Just filed a glass claim
- Thread starter dishdude
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It’s fantastic and is really eye opening.
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I had 3 glass claims more than 15 years ago and the rates never went up. But in my case it wasn't free I had a $100 deductible which made it one of those should I even claim it because Safelite was only $114 cash. On the BMW I insisted on Saint Gobain Sekurit and that was probably more difficult to make a case for than winning an Iron Man competition. The lizard co told me we do not pay for OE glass and I said yes you do and they said no we don't and I said yes you do. In the end, they did. I have no idea why they need to give customers a hard time then have funny commercials that attract customers (if I have a $100 deductible, I pay $100, what do I care if the glass is $700 or $114, I prefer it to be what came with the car and is broken now? I bet they do a better job today because they did f'up the rain sensor which maybe wasn't as common back in 2008, today don't most or many cars have them).
I understood your post and was not replying to it. I was simply sharing a contrasting experience I had with FYG compared to other posters in the thread - the same as you in posts #21 and #22. I enjoyed reading your posts and gaining some insight into the industry.
And just as I was wary of Safelite, many many others have only positive things to say. Perhaps I would have felt the same with the service provided and end product if I had used them. But that would have been an additional $750 to do so and I was paying out of pocket.
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Some states don't allow for rates to go up because of a glass event. They are separate.
The lizard company and probably all the others will gladly let you use your installer and whatever glass you fancy. It's just that they'll pay up to what their installer with their glass would pay, and have you pay the difference out of pocket, IF their installer and their third party glass are made for your vehicle.
This is where it becomes funny - at least the lizard company, from experience, doesn't have all the tools to list your vehicle's options.
Say, you have a BMW 7 series or an S class. They'll run your vin, an insure you. Then you have a glass event - they'll run your vin, and send you to Safelite, for third-party glass.
THEN Safelite will run your vin in their tool, and go wait, this here vin has a HUD, that's a different windshield model, plus it has a heated windshield, that's yet another part reference for heated + HUD (those things can have a gazillion of different part references for the same car model depending on the options) - we need to order original from BMW/MB.
THEN lizard company will cough full replacement like if it was a third party windshield.
That's what happened with mine (a Hyundai, not a German, it is true). They had it in the system as "we have it", then Safelite corrected them to "we don't".
Short story - the more exotic windshield option you have - the higher chances of having it replaced for no extra with the genuine part.
There's no (or at least I haven't heard about) situation where any of the big ones will insure you then say "You have a windshield with ten options but we'll replace it with a third party that has none", AS LONG as those options are listed in your car's vin.
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Some of what you say is like the "fake diamond appraisal conundrum."
The way it works....you say I want a GIA D VVS1 blah blah blah in whatever carat size. You go to the mall and it's $20,000.
Now you go to a "secret wholesale only" dealer that your friend refers you to, but you "can't tell them I sent you there."
It's really dark, you can't see anything and you have to prick your finger for blood and you touch yours with the jewelers in some weird seance like ritual.
You get what you want for $8,000! OMG you saved all this money! You even get a GIA cert showing the stone is exactly what it's supposed to be!!!!
Go and get the diamond appraised, and it comes back $25,000! This is easier than shooting fish in a barrel!!
Give that appraisal to the insurance co and they insure it for $25k, and collect the premium.
One day, the diamond is stolen. Call up the insurance and they tell you we'll either replace it or reimburse you. Since reimbursement is easier and quick, they cut you a check for $4k. What a scam!
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Mmmm... I don't see how they could sound even remotely similar, but ok
Safelite did the replacement yesterday, they used a Pilkington glass. I've driven the car about a 100 miles, didn't notice any wind leaks or distortion. They didn't break the plastic around the mirror that houses the camera, so I was pleased with that. My only complaint is the molding that goes between the glass and body isn't perfectly aligned like it was from the factory, I'd say it's about 90% - not enough for me to say anything and what am I going to do anyway, make them redo it?
I'm pleased with how everything worked out.
I'm pleased with how everything worked out.
Generally speaking Kentucky is at the bottom of the barrel for consumer protection laws, but we do have a law that glass replacements must be $0 deductible if you have comprehensive coverage. I need a windshield on my 2012 xB but I’ve been too lazy to drop in and have my agent schedule it.
