So what could possibly be more sleep-inducing than reading (or
writing) a 650-word article about auto insurance? After
considerable brain-racking, I've come up with one possibility:
watching towels dry. However, if you drive a car in the United
States, the law requires that you have your fair share of auto
insurance. This article, in particular addresses one facet of
auto insurance coverage: glass coverage.
So what's your point?
The purpose of this information page is not to navigate the
morass of options, riders, or auto insurance companies. If you
don't know whether you want "good hands" or a talking lizard,
you should dig deeper on the websites these companies spend lots
of money on to entice your patronage. Or you could investigate
getting yourself a reputable insurance agent to act on your
behalf. Insurance agents are people who think insurance is fun,
and therefore can be trusted to accurately answer insurance
questions. One resource for locating a reputable agent is the
Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America website:
http://www.iiaa.org. Again, what's your point?
The point of this article is to address just one aspect of auto
insurance coverage, namely the aforementioned glass coverage.
Should you have it? Should you skip it? In most cases, a glass
coverage rider can be added to your policy relatively
inexpensively - depending upon your situation, it could be less
than $10 per month. Considering the cost of glass replacement (a
windshield alone could cost over $200 to replace), it could be a
wise investment. For a quick quote using the particulars of your
vehicle, go to
http://www.safelite.com and click the "get an
instant quote" link.
But before making insurance decisions, you must assess your
situation first. How much driving do you do? Under what
conditions? On what type of roads?
Let's address these questions individually.
1. How much driving do you do?
If you normally drive 3.5 miles on Sunday to attend church, and
park your vehicle in an environmentally controlled garage the
rest of the week, you may not need glass coverage. However, if
you drive every day, and if your driving is for extended
periods, your chances of a damaged windshield due to road
debris, flying junk throw up from passing motorists, or the
occasional misguided pigeon, are statistically higher. Calculate
your weekly, monthly, and yearly mileage to help you get an idea
of how much time you actually spend on the road. You might be
surprised at the results you find. 2. Under what conditions do
you drive?
Do you drive in adverse weather conditions? Windy or stormy
conditions increase the odds of rubble being blown into your
auto, and sub-freezing weather makes your windows more
susceptible to damage by making them more brittle.
3. What type of roads do you drive on?
If you drive on
unpaved roads, your chances of catching a stone thrown up by
another vehicle rise. Also, if you travel on highways or
expressways, you increase your chances of damage from long-haul
trucks or construction vehicles that frequently drop bits and
pieces of stuff as they pass. In addition, your higher rate of
speed means anything hitting your windshield is colliding with
it at a higher rate of speed.
So I guess you're saying my auto insurance coverage should
include glass coverage.
I am not an auto insurance agent. I don't work for any auto
insurance company. I don't even play an insurance agent on TV.
The information presented here is to help you come to your own
decision - to provide you with the auto insurance opinions of
this author, and some food for thought. I will say, however,
that I do carry glass coverage, and it has enabled me to replace
several windshields in the past three years. And that, my
friend, beats the heck out of driving around wearing goggles and
a scarf like a WWI flying ace.
© 2005 Auto Insurance Directory
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