got a cracked windshield on the Mercedes. Called up the insurance company and they basically told me what I expected, "you'll be responsible up to the amount of your deductible and we'll cover above that". They referred my claim to a local glass place who called later asking if I'd be okay with an aftermarket replacement. I basically told them "no, I expect the original O.E. equipment that the car came with". Glass shop dude says "well, I'll need to clear that with your adjuster". Calls back 10 minutes later and says "nope, your adjuster will only authorize an aftermarket replacement". I've called the adjuster back twice now (no reply) and told them on voice mail that aftermarket replacement was unacceptable to me and my understanding is that by law, they can not restrict me from taking the vehicle wherever I want for repairs - please discuss w/ me or it's going to the dealership and that's the end of it.

Can they actually insist on an aftermarket replacement? Smells like B.S. to me. It'd devalue the car.

[legion]

It depends on the language in your policy and/or the laws in your state. Being familiar with neither, I'd hate to make generalizations.

One instance I could thing of would be if the OEM windshield was NLA.

[RANDY P]

that is nonsense. The aftermarket is 1/3rd the price of the OEM, squarely under your deductible amount- the insurance CO pays less if anything at all.

The glass guy gets a chance to sell a $179.00 windshield for your deductible ($500) and you get screwed.

Price it from the dealer and get "insurance replacement" pricing, and yell until you get what you want. From what I understand, unless your windshield is just plain old glass and doesn't have sensors or whatnot, you WANT OEM on your car. For some reason, BMW and late Benz no one in aftermarket can make a windshield that works correctly (rain sensing for instance)

[TerryH]

The only true oem glass was put in at the factory. Everything else is copied off the original. However, oem most times will fit better than aftermarket. How big is the price difference? Call several local shops and get prices. Maybe you could bargain somewhat with the deductable. Some windshields have mucho electronics in them and cost big bucks.

[RANDY P]

Also, this is one instance where "cash" price is better than "insurance" price. Price it as it it's cash first, then dump on them it's an insurance co. paying for it.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

One thing I'm absolutely certain of is that the ins. co. can NOT (by law in CA) tell you to go to a particular shop. You have the right to go wherever you want.

So I guess I go to the dealership (and guess which kind of glass they'll stock?) and have them do the repair.

I think I'm done with Mercury after this. After them trying to dick me on the 951 and now trying to dick me on this, I'm taking my business elsewhere after this.

[Super_Dave_D]

Well at least one good reason to live in Florida!

Florida Statute 627.7288 states that the deductible shall not apply to windshield damages.
If you have comprehensive coverage, windshield replacement is the only claim for which you are not charged a deductible. Florida law requires this waiver to encourage drivers to immediately replace damaged windshields.

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

One thing I'm absolutely certain of is that the ins. co. can NOT (by law in CA) tell you to go to a particular shop. You have the right to go wherever you want.

So I guess I go to the dealership (and guess which kind of glass they'll stock?) and have them do the repair.

I think I'm done with Mercury after this. After them trying to dick me on the 951 and now trying to dick me on this, I'm taking my business elsewhere after this.

You might be surprised to know that dealerships do not usually stock or install windshields. You could get oem or aftermarket at the dealer unless you specifically tell them which you want. The same guy in your local yellowpages might be the guy that services that dealership.

Many dealerships also have more than one glass supplier/installer. Glass shop #1 that comes in and does the high end replacement for the new cars and their better customers. Glass shop #2 that does windshields for the used car department and he doesn't know how to spell oem.

[GothingNC]

I have Nationwide and the originallysaid that the max they would pay for the windshield for my 82 Targa was $350, seals and all.

The Glass shop I went with (not safelite) recommended by the Porsche dealership has a contract with my insurance company to pay whatever the cost is and my out of pocket was $0.

Glass shop could not source the aftermarket glass and the total of parts from the dealer came out to $1,400 with install.

This included the seal and new aluminum trim.

[wrecktech]

If you do have to go with the aftermarket make sure the glass is not made in China, South Africa or some other third world country. Much lesser quality, sometimes thinner and not the right contour and will delaminate much quicker. I bought some windshields from South Africa and China for eclipses and Talons when I was rebuilding wrecks. My cost was $63 each. You get what you pay for. They might not meet crash standards either and the windshield is considered a structural part when glued (urethaned) in.