Check what?
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
Pull on the molding, my ‘15 Genesis it wasn’t snapped in all the way. I had a bunch of wind noise after a windshield replacement and the glass company came out and the drivers side wasn’t all the way in. He was like a chiropractor and pop, pop, pop a bout 7-8 clips down the side.Safelite did the replacement yesterday, they used a Pilkington glass. I've driven the car about a 100 miles, didn't notice any wind leaks or distortion. They didn't break the plastic around the mirror that houses the camera, so I was pleased with that. My only complaint is the molding that goes between the glass and body isn't perfectly aligned like it was from the factory, I'd say it's about 90% - not enough for me to say anything and what am I going to do anyway, make them redo it?
I'm pleased with how everything worked out.
Patman
Staff member
I had to get a new windshield for my Civic this week and even if I paid out of pocket it was only going to be $380 CDN ($265 US). I elected to put it through my insurance because this glass shop pays part of my deductible so I ended up paying them $250 cash (saving the 13% tax) When I had my windshield replaced in my Corvette in 2019 I used the same shop and also went through my insurance and it cost me $300. My rates didn’t go up (in fact they came down slightly in that year)
In South Carolina, as long as you have comprehensive, there is no deductible for glass replacement. Used it twice now and got OEM both times.
Owen Lucas
$100 Site Donor 2023
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https://www.cpmlegal.com/news-Illin...ng-Insurance-Fraud-Against-Safelite-Autoglass
"As alleged, Safelite billed insurers for OEM or aftermarket moldings, even though less expensive universal moldings were installed. The complaint alleges that insurance companies were unaware that they are paying for the cheaper parts because Safelite intentionally programmed its billing system to suppress the information. "
OEM glass and parts will have manufacturer insignias, can never go wrong with what the manufacturer recommends.
They shouldn't be fraud in billing. However-most policies are not going to cover OEM glass-as has been stated. And let's face it-most owners can't tell the difference if the aftermarket glass is a good example.
Owen Lucas
$100 Site Donor 2023
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The policies will cover it if you argue the right points and remain steadfast.
As an insurance adjuster I've received many solid arguments from customers and dealerships that will refuse to install the incorrect glass. To restore a vehicle to pre-loss condition would require having the emblems that were present on the glass before or as stated as required for ADAS by the manufacturer. An OE will only approve this with their own glass.
Try convincing a BMW dealer to sign off on an AM glass on any of their vehicles. Sure, some companies may pay just for the AM glass and the customer covers the rest but this becomes a dept of insurance complaint which ins. cos end up paying anyway. Customers who complain and have the dealer back them up, get their glass and the ins co pays for it. 99% of people end up with AM glass though because 1. they don't know or don't read their estimate or 2. the adjuster says, "it's made the same company" or 3 they don't care.
For instance, BMW's with the head up display feature, rely on the laminate layer of the glass to taper .2mm over the distance of the windshield to allow the correct reflection of the HUD. Find me someone who wouldn't rather have OEM glass for that vehicle? Can some of the AM windshield companies even produce glass with those specs?
State Farm actually pushes the issue by having the dealer prove ADAS can't be calibrated with AM before approving OEM.
They end up buying the AM glass (one time use), buying new glass and the labor, and then recalibrating a second time (which can be $1500 - $6000).
Sounds like going straight to OEM from step 1 would make sense but they are rolling the dice hoping AM glass savings offset the outlier OEM approval costs. What if calibration fails later, and there is an accident involved? This is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Vehicles are so complex now that most body shops sublet ADAS calibrations to the dealer, and guess what they are going to say?
If you have a non-ADAS vehicle, I guess you can say who cares, but for modern vehicles, OEM is the safest route as well as THE official repair procedure.
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Don't they have different part numbers for the HUD and non-HUD windshields?
No-only if the policies are not clear. Most are. They do not have to use OEM parts-"to make you whole". As an adjuster-you should know this. You can pay the difference. You are not going to get far with the Department of Insurance (in most cases) -with stating the fact you do not like "the language" on your policy-which you should have read BTW.
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