Cracked windshield, insurance headache...
02-14-13, 07:42 PM
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Cracked windshield, insurance headache...
Just had to vent. Vent to visit my sister and while driving on the highway, about half a block away was a semi truck with a trailer. All of a sudden, I heard a loud bang and then noticed that my front windshield got hit with a rock or gravel. I thought nothing of it. That day was a hot day. After baking for a few hours, I came back and notice the area cracked and split. I can feel the crack with my fingernails. I was upset.
The next day, I call my insurance, StateFarm, and told them what happened. They asked me questions about what highway, time, where I was going, how far was the truck in front of me, how fast, etc. They said to call my dealership to get an estimate since my deductible was $500. I was quoted, $325 labor, and $1600 for an OEM front windshield. I told them and they said an adjuster would call me for more questions. A few hours later, someone from StateFarm called me and said because nothing else was damaged (ex: my hood), that for cost saving purposes, they would have me bring it to a windshield specialist. I told them that I prefer to bring it back to the dealership. They said I can do that, but they won't pay what the dealership charges and will only pay what their adjuster estimates. I got upset and said to StateFarm, "what's the point of me getting my deductible to be $500 and pay big annual payments where when it's time that I actually filed a claim, that I'll be paying more than $500. I said why shouldn't I raise my deductible to $1000 and pay less for the annual/semi payments? They said it is disclosed in their disclosures that they would be using non OEM parts if available.
What should I do? Should I bring it Toyota dealership instead or can I trust some unknown windwhield installer that installs an "unetched" Lexus windshield?
The next day, I call my insurance, StateFarm, and told them what happened. They asked me questions about what highway, time, where I was going, how far was the truck in front of me, how fast, etc. They said to call my dealership to get an estimate since my deductible was $500. I was quoted, $325 labor, and $1600 for an OEM front windshield. I told them and they said an adjuster would call me for more questions. A few hours later, someone from StateFarm called me and said because nothing else was damaged (ex: my hood), that for cost saving purposes, they would have me bring it to a windshield specialist. I told them that I prefer to bring it back to the dealership. They said I can do that, but they won't pay what the dealership charges and will only pay what their adjuster estimates. I got upset and said to StateFarm, "what's the point of me getting my deductible to be $500 and pay big annual payments where when it's time that I actually filed a claim, that I'll be paying more than $500. I said why shouldn't I raise my deductible to $1000 and pay less for the annual/semi payments? They said it is disclosed in their disclosures that they would be using non OEM parts if available.
What should I do? Should I bring it Toyota dealership instead or can I trust some unknown windwhield installer that installs an "unetched" Lexus windshield?
02-14-13, 09:00 PM
#2
Just had to vent. Vent to visit my sister and while driving on the highway, about half a block away was a semi truck with a trailer. All of a sudden, I heard a loud bang and then noticed that my front windshield got hit with a rock or gravel. I thought nothing of it. That day was a hot day. After baking for a few hours, I came back and notice the area cracked and split. I can feel the crack with my fingernails. I was upset.
The next day, I call my insurance, StateFarm, and told them what happened. They asked me questions about what highway, time, where I was going, how far was the truck in front of me, how fast, etc. They said to call my dealership to get an estimate since my deductible was $500. I was quoted, $325 labor, and $1600 for an OEM front windshield. I told them and they said an adjuster would call me for more questions. A few hours later, someone from StateFarm called me and said because nothing else was damaged (ex: my hood), that for cost saving purposes, they would have me bring it to a windshield specialist. I told them that I prefer to bring it back to the dealership. They said I can do that, but they won't pay what the dealership charges and will only pay what their adjuster estimates. I got upset and said to StateFarm, "what's the point of me getting my deductible to be $500 and pay big annual payments where when it's time that I actually filed a claim, that I'll be paying more than $500. I said why shouldn't I raise my deductible to $1000 and pay less for the annual/semi payments? They said it is disclosed in their disclosures that they would be using non OEM parts if available.
What should I do? Should I bring it Toyota dealership instead or can I trust some unknown windwhield installer that installs an "unetched" Lexus windshield?
The next day, I call my insurance, StateFarm, and told them what happened. They asked me questions about what highway, time, where I was going, how far was the truck in front of me, how fast, etc. They said to call my dealership to get an estimate since my deductible was $500. I was quoted, $325 labor, and $1600 for an OEM front windshield. I told them and they said an adjuster would call me for more questions. A few hours later, someone from StateFarm called me and said because nothing else was damaged (ex: my hood), that for cost saving purposes, they would have me bring it to a windshield specialist. I told them that I prefer to bring it back to the dealership. They said I can do that, but they won't pay what the dealership charges and will only pay what their adjuster estimates. I got upset and said to StateFarm, "what's the point of me getting my deductible to be $500 and pay big annual payments where when it's time that I actually filed a claim, that I'll be paying more than $500. I said why shouldn't I raise my deductible to $1000 and pay less for the annual/semi payments? They said it is disclosed in their disclosures that they would be using non OEM parts if available.
