Does YOUR car insurance cover a broken windshield? AA urges motorists to check this as it is now included in fewer offers

Motorists are being urged by the AA to check their insurance policies as a growing number of offers do not include cover for damaged windscreens.

Additionally, more and more car insurance policies have higher deductibles for windshield damage, meaning drivers have to pay more to even make a claim.

A survey by the AA found that more than eight in ten drivers (86 per cent) think windscreen protection is “important” in their insurance policy, with three fifths saying it is “very important”.

And replacing windshields is now more expensive than ever.

High bills: Replacing a windscreen can cost hundreds of pounds as newer cars have fancy devices built into the glass, driving up bills

As more and more technology is installed in cars, a windshield is more than just a simple pane of glass. Between heating elements, sensors and even cameras, the average cost of replacing a windscreen is £700.

But now AA Insurance is advising motorists to review their car insurance policies as some insurers scrap windscreen protection to offer cheaper policies.

Many insurance policies advertised as “basic” or “essential” have cheap premiums but may omit aspects such as windshield protection, according to AA Insurance.

Gus Park, managing director of AA Insurance Services, said: “With tight household budgets there is a temptation to find cheaper alternatives, but when it comes to car insurance you may not know what you are missing out on.”

“With ‘entry-level’ insurance policies the windscreen protection will usually be removed, so it’s worth checking what you’re covered for.

“Claiming for windscreen damage is one of the most common reasons drivers claim on their policy. If it is not included, motorists are likely to lose the savings they made by purchasing “basic” insurance.

Financial data firm Defaqto confirmed the AA’s findings and said the number of car insurance deals without windscreen protection was low but increasing.

According to Defaqto, only 6 percent of car insurance policies offer no windshield protection at all, down from 2 percent in 2019.

However, this number could be higher than it seems, as many other offers only offer windshield insurance if the driver pays an additional fee.

Mike Powell, car insurance expert at Defaqto, said: “Windscreen protection is included in most comprehensive insurance products.” However, we are seeing a trend of this option being removed and a cheaper premium being offered as a result.

“Insureds who choose to purchase these types of products may find that this could be a false savings, particularly if they need to replace a windshield.”

Defaqto has also found that the number of excessive windshield replacements is increasing. The average excess for a windscreen has risen from £79 in 2019 to £107 today.

Powell added: “One of the reasons for this increase is the new technology used in windshields today.”

“Most modern cars require the windshield to be recalibrated due to the advanced driver assistance systems controlled by the sensors in the windshield.”

“Another major reason is the cost of windshield glass, which, like most auto parts, has increased.”