Guides
Full glass coverage and zero-deductible windshield repair
Which states require zero-deductible glass claims (Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina), where it's optional, and how to handle a cracked windshield.
Full glass coverage pays to repair or replace your car's glass with no deductible. It is part of, or an add-on to, comprehensive coverage. In three states it is the law for anyone who carries comprehensive: Florida waives the deductible for windshields, and Kentucky and South Carolina waive it for auto glass more broadly. In Arizona and Minnesota insurers must offer it as an option; elsewhere it depends on your insurer.
Without it, a cracked windshield is an ordinary comprehensive claim: you pay your deductible and the insurer pays the rest. If your comprehensive deductible is $500 or $1,000, that can mean paying for the whole windshield yourself.
State rules on zero-deductible glass
| State | Rule | What it covers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | Required with comprehensive | The windshield only | Fla. Stat. 627.7288 |
| Kentucky | Required with comprehensive, for glass-only claims | Windshield, door and window glass, light lenses, and ADAS calibration when glass is replaced | KRS 304.20-060 |
| South Carolina | Required for physical damage coverage | "Automobile safety glass" | S.C. Code § 38-77-280(B) |
| Arizona | Insurers must offer it as an option with comprehensive | Windshield, door and window glass, and light lenses | A.R.S. § 20-264 |
| Minnesota | Insurers must offer it as an option with comprehensive | All damaged safety glass | Minn. Stat. § 65B.134 |
A few details matter:
- Florida's rule covers only the windshield. A broken side or rear window goes through your normal comprehensive deductible.
- Kentucky updated its law in 2024. Amendments effective April 2, 2024, define glass work to include calibrating or recalibrating advanced driver-assistance systems when glass is replaced, and bar insurers from requiring you to use a particular glass shop, while still allowing them to maintain networks. They apply to policies issued or renewed on or after that date.
- These rules apply only if you carry comprehensive. A liability-only policy pays nothing for your own glass in any state.
- In Arizona and Minnesota you have to choose it. The option usually costs extra premium; check your declarations page.
Lists online sometimes name other states as having "free windshield replacement." Check the statute or your state insurance department before relying on one; outside the states above, glass coverage is usually a matter of what you buy.
Full glass coverage in other states
Where no law applies, insurers handle glass in a few ways:
- Full glass endorsement: a zero-deductible glass add-on for a small extra premium.
- A separate, lower glass deductible: Travelers, for example, describes a glass deductible that can be applied in place of your comprehensive deductible for a glass-only loss involving windshields, windows, exterior lights or mirrors (Travelers).
- No special treatment: glass is paid under comprehensive with your regular deductible.
Some insurers waive the deductible for chip repair even without full glass coverage, because a repair costs far less than a replacement. Ask before you assume.
Repair or replace?
Small chips and short cracks can often be repaired by injecting resin, which takes under an hour and keeps the factory seal. Larger cracks, damage in the driver's line of sight, or damage at the edge of the glass usually mean replacement. The glass shop or adjuster makes the call based on size and location.
Repair early. A chip can spread into a long crack with temperature swings or road vibration, turning an inexpensive repair into a replacement.
ADAS calibration after a windshield replacement
Many newer cars mount cameras and sensors for lane-keeping, automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control behind the windshield. After a replacement, those systems often need calibration so they aim correctly. Kentucky's statute explicitly counts calibration as part of glass repair. Elsewhere, ask:
- Does my car have windshield-mounted cameras or sensors?
- Will the shop perform calibration, or send me to a dealer?
- Is calibration included in the claim payment?
- Will I get documentation that calibration was completed?
See driver-assistance sensors and the cost of repairs for why these systems raise repair bills.
Choosing a glass shop
Insurers often route glass claims through a glass network or third-party administrator and may recommend a preferred shop. In many states you have the right to choose your own shop; Kentucky's law says so explicitly for glass. If you use an out-of-network shop, ask the insurer beforehand how much it will pay so you are not left with a balance. See choosing a repair shop: direct repair programs and your rights.
You can also ask about the glass itself. Replacement windshields can be original-equipment (OEM) or aftermarket. Some vehicles' sensors are sensitive to glass differences, and some policies specify which type they pay for. See Aftermarket vs OEM parts in insurance repairs.
How to file a glass claim
- Photograph the damage and note when and where it happened.
- Call your insurer's glass line or use the app. Many insurers handle glass claims separately from other comprehensive claims.
- Confirm your deductible, or confirm that state law or your endorsement waives it.
- Choose repair or replacement with the shop's advice.
- Ask about calibration before the appointment.
- Keep the invoice and any calibration report.
For more on the claim process, see windshield and glass claims.
Watch for glass scams
Be cautious of unsolicited offers in parking lots or by phone to replace your windshield "free" with cash or gift cards. Some involve inflated or unnecessary claims billed to your insurer in your name, and you remain responsible for what is submitted. Florida, where windshields carry no deductible, now voids any assignment of post-loss glass benefits to a glass shop under policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2023 (Fla. Stat. 627.7289). Use a shop you choose. See how to protect yourself from insurance scams.
Is full glass coverage worth it?
Where it is optional, compare the extra premium with your comprehensive deductible and the replacement cost for your car. Say full glass adds $40 a year and your comprehensive deductible is $500 (hypothetical figures). One windshield replacement in a dozen years would roughly pay back the coverage. It is worth more if you drive a lot of highway miles, live near gravel roads or construction, or have a windshield with cameras that make replacement expensive. The deductible break-even calculator can help you decide whether a lower comprehensive deductible is a better buy.
Key takeaways
- Full glass coverage removes the deductible for glass claims; it only applies if you carry comprehensive.
- Florida (windshields), Kentucky and South Carolina (auto glass) require zero-deductible glass with comprehensive.
- Arizona and Minnesota require insurers to offer it as an option.
- After a windshield replacement, ask about ADAS calibration.
- You can usually choose your glass shop; confirm what the insurer will pay first.