This is a common question and it’s one that doesn’t have a straightforward answer. However, in most cases getting your windscreen replaced will count as an insurance claim if you ask your insurer to pay for it. 

But… the way insurers treat windscreen replacement claims can often be different to how they deal with claims for other forms of damage to your vehicle. Bear with us, because it’s not as complex as it sounds. 

The first area to check is whether your car insurance policy includes windscreen cover. This will often be standard in fully comprehensive policies – but that isn’t guaranteed so you need to look at your specific policy wording. 

In some cases, it will be offered as an optional extra, so whether you have it depends on whether you selected it when you took out your insurance policy. 

Some insurers will treat claims for windscreen replacement in the UK differently to a regular claim, by which we mean they may not count this against your no claims bonus. Ask your insurer or read your policy documents to find out how this might affect you though. 

If you make a claim with your insurer for replacing your windscreen, you will need to declare that as a claim when you come to renew your policy or switch insurers, even if it hasn’t affected your no claims bonus.  

Given that a windscreen replacement can vary in cost from a few hundred pounds up to thousands, depending on the type of car you drive, it is well worth investing in windscreen cover so that you’re protected. 

Getting chips in your windscreen repaired promptly is also advisable as this will reduce the risk of your windscreen cracking and you requiring a full replacement. This is why many insurers also offer support with windscreen repairs, because doing so saves them money too.