Windscreen insurance: is it worth it?
Imagine you're driving and suddenly, a pebble strikes your windscreen. The thought of paying a $1,000 excess for such a small incident is daunting, isn't it? That's exactly what windscreen insurance, also known as excess-free windscreen cover, is designed to prevent.
It safeguards your wallet from these unexpected costs, making sure a minor inconvenience doesn’t turn into a major expense. Keep reading to learn how this coverage can be a game-changer for you.
What is windscreen insurance?
Windscreen insurance, also known as excess-free windscreen cover, is not a policy on its own but a feature within many comprehensive car insurance policies. This particular cover is designed to waive or significantly reduce your excess in the event that your vehicle's windscreen, windshield, or any other window glass suffers damage. So, when life (or the road) throws a pebble your way, you won’t have to worry about the financial impact.
The availability of windscreen cover varies between insurance providers and policies. While some insurers include this cover as a standard feature of their comprehensive policies, others offer it as an optional extra that you can choose to add to your policy for an additional fee.
How does windscreen excess cover work?
To benefit from windscreen insurance, first, ensure it's either included in your comprehensive car insurance policy or added as an additional feature. Here's the process and what you typically gain:
- Adding the cover. If not automatically included, you can add windscreen cover to your existing comprehensive car insurance. This might slightly increase your premium, but it’s a step that could save you more in the long run.
- Entitlements. Once you have windscreen cover as part of your policy, you're typically entitled to access to prompt repair or replacement services for your windscreen, windshield, sunroof or window glass without the usual financial burden. Depending on your policy, the excess for these services may be waived entirely or significantly reduced. This ensures that minor damages don’t lead to major out-of-pocket expenses.
- Making a claim. When the need arises, you simply make a claim through your insurer for the windscreen damage. The process is designed to be straightforward, allowing for quick resolution so you can get back on the road with minimal disruption.
Having windscreen insurance means that an errant pebble or unexpected damage won’t leave you stressed about finances.
Is windscreen excess cover worth it?
Excess-free windscreen cover is not mandatory. Even without it, your comprehensive car insurance will cover your windscreen just like any other part of your car. But without this special add-on, you’ll be required to pay your normal excess. To highlight the practical advantages, consider these scenarios where you lack windscreen excess cover, and your excess stands at $1,000:
- Scenario 1. A large tree branch falls and smashes your windscreen, part of a larger claim including body damage. Your comprehensive cover kicks in, windscreen included, but you pay your standard excess.
- Scenario 2. A medium-sized tree branch cracks your windscreen, with no other damage to your car, leading to a $1,200 windscreen replacement cost. You will need to pay the $1,000 excess, and you essentially save $200.
- Scenario 3. A small stone from a passing truck cracks your windscreen. This time the repair cost is below your excess, say $600. Without windscreen excess cover, you'd cover the cost fully, as claiming would not be cost-effective.
In scenario 1, windscreen excess cover isn't really a factor since we’re dealing with bigger accidents that affect more than just the windscreen. However, Scenarios 2 and 3 really bring home how even small incidents can unexpectedly hit your wallet hard, unless of course you have excess-free windshield cover.
How to get free windscreen replacement insurance
Most comprehensive car insurance policies don’t automatically include excess-free windscreen cover. However, here are a few that do.
- Australia Post Comprehensive Car Insurance. Automatically includes $0 windscreen excess for repairs only. Normal excess applies to replacements, but you can reduce this to $0 for an additional premium.
- Kogan Comprehensive Car Insurance. Automatically includes $0 windscreen excess for repairs only. Normal excess applies to replacements, but you can reduce this to $0 for an additional premium.
- RAC Comprehensive Car Insurance. Automatically includes $0 windscreen excess for repairs and a reduced $100 excess for replacements.
- ROLLiN’. Automatically includes $0 windscreen excess for repairs and replacements (1 per year).
There are also some insurance companies that have ‘comprehensive plus’ or ‘platinum’ policies that will automatically include windscreen excess cover, but these are typically more expensive as they bundle a variety of additional features, sometimes including windscreen cover, alongside the standard comprehensive insurance benefits.
But even if your insurance policy doesn’t automatically include this feature, most comprehensive car insurance policies will allow you to add it at an additional cost. If you’re unsure, you can always check the details in the policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or check out these top options recently crowned in the Mozo Experts Choice Awards for Car Insurance.
How much does windscreen insurance cost?
Adding windscreen excess cover to your policy won’t set you back much. For most policies, you’ll end up paying around $20 per year or less than $2 per month.
Bottom line
As you can see, windscreen excess cover is definitely worth considering. It can save you a significant amount in repairs or replacements, and it often comes at a very reasonable additional cost. Here are some excellent policies where you can find this beneficial cover:
Compare car insurance policies
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- Optional Extra
- Choice of excess
- $400 - $2,500
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed Or Market
Available discounts
Comprehensive Car Insurance
Youi like to get to know you from the very first conversation, which provides you with the opportunity to find comprehensive car insurance cover that could better suit your lifestyle and your needs. Because we’re all individuals, so we all use our cars differently from day-to-day. Youi is car insurance that’s a bit more you-shaped. Mozo People's Choice Excellent Customer Service Car Insurance award winner in 2024.
