Windshield insurance claim?

[craigyirush]

I have a crack in the windshield of my '86 Targa. I am currently deciding whether to replace with OEM or aftermarket - I've been quoted $1200 w/OEM ($900 of that is the windshield); and about $500 for aftermarket (glass, labor, and seal).

Geico said they won't pay for an OEM windshield as there's aftermarket glass available of the same quality. Since my deductible is $500, it makes no sense to file a claim.

But the glass guy who my mechanic recommended (and who does a lot of P-car work) said if I go ahead and pay for the OEM repair myself ($1200), I can then submit the bill to Geico, and they'll reimburse me minus the deductible. So my cost would be about $700.

Has anybody done this successfully with Geico?

[GH85Carrera]

Call some other aftermarket places. When I had to have mine replaced it was $500 installed. I was on the road and had a smashed windshield 1,200 miles from home. Diamond Triumphh Glass put in a Sigla OEM windshield for $500. They did not have a new seal so I had to reuse the old seal to get home. My local body shop guy got me a new seal and we took out the new windshield and put on the new seal and put the windshield back in.

Buy a new Porsche seal. Don't use anything else. Call the local aftermarket places. You can do way better than the price you were quoted.

I used the Diamond Triumph glass co in San Diego. They came to my hotel and did the install. There should be one in LA.

[JAR0023]

There are two other glass threads going on the first couple of pages. Lots of good info in there.

Glen is right. You shouldn't have to be out more that $500 for an OE windshield. There is good and bad aftermarket glass. In one of the other threads someone posted good feedback on a Pilkington w/s. I was unaware the Pilkington w/s could be had with the antenna but looks like it can. For reference I paid $265 for a St.Gobain-Sekurit w/s earlier this year. I bought the OEM seal from Pelican and the installer put the w/s in for the price of the glass. (free).

I've never worked for Geico but I do work in Insurance. If you go ahead with the install of OE and then file a claim you may can get the glass paid for. Most insurance companies would. They wouldn't like it but they would. Still others may tell you to pound sand. I know, not much help.

Here's the other thing with glass and insurance. I said it in one of the other threads. There is crazy, crazy mark up involved in glass. When you call around tell the shops you want their best cash price. As soon as you say, "Insurance", they see the dollar signs. In many instances the cash price for glass installed is less than half of published MSRP.