Windshield Repair – A Safe, No-Cost Option

You could be driving along a country road or a highway when a stone kicks up and hits your windshield. If you’re lucky, it will bounce off the glass without any damage. If you’re not, it may cause a small star-shaped crack or circular chip in the glass.

If you find a chip or a crack shorter than the length of a dollar bill, there’s a good chance your windshield can be repaired—at no cost to you.* Why repair your windshield rather than replace it? Here are a few benefits to consider:

• A safe, quality repair won’t cost you a penny. The Hartford will waive your deductible when a windshield is repaired vs. replaced.
• A repair can usually be performed at your home, your office or anywhere you might travel – typically in less than 30 minutes.
• Repairs improve safety by helping to restore the structural integrity of your vehicle.
• Repairs are environmentally friendly. Windshields are difficult to recycle due to the laminate layer between the two pieces of glass. Choosing the repair option helps keep windshields out of landfills.

If your windshield is damaged, contact The Hartford as soon as possible and report the damage before it grows worse. This ensures the best chance that a repair will be possible. We will either arrange a repair for you, or you can select your own repair shop and we can help arrange service. Call The Hartford’s Auto Glass Repair Hotline at 1-800-892-8484 or report your claim online.

Watch Out for High-Pressure Auto Glass Operations

Have you heard of “glass harvesting”? This practice is common in Arizona and Florida and growing more common in other areas of the country. Often, it occurs at car washes, oil change facilities or gas stations. An auto glass operation uses high-pressure and scare tactics to convince individuals to replace their windshield right on the spot. The “harvester” may even offer incentives like free groceries or free gas. “Just give us your insurance information,” they say, “we’ll take care of everything.”

The Hartford recommends you do not accept such offers. Often, these operators push for a full replacement when only a repair is needed. Since The Hartford waives the deductible on repairs, but there may be a deductible on full replacement, replacing could cost you money. They may even push for full replacement when, in fact, your windshield is in good condition and doesn’t require replacement or repair.

Another concern is that some of these operations may have little or no formal installation training and, as a result, their work could be unsafe. If a windshield is not properly replaced, it could pop out in an accident and create a very dangerous situation.

So, remember, if your windshield is damaged, contact The Hartford. We can help you get your windshield repaired or replaced.