Windshield Protection Plan and Tire/Wheel Protection

[The Critic]

I normally don’t consider these products, but my sister lives in an urban environment and has a poor track record with vehicle damage.

After some shopping, I am being offered the following products that are sold under the Subaru label:

$800:
Windshield protection plan. Coverage for 5 years. $0 deductible. Includes unlimited repairs and up to 2 replacements. Per the local dealer, they have had no issues getting OEM glass and ADAS calibrations covered.

$1300:
Aforementioned windshield coverage, unlimited PDR, lost key coverage (up to $500 towards new smart key), tire road hazard (covers full replacement, not pro-rated), up to 8 cosmetic wheel repairs. $0 deductible, coverage for 5 years.

Thoughts? I think the windshield coverage is a steal if one has a poor track record with windshields.

 

[dishdude]

I always turn these down. They're almost always a terrible deal, backed by shady companies that make it almost impossible and extremely time consuming and inconvenient to file a claim on.

 

[f355spider]

As always...it depends. If she has a track record of windshield and tire/wheel damage, go for it. With the assumption that if damage occurs, she will actually seek out and get the repair. I have friends that bought wheel/tire coverage on BMWs with 19" or 20" low profile tires and ended up with a replacement wheel and three tires in the first year!

Personally, I would jump on it at that price.

 

[Owen Lucas]

Read the contract or at least run it through AI to see if there are any gotchas in it.

I think a lot of these companies rely on the fact that people forget about the policies or never claim. Some of them might make you jump through hoops.

Call their claims department and see if you can get in touch with a human and see how the process might work.

 

[The Critic]

I always turn these down. They're almost always a terrible deal, backed by shady companies that make it almost impossible and extremely time consuming and inconvenient to file a claim on.

Read the contract or at least run it through AI to see if there are any gotchas in it.

I think a lot of these companies rely on the fact that people forget about the policies or never claim. Some of them might make you jump through hoops.

Call their claims department and see if you can get in touch with a human and see how the process might work.

This is a Subaru branded product backed by Safe-guard. Claims would be made by a dealer service advisor.

 

[RhondaHonda]

How much extra is zero deductible glass coverage through her/your insurance?

 

[CKN]

How much extra is zero deductible glass coverage through her/your insurance?

I had two glass claims last year. I was told (prior) by my insurance company that glass claims are not considered as a comprehensive/collision claim. My renewal came and it was through the roof because my my "two claims" last year. I had to switch companies.

A stand alone type coverage with someone else is not a bad idea.

 

[DuckRyder]

Id have made a lot of money on that W/S coverage by now, one VW windshield is that much.

Subarus have a pretty complicated (say expensive) calibration for W/S assuming the coverage pays for that it is probably not a bad deal.

 

[andrew_j]

Nope. She has to hit $800 or $1300 in damage to break even which is hard enough.

Is she hard pressed for $1500 cash? Huge chance that money will be in her bank account over that short coverage period.

 

[fdcg27]

Not sure about road damage to tires and wheels, but a windshield may well be included in her insurance cover.
I know that it is in mine.
In the case of tire coverage, when we bought our last Subaru I was told that it covered only the replacement of the damaged tire, when with much wear you really need four.

 

[SC Maintenance]

How much is a windshield? How often does she need one usually?

How often does she loose here keys (air tags are great if you has a iphone).

I suppose it depends. It might be worth it. I would read the fine print - is this truly a Subaru service, or a third party the dealer is selling. Just becuase the dealer says its a subi program isn't always the case.

I also don't run glass through insurance. Call me paranoid.

 

[Dave P.]

I have always thought a tire insurance plan should cover any and all tires that may need replacement in the event of damage to only one. Depending on your vehicle, you can destroy one tire that may still have life left, but then you need to replace all four, or at least two, depending on the all-wheel drive system on your car. You can ruin one tire and then be easily looking at a $1000.00 or more expense.

 

[64bawagon]

If you do a deep dive on your auto policy you may find that youre already paying for some of this coverage. It may be significantly cheaper to contact your auto policy rep and ask them what's already covered and how much extra it would cost to reach the coverage the dealer is selling.
Personally I never buy these things, in 47 years of driving I have never ruined a wheel or tire and the few windshields that got replaced were covered under my comp on my auto policy

 

[supton]

Somewhat related question--calibration of ADAS after windshield replacement? Who does that? Dealership or company that does the windshield replacement? I've only had a few replaced over the years and it's been several years now, and usually someone in a van would do it while the car was in the parking lot.

Used to own a VW needed a new one every 2 years, so that was like 4 or 5 windshield replacements while I owned it. Makes me concerned about this cost in the future. [I've had very few tires go bad on me, and no rims, but I also think 60 series rubber is "low profile".]

 

[Nick1994]

I pay $19.66 a month with State Farm for glass coverage. Here in AZ glass is a $0 deductible.

Sure came in handy last spring for my $2,800 windshield.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Dealers don't do their own glass anyway. They provide the windshield itself, but the actually work they farm out to a glass shop

If she's financing the car, she already has to get full coverage anyway, and that includes glass/comprehensive

 

[The Critic]

How much extra is zero deductible glass coverage through her/your insurance?

For the reasons @CKN outlined I prefer to separate glass claims from auto insurance.

Is she hard pressed for $1500 cash?

No

How much is a windshield? How often does she need one usually?

https://parts.subaru.com/p/Subaru_2...hield-For-a-Vehicle/144525788/65009SL040.html

Once aftermarket glass is available, I expect windshield replacement w/calibration to be around $1200.

In her short driving history, she would have required 2 windshield repairs and one replacement over a 3 year/17K period.

Somewhat related question--calibration of ADAS after windshield replacement? Who does that? Dealership or company that does the windshield replacement?

Current trend is for the glass shop to perform the replacement and calibration in one visit. Glass shop usually has an Autel or Bosch calibration setup.

For this particular plan, dealer sublets windshield r/r to a 3rd party, but dealer tech performs the calibration.

Calibration is usually billed at 2-3 hours labor.

 

[f355spider]

I had two glass claims last year. I was told (prior) by my insurance company that glass claims are not considered as a comprehensive/collision claim. My renewal came and it was through the roof because my my "two claims" last year. I had to switch companies.

A stand alone type coverage with someone else is not a bad idea.

I think this is a change, as I was always told that windshield claims did not count against your comprehensive/collision...but that is no longer the case. I learned the hard way as well and switched carriers.

 

[The Critic]

I think this is a change, as I was always told that windshield claims did not count against your comprehensive/collision...but that is no longer the case. I learned the hard way as well and switched carriers.

Fundamentally, a paid claim is a paid claim. Every loss event will allow the insurer to better understand (and charge for) their loss potential.

 

[CKN]

Fundamentally, a paid claim is a paid claim. Every loss event will allow the insurer to better understand (and charge for) their loss potential.

That's true. But there has still been a dynamic change-as glass claims were not looked at that way before-in many instances.