Pray you don't get a crack in your windshield

[XtoZ]

So a few days ago, I got a chip in my glass. I tried setting up an appointment for repair, but every place in town that was trustworthy was busy until, well, today. Fast forward to yesterday, and my windshield cracked over night about 5 inches. I have an appointment with Safelite who says they can repair it unless it's longer than the length of a dollar bill. We'll see. They do insure it though, so if it cracks further, I get a new windshield.

Here's the issue though. I considered replacing it instead, and asked all around town for quotes. Despite not having ANYTHING in the glass that's overly special (no rain sensors, etc), our windshields cost over 700 dollars!!!

The lowest I could find was 620 dollars. They are claiming parts are hard to come by due to the tsunami, but the irony is that most places that are charging over 700 aren't even selling OEM glass! WTH!?

Even the guys on the phone were shocked at the amount they quoted me. I've had Hondas need glass replacement in the past, and they never cost more than 250. This is a complete rip off! I can get two painted bumpers on eBay for the price of a piece of glass, lol.

I'm rather concerned now as I'm not sure if the glass will hold until the repair at 4:30 today. The crack spread another half an inch last night while it was in the garage, and it's getting to the length that's nearing the limit. I'm just hoping I can get to the shop before it's too late. I can't afford that outrageous bill, and I shouldn't have to. Yes, I could use my insurance, which would be 500, but even that is ridiculously high.

Anyone else run into this problem?

[lilfeat]

Shouldn't your windshield replacement be a $50 dollar deductible? Do you have some cheapo policy? If your deductable is $500 I am not sure why you think you should not have to pay.
Last one of these I had the Glass place came to my house and made the repair. But that was a 15 years ago or so.

Not meaning to be insulting here, but I have never heard of a case where insurance did not have a very low deductable for windshield replacement or repair. Did you ask your agent? As I recall, they did not even count it as an event on my policy, and that is when I was with Allstate, who loves charge and hates to pay.

[XtoZ]

I used to have Allstate, and yes they were very cheap. I'm with Progressive now, and no I don't have "cheapo" insurance. I have every bell and whistle on my insurance, I have to as I have a lease, and I was shocked to hear that my deductible for glass was so high.

No, I'm not cheap. At the end of the day, I wasn't even thinking I'd have to use my insurance to pay for the glass. The main topic in this is that our windshields cost over 700 dollars on average. The most expensive place wanting to charge me 799. For the glass that's in our cars, I was expecting to walk out with a 2-250 dollar bill. 300 at the most. This is ridiculous. Only cars like Mercedes and BMW have glass that reaches these prices, and those are high because there's tech in there that makes them more expensive. Heck, my Mini Cooper S' windshield wasn't even half that price.

Yes, of course I asked my agent. I was on the phone with her on the phone when she was trying to find me a repair shop.

[GoHuskies]

The deductible depends on the insurance company and state. That sucks $700 is a hard pill to swallow.

Do you have $750 or $1000 deductible?

If so I would recommend checking with insurance to see the cost for lowering to a more reasonable choice. Comprehensive(other than collision) is the lower costing of the two physical damage protections, at least in most cases. Doesn't help you at present but down the road it may be better peace of mind.

EDIT: Ok just read your post before I could put up mine... Unless I'm mistaken you sound like you want to avoid and insurance claim?

I would check with Progressive on glass claims because it *should* not impact your premiums.

[XtoZ]

Originally Posted by GoHuskies

The deductible depends on the insurance company and state. That sucks $700 is a hard pill to swallow.

Do you have $750 or $1000 deductible?

If so I would recommend checking with insurance to see the cost for lowering to a more reasonable choice. Comprehensive(other than collision) is the lower costing of the two physical damage protections, at least in most cases. Doesn't help you at present but down the road it may be better peace of mind.

EDIT: Ok just read your post before I could put up mine... Unless I'm mistaken you sound like you want to avoid and insurance claim?

I would check with Progressive on glass claims because it *should* not impact your premiums.

I have a 500 dollar deductible. So while I'd only pay 500 (only?) that's still way too high for a windshield. I've never heard of paying this much for a basic windshield for a cheap car.

I checked with Progressive. Repair is free and does not affect insurance. Which is good. The problem is, my crack is spreading, and it's nearing the limit of 6 inches in which I can't get it repaired any longer. My appointment is at 4:30, so I'm hoping I make it in time before it spreads. If they can't repair it, it needs replaced.. and replacement is obviously not free.

It's just stressing me out. If it spreads and I have to replace the glass, Im screwed. I've called around this morning, the best I could get was a shop to take 100 bucks off my deductible. So that's 400 which is better, but that's NOT for OEM glass, which doesn't make me very happy. For non-OEM non-specialty glass, 400 is insane.

[Ledfoot529]

Be glad its not a lexus, they average $1200 and way up..

[Koala Yummies]

Just to give you a heads up, from personal experience, Safelite is a pretty horrible company. I had them replace the windshield in my Integra Type R, and they did a terrible job, broke windshield trim and did a disgusting job with the window-weld/silicone. I would never use them again. I ended up getting reimbursed for brand new OEM Honda windshield trim, but I still would never hire them for glass replacement or repair again. I would find a good body shop to do the replacement (and buy the glass yourself), ask your local Honda dealer service departments where they take their Hondas.

On the pricing, the CR-Z windshield isn't much different from other (new) Honda windshields. The 2009 Fit windshield is the same exact price for example, and is only $100 more than an OEM Honda windshield for the two-decade-old Integra. The 2012 Civic Hybrid windshield is a whopping $1500.00 list msrp. TSX $900 Accord Hybrid $985

You could try asking your parts departments for some help on the pricing. If they're nice they should be able to help you out, they won't go below their wholesale price, but you could get it close to this price:

Honda Automotive Parts

Just so you don't feel completely alone, I have a nice size chip in my front windshield as well, and I have noticed it grow slightly.

[gozoner]

Originally Posted by Koala Yummies

...I have a nice size chip in my front windshield as well, and I have noticed it grow slightly.

I had a chip as well but had it fixed immediately so as to avoid it growing. They drill a tiny hole in the top glass to relieve the stress (preventing the growth) and then fill it with an epoxy. Should be $50 or less. You are not fixing yours?

[Edited] Also, the repair at $700 must be because there is no aftermarket glass for the CR-Z yet. So the Honda glass is ~$550 and the install and misc parts make up for the rest.

[mikev]

Re: Safelite quality
The quality of their work may depend on where you live, and how well-staffed the location is and experienced their technicians are. If their techs have to rush to get as many calls in as possible because they have a backlog of work, then I would expect lower quality work. But I've personally had two different windshields on two different past vehicles that they worked on (one repaired, one replaced) and never had any issues with either.

Re: Replacement cost using insurance
If you use your insurance, you'll be paying whatever your comprehensive deductible is. If you don't have comprehensive coverage (i.e. only collision; comprehensive isn't a requirement in most states), or have a high deductible, you'll be paying more, or the entire cost. But if you have a $250 deductible on your comprehensive coverage, you should only have to pay $250 if you make the glass replacement claim through your insurance.

[Klasse Act]

I noticed a chip in my windshield today and believe me, when I'm anywhere near a gravel hauler or semi, I hit the SPORT button and get around them ASAP!

"Safelite repair, Safelite replace!"