What should I do? Should I bring it Toyota dealership instead or can I trust some unknown windwhield installer that installs an "unetched" Lexus windshield?
But in other cases, I have had to pay a few hundred dollars extra to a repair shop to get new OEM parts rather than used or after market parts covered by insurance.
So I guess you could call your agent and ask for advice and also call your Lexus dealer and ask for advice. Your Lexus service advisor may know how to help you deal with the insurance company. (If the conversation above was with your agent, tell him you're not happy with fine print "disclosures BS or the agent's inability to represent you at State Farm and get another agent.)
You can also get another insurance company and tell SF why you're leaving but I suspect they're all the same in this respect. I suspect the cheaper insurance companies will be even worse come time to make a claim.
BTW, I took lots of close-up pictures of the areas around my windshield including a picture of the label printed on the original windshield, the seals around the windshield and stuff near the windshield that might have to be removed, etc. After the repair, I carefully compared the pictures to the car and could not find any differences at all, except the crack was gone. The windshield label was exactly the same as the OEM label.
Good luck.
I guess and consumer comparison of how well insurance companies handle claims would make an interesting thread here.
02-14-13, 10:30 PM
#4
Windshield repair with OEM glass is hit and miss but I believe a many of the insurance companies have non-OEM disclosures for replacements parts (not limited to windshields) and some will only replace with OEM under certain circumstances - age of car, mileage, etc.
My wife had her windshield cracked last year and the first shop she was referred to by the insurance company basically told her no way she'd get an OEM replacement and she'd have to pay the price difference. Wife didn't like that answer so she went to another shop she was referred to by a local Lexus dealer; the shop owner said he'd talk with claims people and see what he could do. Next day calls my wife and says they approved an OEM windshield.
The guy at this shop also said he'd done many RXs and majority were denied OEM and Pilkington (IIRC) was the glass of choice because the company that produces Pilkington glass is owned by the company making OEMs for Lexus, again, IIRC. This only came up because he had one at his shop and made a comment that we're lucky my wife has an IS and not a RX for the reason above and my wife's desire for OEM glass.
BTW $500 seem pretty high for a glass deductible!
My wife had her windshield cracked last year and the first shop she was referred to by the insurance company basically told her no way she'd get an OEM replacement and she'd have to pay the price difference. Wife didn't like that answer so she went to another shop she was referred to by a local Lexus dealer; the shop owner said he'd talk with claims people and see what he could do. Next day calls my wife and says they approved an OEM windshield.
The guy at this shop also said he'd done many RXs and majority were denied OEM and Pilkington (IIRC) was the glass of choice because the company that produces Pilkington glass is owned by the company making OEMs for Lexus, again, IIRC. This only came up because he had one at his shop and made a comment that we're lucky my wife has an IS and not a RX for the reason above and my wife's desire for OEM glass.
BTW $500 seem pretty high for a glass deductible!
Last edited by 92 SC400; 02-14-13 at 10:33 PM.
02-15-13, 05:39 AM
#5
Lexus Champion
I just went through this with my new Porsche. I worked with my SF agent, not State Farm directly, and he warned me SF would not pay for factory glass and gave some advice and recommended some shops that might work. But I also called my Porsche dealer and they referred me to a glass repair shop that did all their Porsche work and was in the State Farm "network." The glass shop was able to get a discount on the OEM glass and I only paid the deductible.
But in other cases, I have had to pay a few hundred dollars extra to a repair shop to get new OEM parts rather than used or after market parts covered by insurance.
So I guess you could call your agent and ask for advice and also call your Lexus dealer and ask for advice. Your Lexus service advisor may know how to help you deal with the insurance company. (If the conversation above was with your agent, tell him you're not happy with fine print "disclosures BS or the agent's inability to represent you at State Farm and get another agent.)
You can also get another insurance company and tell SF why you're leaving but I suspect they're all the same in this respect. I suspect the cheaper insurance companies will be even worse come time to make a claim.
BTW, I took lots of close-up pictures of the areas around my windshield including a picture of the label printed on the original windshield, the seals around the windshield and stuff near the windshield that might have to be removed, etc. After the repair, I carefully compared the pictures to the car and could not find any differences at all, except the crack was gone. The windshield label was exactly the same as the OEM label.
