Windscreen cover

While chips and cracks can look tiny at first, they can lead to big problems if left untreated. Windscreens are one of your first defences in a crash and your window to the road when you’re in the driving seat. It’s important you keep yours in prime condition to give you peace of mind and to help keep yourself and others safe. 

Windscreen cover is a form of insurance that allows you to make a claim in the event that your car windscreen becomes damaged. Some car insurance policies include windscreen cover as standard, while others will have it as an optional add-on.

If you want to make sure your windscreen is protected in the event of damage, it’s important that you understand whether your insurance includes windscreen cover, or if you need to purchase an add-on.

Windscreen cover allows you to make a claim if your windscreen becomes damaged and needs to be mended or replaced. If your insurance does not include windscreen cover you will be faced with footing the bill yourself. The cost of repairs can vary depending on the size of the chip or crack, but the larger the damage, the more expensive the repair can be.

Windscreen cover can vary between providers, so it’s important to check your policy document to understand what you’re covered for. Some policies include the repair and replacement of windscreens in the event of an accident, while others will cover all of the glass in your vehicle, including windows and sunroofs. 

With John Lewis Comprehensive Car Insurance, windscreen repair or replacement is included as standard. You will need to pay an excess which is shown in your policy schedule. Making a claim won't affect your no claims bonus.

During glass replacement, we will use parts or accessories which aren’t supplied by your car manufacturer. However, they will be of a similar type and quality to the parts and accessories we are replacing and will be approved by our trusted glass supplier.

It is unlikely that windscreen cover will include repair or replacement if damage has been caused deliberately. If you’re not meeting other conditions as laid out in your insurance policy - it may also not be covered. For example, if an unnamed driver (someone who isn’t registered on your policy) is driving your vehicle at the time the windscreen damage occurs.

Your car insurance policy document will detail whether your cover includes windscreen replacement and repair. Some comprehensive car insurance policies include it as standard, whereas others require an add-on to be purchased for an additional fee. 

John Lewis Comprehensive Car Insurance includes the repair or replacement of windscreens, windows and sunroofs in the event of an accident or malicious act as standard. This includes the recalibration of any cameras or sensors that are associated with your windscreen. 

We also cover the cost of minor repairs to the paintwork when damage has been caused by broken glass from your windscreen or windows. In the event of significant damage to the bodywork, a separate claim for accidental damage would need to be made. For full details, please see your policy wording.

A common cause of windscreen chips and cracks is debris. Loose stones or gravel from the road can be thrown up by the wheels of vehicles driving over them or blown around in extreme weather. This loose debris can then hit and damage your windscreen. Another common cause of windscreen damage is uneven road surfaces or potholes. Driving over either can exacerbate any existing windscreen damage, turning small chips into larger fractures.

While it’s hard to predict what you’ll encounter on the road, there are a few things to avoid if you want to help protect your windscreen. 

If your windscreen becomes damaged and you want your insurance company to pay for a replacement, you will need to make a claim. Whether this claim affects your no claims bonus depends on the policy set by your insurer. If you are willing to pay for the repairs yourself without involving your insurance company, you won’t have to make a claim. 

With John Lewis Comprehensive Car Insurance making a claim under the windscreen and windows section of your policy will not affect your no claims bonus. You can make a claim, have your windscreen repaired or replaced, and retain your no claims bonus.

Call us on 0330 024 0614 for more information on our car insurance policies, or get an online quote.