Does Insurance Cover Side Glass Replacement?

Need side glass repair or replacement but still determining whether your insurance covers the cost? The short answer is “depends on your policy.”

Life happens — and that sometimes includes broken auto glass that sends you searching for a windshield or side glass repair or replacement. The windows in your car are vulnerable to damage, whether from a stray home run by a neighbor’s kid or the impact of a fallen tree limb.

Although windshields seem to receive the brunt of auto glass damage, in the case of storm damage or vandalism, damaged side windows could also pose urgent replacement opportunities. Damaged windows expose your car’s interior to the elements, ultimately damaging the door’s electronic components, upholstery, and interior. Perhaps more ominously, a broken window that has not been repaired or replaced threatens the safety of passengers inside the cabin. For these reasons, prompt and professional side glass repair or replacement is essential.

Luckily, depending on your insurance policy, your auto insurance may cover repairing or replacing cracked, shattered, and otherwise damaged or vandalized glass in your car.

Will your insurer cover your side window damage? Review your policy to ensure it’s covered.  If unsure, Caliber Auto Glass’ customer service representatives can help you contact your insurance company to confirm coverage protections.

What is Auto Glass?

First things first, what is auto glass, exactly? When considering side glass replacement, it’s essential to understand that there are different types of auto glass, with the most common glass for front doors, rear doors, and side glass windows crafted from tempered glass. This glass is specially made to shatter into small, usually harmless pieces during impact events.

The feature earns tempered glass its other name – safety glass. The windshields of many cars are made from laminated glass, designed not to shatter, and play a structural support role for the vehicle.

What is Side Glass?

The term “side glass” is a reference to the panes of auto glass located on the sides of your car. Depending on the make and model of your vehicle, the side glass windows likely “roll up” or “roll down” courtesy of a motor, although some vehicles—especially older model cars — could have a manual crank on the door. Side glass is almost always made from tempered glass across nearly every manufacturer. However, depending on the year, make, and model, the side glass could be made from tempered or laminated glass.

Also, side glass may include quarter glass, which is located behind the rear doors near the back side of the vehicle. Similar to door glass, these can also be tempered or laminated.

What Causes Side Glass Malfunctions?

Sometimes, side glass, specifically door glass replacement, becomes necessary because the glass window fails to go up or down as it should. This is sometimes due to the failure of the motor that raises and lowers the side glass in the door’s frame or a window that has slipped off its track. This type of side glass repair is fairly simple: fix or replace the motor to make the window operational or place the window back on its track.

Can You Repair a Chip on a Laminated Side Window?

If your vehicle has tempered side glass, repair isn’t an option because the glass is designed to shatter and must be replaced. However, if your vehicle has laminated side glass, auto glass repair for side window chips could be feasible. Although this process is not recommended in many situations, it could be possible. Your auto glass technician would be able to best advise on how to proceed. 

How Long Does It Take to Replace a Side Window in a Car?

When planning for your replacement work, how long it takes to replace a side window in your car varies and could take a short time out of your day. To avoid waiting in a shop for auto glass replacement, consider Caliber Auto Glass’ mobile service when applicable, where a highly trained technician comes to your chosen location to replace your window on your schedule.

Does Auto Insurance Cover Side Glass Replacement?

Whether or not your car’s side glass replacement is covered under your car insurance policy depends on the type and level of coverage purchased.

When considering the type of insurance that may cover side glass replacement, it's important to note that comprehensive insurance, which typically covers such damages, costs an average of $339 a year with a $500 deductible, as per Forbes Advisor’s analysis. This detail is crucial for vehicle owners weighing the benefits of adding comprehensive coverage to their policies.

Basic liability-only policies might not cover side glass replacement, whereas collision or comprehensive coverage might. In light of the average cost of comprehensive insurance, it’s best to discuss adding a rider for auto glass coverage and deductibles with your insurance agent.

Auto Glass Replacement: When Insurance Doesn’t Pay

We understand consumers are not fond of paying out of pocket for auto glass replacement, but if you have a liability-only policy, you may have to pay for the replacement yourself.

If you have additional questions, our team of customer service representatives is prepared to help with your claim. We will contact your insurance carrier to determine your coverage and the best options for replacing your glass. If the glass replacement is not covered or is below your deductible, our team will provide a competitive glass replacement estimate to get you quickly back on the road, Restoring the Rhythm of Your Life®.

Car Window Replacement Professionals: Caliber Auto Glass

When it comes to side glass replacement needs, Caliber Auto Glass is committed to Restoring the Rhythm of Your Life®.

We maintain working relationships with all major insurers to expedite the approval process and speed up the time it takes to get your side window replacement on the books. Our technicians offer professional replacement of side glass windows. Call 1-888-461-0010 to arrange mobile side glass replacement at your home, office, or other location to restore your car’s window to optimal condition quickly.

From damaged or shattered side glass to windshields and back glasses, Caliber is Clearing the Way Forward® for our valued customers with expert auto glass replacement services you can trust.