Stone impact on the car windshield

Not every road is smooth and even. Cars driving ahead can kick up gravel or stones that can damage your Volvo, Skoda, or Opel car's paint and, in the worst case, even cause damage to your front windshield. A small crack can quickly become dangerous because driving exerts significant forces on your front windshield. When you should repair a stone impact and everything about stone impacts and insurance questions will be revealed in this article by CARIFY.

What to do with a stone impact on the windshield?

You should not take a hole or visible crack in the windshield lightly. Due to the wind resistance while driving, the damage can rapidly increase and compromise the stability of the laminated safety glass, which consists of multiple layers. With transparent adhesive tape, you can provide first aid to your windshield on the go and secure it. Here's what you should do:

• Drive to the nearest opportunity to the side of the road or to a rest area and document the damage with your smartphone. This will help with the insurance claims later.

• Clean the damaged area as well as possible and carefully dry the area.

• You can buy special windshield patches at garages or specialty stores that can provisionally treat a stone impact on the car windshield. If you don't have those, you can use wide transparent household adhesive tape as an alternative. Apply it over the damaged area. This will stabilize the windshield and prevent dirt from getting into the crack. By doing so, you increase the chances of repairing the stone impact without having to replace the entire windshield.

Who pays for the windshield in case of a stone impact?

Such a stone impact always happens at the wrong time. Besides the annoyance and the hassle, there is one crucial question for you: Can a stone impact be repaired, and what are the costs? In most cases, you are not at fault; often, it's the cars ahead of you that cause the stone impact. In such situations, you should try to remember the license plate and note it down as soon as possible. Sometimes, the liability insurance of the other driver will cover the damage. However, the following conditions must apply:

• The other driver was driving way too fast. Here, the question is whether you can prove it.

• You were driving on a gravel road, and the other driver did not adjust their driving behavior accordingly, causing stones to be thrown up. Proving this can be challenging.

• The stone fell from the loading area of a preceding truck, pick-up, or transporter.

If the opposing liability insurance refuses to cover the damage, you must turn to your own insurance. In the case of glass damage due to a stone impact, your comprehensive coverage insurance (Teilkasko) is your point of contact. The good thing is that your premiums won't increase due to the damage claim. Your no-claims bonus remains unaffected, but usually, there is a deductible (self-participation). You're lucky if a low-cost windshield repair is possible because many comprehensive coverage insurances waive the deductible in such cases. By the way, comprehensive coverage also covers other damages caused by a stone impact, besides the repair or replacement of the front windshield. This includes damages to headlights, taillights, as well as panoramic and sunroofs. However, you won't escape the deductible for other damages caused by a stone impact; the comprehensive coverage is there for that. Before heading to the garage, make sure you don't have to use a contracted partner of your insurance for the repair.

What if the car is not your property?

If you notice a stone impact on a rental car, leased car, or car from a car subscription, you should contact the company that owns the vehicle instead of the insurance company. They will initiate the further steps with the insurance and arrange for a professional repair at a contracted garage. If you have taken out comprehensive insurance with a deductible, there might be limited costs depending on the extent and location of the damage. But, most importantly, never attempt to repair the stone impact yourself or independently hire a garage for the repair.

How quickly do you have to report a stone impact?

A stone impact almost always occurs while you are on the road. Are you driving straight to the garage to repair the stone impact? This is only recommended if the car belongs to you, and insurance is not expected to cover the damage. Whether it's comprehensive insurance, liability insurance, or opposing liability insurance, in all cases, as soon as you arrive home, report the stone impact to the insurance company. They will instruct you on how to proceed and which garage to visit. Many insurance companies work with contracted partners. If you independently visit another garage to repair the stone impact, you might end up paying the costs. You can most easily assert your claims with the help of photos of the damage site and, if applicable, the terrain where the stone impact occurred.

Repair or replacement? What is the best solution?

How quickly you need to act with a stone impact on the front windshield depends on the size and position of the damage. Damage in the field of vision – which is the area about the size of an A4 sheet of paper in the middle above the steering wheel – significantly impairs your vision. Cracks located too close to the edge of the windshield can also affect the stability and fit of the glass. In both cases, you need to act quickly, just like with extensive damage, such as a continuous hole or stress crack. However, does the entire windshield always need to be replaced? No: Specialists can repair damages from a stone impact on the front windshield more affordably with transparent acrylic. However, this method is only suitable for the front windshield and not for every type of damage. By the way, you should avoid using repair kits available at hardware stores and attempting to repair the stone impact yourself. Instead, have it professionally and safely repaired by a mechanic.

The front windshield must be replaced in the following cases:

1. Is the stone impact in the field of vision? Then, a repair is not an option, as nothing should impair or distort your vision.

2. Is the damage too close to the edge of the windshield (within 10 cm)? There is a risk that the secure fit and stability of the windshield will be compromised after the repair.

3. If the damage measures more than 0.5 cm in diameter, it cannot be repaired anymore. The same applies to cracks longer than 5 cm.

4. If not only the outer glass layer but also the interlayer and/or the inner glass layer are damaged, only windshield replacement will help.

Conclusion

A stone impact on the front windshield on your BMW is far more than just a cosmetic issue – it jeopardizes your safety and that of your passengers. Therefore, you must promptly have such damage repaired. In many cases, you can repair front windshields after a stone impact and minimize the costs. However, for larger damages that also affect headlights and paintwork, the repair can be expensive even with comprehensive insurance. If you have opted for a car subscription from CARIFY, comprehensive insurance with a CHF 0 deductible per event is always included in the subscription price. Moreover, you also have both comprehensive and collision insurance included for your VW or Renault. If you choose the premium insurance package for a small monthly fee, there won't even be a deductible per event for comprehensive coverage. Additionally, you have access to the 24/7 breakdown assistance of our partner insurance, which will tow your car to the nearest partner garage if necessary. You report the damage to us, and we take care of the rest – that's how simple it is with a car subscription from CARIFY.