Good luck.
I guess and consumer comparison of how well insurance companies handle claims would make an interesting thread here.
But in other cases, I have had to pay a few hundred dollars extra to a repair shop to get new OEM parts rather than used or after market parts covered by insurance.
So I guess you could call your agent and ask for advice and also call your Lexus dealer and ask for advice. Your Lexus service advisor may know how to help you deal with the insurance company. (If the conversation above was with your agent, tell him you're not happy with fine print "disclosures BS or the agent's inability to represent you at State Farm and get another agent.)
You can also get another insurance company and tell SF why you're leaving but I suspect they're all the same in this respect. I suspect the cheaper insurance companies will be even worse come time to make a claim.
BTW, I took lots of close-up pictures of the areas around my windshield including a picture of the label printed on the original windshield, the seals around the windshield and stuff near the windshield that might have to be removed, etc. After the repair, I carefully compared the pictures to the car and could not find any differences at all, except the crack was gone. The windshield label was exactly the same as the OEM label.
Good luck.
I guess and consumer comparison of how well insurance companies handle claims would make an interesting thread here.
So, on your renewal, you could ask if they would cover OEM glass--but you will pay higher premiums for it.
02-15-13, 07:48 AM
#6
It's not "fine print BS". Your insurance policy is a contract. You are paying certain premiums for specific coverage. Yes--it's a PITA to read your policy when you get it, but what they will cover it specifically stated in the policy. A similar example is the rental car coverage--my insurance co covers $30 a day for a rental. I could jump up and down all day long telling them that $30 a day won't get me a replacement equal to my Lexus--but it doesn't matter, because that's what the policy covers. I could probably ask for higher coverage, but I'd have to pay higher premiums.
So, on your renewal, you could ask if they would cover OEM glass--but you will pay higher premiums for it.
So, on your renewal, you could ask if they would cover OEM glass--but you will pay higher premiums for it.
States differ on insurance coverage and maybe NJ is different.
I do have $0 deductible on glass.
However,my son in law owns an Allstate Agency and that may help.
I believe in Jersey,Traveler's has a one year on new vehicle replacement parts and OEM parts and may pay for a OEM windshield replacement in that time period..
Last edited by Joeb427; 02-15-13 at 07:53 AM.
02-15-13, 08:41 AM
#7
Out of Warranty
I had the windshield replaced on my RX300 some years ago and my salesperson gave me the name of the independent shop that did their glass replacements. Turned out to be a husband and wife team that came out to my house and changed the windshield quickly for $355 (covered by insurance). Now the OEM windshield was something like $900, but their aftermarket product was identical - including that metallic coating that played hob with my aftermarket GPS.
Several years later I had the opposite problem when a service guy at the carwash I frequented found five tiny chips in the windshield of my RX330. They were invisible to the eye, but if you ran a cloth over them, they would snag the material. He offered to repair them for about $50, and I called the insurance company to see if they would cover it. Unbelievably they didn't want to repair it, but would cover a $600 full replacement.
At that point I had to step in and call a halt to the madness. They wouldn't cover a $50 repair, but would cover a $600 replacement because it was their policy that if there were three or more chips in the glass, they HAD to replace it. The chips were less than a week old, probably only a couple of days . . . they were in the upper right side of the glass - almost undetectable and had yet to focus a stress crack, so they were great candidates for repair. He did an outstanding job - and I never found any trace of his handiwork - except that the glass was totally restored.
I paid for the repair myself and changed insurance companies immediately. Anyone who would be that careless with MY money isn't earning it. Remember, every time you file a claim, no matter how small, you create an excuse for an increased premium. Companies that go around handing out $600 windshields have to be suspect.
Several years later I had the opposite problem when a service guy at the carwash I frequented found five tiny chips in the windshield of my RX330. They were invisible to the eye, but if you ran a cloth over them, they would snag the material. He offered to repair them for about $50, and I called the insurance company to see if they would cover it. Unbelievably they didn't want to repair it, but would cover a $600 full replacement.
At that point I had to step in and call a halt to the madness. They wouldn't cover a $50 repair, but would cover a $600 replacement because it was their policy that if there were three or more chips in the glass, they HAD to replace it. The chips were less than a week old, probably only a couple of days . . . they were in the upper right side of the glass - almost undetectable and had yet to focus a stress crack, so they were great candidates for repair. He did an outstanding job - and I never found any trace of his handiwork - except that the glass was totally restored.
I paid for the repair myself and changed insurance companies immediately. Anyone who would be that careless with MY money isn't earning it. Remember, every time you file a claim, no matter how small, you create an excuse for an increased premium. Companies that go around handing out $600 windshields have to be suspect.
