Warning for drivers to check car insurance policies for small print clause that could save them hundreds of pounds
07/04/2024 02:50 AM
DRIVERS are being urged to check their policies for a small print clause that could save them hundreds of pounds.
The warning from Allianz Insurance comes following a rise in claims sparked by potholes and poor road conditions.
The insurance giant told The Sun it saw an 11% rise in claims for windscreen repairs between 2021 and 2023.
However, windscreen repair may not be part of your policy as it isn’t always included as standard.
Fresh data from research company Defaqto reveals that, as of June 10, 17 out of 296 “fully comprehensive” car insurance products at 139 providers did not have windscreen cover included – or around 5%.
A further two policies had windscreen cover as an optional add on, while 277 offered windscreen cover as standard.
Adding windscreen repair to your cover costs around £30 a year – but on average it costs £327 to repair a cracked windscreen, up from £308 in 2022, Allianz said.
It said windscreen claims have spiked due to a number of reasons including poor road conditions, potholes and hot and cold weather.
Caroline Johnson, claims director at Allianz personal lines business, said: “It's important to ensure your car insurance offers a good level of cover to suit your needs, as not all polices have the same level of cover.
“We're seeing more and more claims for windscreen chips and replacements, so it's a good idea to check what you are and aren't covered for, as well as any excesses to pay if making a claim.
“There are many different reasons why we're seeing an increase in windscreen claims,” she added.
“This ranges from road conditions such as potholes, to extremes in temperatures.
“Cold snaps during winter, and sudden heat waves during summer can cause chips to turn into cracks.”
Bear in mind, even if you do have windscreen cover included in the price of your car insurance, you will still have to pay an excess to make a claim.
Having a higher excess reduces the monthly or annual cost of your premium – but if you need to claim it could end up costing you more.
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If you back yourself as a driver, it might be worth investing in a black box.
The gadgets rewards motorists for driving carefully and are generally aimed at younger people.
But you can take them out if you are older too, and they can save you hundreds of pounds.
If you’re someone who doesn’t drive that much, a pay-per-mile policy can be worthwhile too.
You pay based on the miles you actually drive, rather than a flat monthly or yearly fee.
So, if you’re someone who only uses the car occasionally, they can be worth looking into.
If you’re coming up to the end of your policy term, booking in a new one on an exact date will save you cash too.
Ryan Fulthorpe, car insurance expert at Go Compare, previously told The Sun you can buy a premium up to 29 days before the new policy start date and “lock in” the price you’re quoted that day.
The longer you wait after this, the more you will likely pay.
How to make a claim on windscreen insurance
You usually have to contact a designated windscreen repairer like Autoglass or National Windscreens.
Who you need to contact depends on your insurance firm.
For example, Admiral, AXA and Direct Line customers all have to contact Autoglass on 0333 999 0100.
Hastings Direct customers have to get in touch with National Windscreens on 0800 955 0108.
You should also be able to book online.
Both Autoglass and National Windscreens’ services are available 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
When you call up, you’ll likely need to offer your vehicle registration number and information about the damage caused.
You’ll also need to hand over your full name and postcode so you can confirm your insurance details.
Depending on the level of damage to your windscreen, the windscreen repair firm may drive out to repair it.
If the damage that’s been caused is lower level, you may be asked to book in an appointment for a later date.
For example, Autoglass has a list of repair centres on its website so you can find your nearest one.
It says glass repair on your windscreen should take around 30 minutes and glass replacement around 60 minutes.
Even if you have a small chip on your windscreen, it’s worth getting it looked at sooner rather than later.
Caroline advised: “It's a good idea to get any small chips looked at as soon as possible, before they get worse over time and cost more to fix.”
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