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 2 years and a listed driver is the first registered owner
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days.
- Rental car after accident
- Not at fault - Yes. At fault - Optional Extra. Up to 14 days.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess. Option to reduce windscreen excess to $50 for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- Unlisted and aged 25 and over: $700, Unlisted and aged under 25: $2,000, Listed and aged under 25: $600
- Roadside assistance
- Yes
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
- States where offered
- SA VIC TAS NSW ACT QLD WA
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read reviews and learn more about Youi car insurances
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes
- Choice of repairer
- No
- Choice of excess
- $800 Flat Excess Fee
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed
Available discounts
- Get 10% Off The Base Premium For The First 2 Consecutive Monthly Policies And Up To A 15% Potential Monthly Discount From Your 3rd Month For Being A Safer Driver. Minimum Premiums May Apply. Underwriting Criteria, Limits, Exclusions, And T&Cs Apply.
Comprehensive Car Insurance
ROLLiN’ offers affordable monthly comprehensive car insurance with its favourite extras included. No additional excess for young drivers, lodge a claim 24/7 and zero cancellation fees. Hire car is included up to $80 per day for up to 21 days; cover for one tow to our nearest authorised repairer, following a covered incident. No excess on your first covered windscreen, sunroof, and window glass damage once per insurance period. List multiple cars and drivers under the one policy as long as they fit the underwriting criteria (excludes Safe ’n Save policies).
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 15,000km of original registration
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 21 days, max $80 per day after a covered event
- Rental car after accident
- Yes - Up to 21 days, max $80 per day after a covered event
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - one claim can be made per Insurance Period, with $0 windscreen excess
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- No additional excess for young drivers. $3,000 for unlisted drivers
- Roadside assistance
- No
- Other benefits
- Optional benefit to boost the Single Car Value by 15%, it will be shown on your Insurance Certificate
- Other restrictions
- -
- States where offered
- SA VIC NT TAS NSW ACT QLD WA
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read reviews and learn more about ROLLiN' car insurances
Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- Optional Extra
- Choice of excess
- $550 - $1,900 (varies By State)
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed Or Market
Available discounts
- No Claim Discount
- Online Discount 15%
Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance
Get award winning Car Insurance. Save 15% ^ on your first year’s premium when you purchase a new policy online. Budget Direct offers tailor-made cover, new-for-old replacement, 24/7 claims, a highly-rated claims service, and get a hire car following a theft.
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 2 years or 40,000 kilometres of original registration, whichever comes first
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days, max $1,000 total.
- Rental car after accident
- Not at fault - Yes. At fault - Optional Extra. Up to 14 days for at fault accidents.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess. Option to reduce windscreen excess to $40 on every windscreen claim for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- $600 for drivers under 21, $500 for drivers under 24, $600 for unlisted drivers, $500 for inexperienced drivers.
- Roadside assistance
- Optional Extra
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
- States where offered
- SA VIC TAS NSW ACT QLD WA
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read reviews and learn more about Budget Direct car insurances
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- Optional Extra
- Choice of excess
- $500 - $2,300
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed Or Market
Available discounts
- Online Discount $75
Comprehensive Car Insurance
QBE’s Comprehensive Car Insurance covers you for things like accident damage, fire and theft. Enjoy three year new car replacement. Get a hire car if you’re not at fault. Repair guarantee. Save $75 when you apply online.
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 3 years and 60,000 km of original registration
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days.
- Rental car after accident
- Not at fault - yes. At fault - Optional Extra. Up to 14 days.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess ($0 excess for repair only). Option to reduce windscreen replacement excess to $0 for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Automatically covered.
- Young driver excess imposed
- $700 for listed drivers under 25, $2,000 for unlisted drivers under 25.
- Roadside assistance
- No
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
- States where offered
- SA VIC NT TAS NSW ACT QLD WA
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read reviews and learn more about QBE car insurances
Windscreen cover FAQs
What happens if the damage to my car includes more than just the windshield?
If your car gets damaged and it's more than just the windscreen, windscreen excess cover won't come into play. Instead, the whole situation is treated like any other collision claim, where you pay your standard excess for the claim. This means you can't split off the windscreen damage to try and reduce what you pay in excess for the rest of the damages.
Is my sunroof covered?
Yes, windscreen excess cover usually applies to your windscreen, rear windscreen, windows or sunroof. However, in some cases it’s limited to sunroofs of a particular size, such as those that make up 50% or less of the roof’s surface.
Does making a windshield claim affect my no claims bonus?
No, making a windscreen claim usually doesn't affect your no claims bonus with most insurers.
How much will my excess be?
Most insurers will bring your windscreen excess down to $0 when you have windshield insurance. However, some may reduce it to a nominal amount ($50-$100).
Can I get windshield cover on third-party insurance?
No, windscreen cover, whether included automatically or as an add-on, is only available on comprehensive car insurance policies.
* Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Car Insurance Awards