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02-15-13, 08:47 AM
#8
I had the windshield replaced on my RX300 some years ago and my salesperson gave me the name of the independent shop that did their glass replacements. Turned out to be a husband and wife team that came out to my house and changed the windshield quickly for $355 (covered by insurance). Now the OEM windshield was something like $900, but their aftermarket product was identical - including that metallic coating that played hob with my aftermarket GPS.
Several years later I had the opposite problem when a service guy at the carwash I frequented found five tiny chips in the windshield of my RX330. They were invisible to the eye, but if you ran a cloth over them, they would snag the material. He offered to repair them for about $50, and I called the insurance company to see if they would cover it. Unbelievably they didn't want to repair it, but would cover a $600 full replacement.
At that point I had to step in and call a halt to the madness. They wouldn't cover a $50 repair, but would cover a $600 replacement because it was their policy that if there were three or more chips in the glass, they HAD to replace it. The chips were less than a week old, probably only a couple of days . . . they were in the upper right side of the glass - almost undetectable and had yet to focus a stress crack, so they were great candidates for repair. He did an outstanding job - and I never found any trace of his handiwork - except that the glass was totally restored.
I paid for the repair myself and changed insurance companies immediately. Anyone who would be that careless with MY money isn't earning it. Remember, every time you file a claim, no matter how small, you create an excuse for an increased premium. Companies that go around handing out $600 windshields have to be suspect.
Several years later I had the opposite problem when a service guy at the carwash I frequented found five tiny chips in the windshield of my RX330. They were invisible to the eye, but if you ran a cloth over them, they would snag the material. He offered to repair them for about $50, and I called the insurance company to see if they would cover it. Unbelievably they didn't want to repair it, but would cover a $600 full replacement.
At that point I had to step in and call a halt to the madness. They wouldn't cover a $50 repair, but would cover a $600 replacement because it was their policy that if there were three or more chips in the glass, they HAD to replace it. The chips were less than a week old, probably only a couple of days . . . they were in the upper right side of the glass - almost undetectable and had yet to focus a stress crack, so they were great candidates for repair. He did an outstanding job - and I never found any trace of his handiwork - except that the glass was totally restored.
I paid for the repair myself and changed insurance companies immediately. Anyone who would be that careless with MY money isn't earning it. Remember, every time you file a claim, no matter how small, you create an excuse for an increased premium. Companies that go around handing out $600 windshields have to be suspect.
Now multiple comprehensive claims will cause a problem.Higher cost of premium and maybe being dropped.
02-15-13, 09:53 AM
#9
Lexus Fanatic
Try GEICO next time. A rock-hit on the windshield is considered Comprehensive, as it is not accident-related. I carry no deductible on my own Comprehensive policy with GEICO (and $500 deductible on collision). I had a rock hit one of my cars some years ago. I called GEICO as soon as I got home (they operate around the clock, 24/7), immediately got a customer-rep, reported the incident, and got a claim-number right over the phone....not even a trip to the claims-adjuster. The rep said take it to your favorite local glass-shop, give them the claim number, and tell them to send us (GEICO) the bill. The shop had the windshield in stock, had time for an quick appointment, and, less than three hours after my windshield first took the rock, had a brand-new one in with the sealant drying. 
02-15-13, 11:38 AM
#10
some hater smashed my sunroof while my car was parked in my work lot. (since then, i had my employer install cctv cameras bc there were none at the time of the vandalism.) i, too, have State Farm. they told me, "sorry, we will not install the OEM Lexus part." i huffed and puffed but that's what the contract said. i also wanted Lexus to repair the damage bc i knew there was glass all inside the headliner and i wanted Lexus techs to handle my car. Ins said they would only pay the labor rate for 'paint and body,' which is a lot lower than the labor rate for "mechanical" repair, which is what Lexus would charge. i wasn't going to spend the $250 deduc PLUS an additional $400 to $500 Lexus quoted me.
fast forward, i take my car to another State Farm approved body shop that the Lexus dealer apparently sends all their customers to for paint and body. i talk to the guy and he says, "don't worry, we'll install an OEM Lexus part." they even sent the car to a specialist to deal w/ the headliner and had the car towed there and back bc i didn't want anyone driving my car. so, i think it's really hit or miss.
fast forward, i take my car to another State Farm approved body shop that the Lexus dealer apparently sends all their customers to for paint and body. i talk to the guy and he says, "don't worry, we'll install an OEM Lexus part." they even sent the car to a specialist to deal w/ the headliner and had the car towed there and back bc i didn't want anyone driving my car. so, i think it's really hit or miss.
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