[GothingNC]

PPG is now outsiurcing their glass to China.

Hopefully quality control is better then this sparkplug factory.

http://news.windingroad.com/wp-gallery2.php?g2_itemId=22389

[Rick Lee]

Does it count as a claim and/or affect your rates by making a windshield replacement claim? My 993 windshield is so pitted and haggard, but no cracks until a truck threw up a stone at me on the hwy. last weekend. Now I gots a good crack, though it probably wouldn't warrant replacement unless it grows. I'm on USAA's $hitlist and so I don't want to tip the scales in favor of their dropping me.

[legion]

For the insurance company I used to work for, glass claims did not count against you in any way, shape, or form. They would not make your rates go up; they would not count as a claim for future ratings. Think about it, anyone can have a glass claim and it has nothing to do with your driving ability, habits, or likelyhood of having an accident. All it takes is driving down a road that a gravel truck was on 6 hours before and one vehicle kicking up a rock. Glass claims are usually completely random events.

I'm not saying all insurers treat glass claims this way, but this is my experience.

[Super_Dave_D]

State Farm dropped me 20 years ago due to excessive windshield claims when I lived in Virginia. That cant happen in Florida - if you break your windshield you simply go to the place of your chosing and they will file it - simple.

[MRM]

There's an important distinction to remember here. I know for certain your insurer cannot require you to have the repairs done at one place or another. But that is not what they are doing here. They are allowing you to go anywhere you want but insisting on a non-OEM replacement part because it is much cheaper. They'll have this position regardless of what shop you goto.

Whether you have the right to a more expensive OEM windshield or the cheapest equal alternative depends on your state law and your policy language. It would be a half day research project for someone who doesn't know the answer to find it out for you. But there is an answer and someone familiar with California law should be able to give it to you off the top of his head.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

That's what I was hoping for, but it sounds like nobody on here knows for certain.

I think a phone call to the State Insurance Commissioner's office might be in order on this. It's not the dollar amount, it's the sleazy undertone of this whole thing. My understanding of insurance is that it's supposed to return your property as closely as possible to the state it was before an accident or incident. What they're proposing here would CLEARLY devalue the car. Think about it, if you were looking to buy it and noticed that 4 out of the 5 pieces of glass on the vehicle were Sigla O.E. and the last was some knock-off, wouldn't you expect money off the price? I sure as hell would. The fact that virtually all of this claim is getting paid out of my deductible makes it even more offensive that they'd try and pull this kind of nonsense.

FWIW I called a couple of glass shops independently. Quoted $520 for an aftermarket replacement, don't know about O.E. yet - waiting to hear back.

This is B.S. All the more reason I'll never buy a vehicle that's ever had an accident history. Between the scheisters in the auto body industry and the scheisters in the insurance industry trying to cut corners and push out substandard work for premium prices, you'd be lucky to not have the thing spontaneously explode on you or come apart on the freeway.

[Superman]

I'm learning about insurance. One thing I heard clearly yesterday is that I am better off dealing with somebody else's insurance company than my own. The reason is because I have a contract with my company that can be used to their advantage. I have no such agreement with the other guy's insurance company. They very simply have an obligation to "make me whole." Glass is not included or excluded. Medical is not included or excluded. Deductibles are not in play.

[RickM]

I can't say I agree that a quality aftermarket windshield will depreciate a cars value.

In any case, bringing your comprehensive deductible to $0 will likely cost very little $$$. For me it was $24 extra annually.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Well on the Mercedes, the O.E. windshields are made by Sigla and have a white rectangular thing in the bottom corner that says "authentic Mercedes-Benz product" (referring to the car, not necessarily just the glass). From what I can glean in the M.B. world, that's actually something buyers look for.

I generally don't trust aftermarket stuff anyway (and yes, I fully know the difference between "OE", "OEM", "aftermarket" and "reproduction"). If it's a product made by an OEM, fine I'd consider it, but I'd REALLY prefer to have the OE stuff installed. I plan on keeping this car a long time and would like to keep the thing as original as possible. I do think the SLKs will be worth something in the future and don't want to go slapping a bunch of aftermarket crap on it that will diminish the value in the long-haul.