Sometimes it starts with a sharp ping – a stone hits your windscreen as you’re following a truck down the freeway. At first, it’s just a tiny chip but before you know it, that chip becomes a large crack, snaking its way across the glass. Or maybe your windscreen sustains instant damage from a hail storm or a run-in with a kangaroo.
However a windscreen is damaged, when it happens, one of the first questions people tend to ask is whether their car insurance will cover the cost of having it repaired. Especially if they’re driving around in a newer vehicle with a windscreen sporting pricier high-tech sensors.
To help you learn more about how windscreen insurance works, we’ve put together this practical guide to explain when windscreen cover might apply, how to check if your policy includes it, what sort of excess you’re likely to be charged – and how you might be able to reduce that excess if you’re with Youi. We’ll also run through how to make a claim for windscreen damage.
Does car insurance cover windscreen damage?
Windscreen cover may be included in certain types of car insurance, such as Comprehensive Car insurance. Otherwise, it may be possible to add insurance for windscreens to a policy as an optional extra.1
“At Youi, your windscreen is considered part of your car, so windscreen damage is covered under both our Comprehensive and Third Party Fire & Theft car insurance policies,” says Marni Jackson, Youi’s Head of Product – Vehicle and Lifestyle.
How to check if you have windscreen cover
If you’re not sure whether your car insurance has windscreen cover – or what that cover includes and excludes and whether any limits apply – there are a couple of ways to find out:
- Read your policy documents:1 Your insurance contract is made up of a product disclosure statement (PDS) and your policy schedule. The PDS includes information about your policy's key features, including what is and isn't included in your cover, while your policy schedule contains details specific to you, such as your level of cover, excess amounts, optional covers, and any special conditions.2
- Contact your insurer. If you’re still not sure whether you’ve got windscreen insurance after reading the PDS and policy schedule, or you have questions about how your cover works, contact your insurer directly.1 At Youi, you can call us on 13 9684.
What type of damage does car insurance for windscreens cover?
Car insurance can provide cover for damage to your windscreen that occurs as a result of one of the insured events included in your policy.1
If you have Comprehensive insurance, for example, this means that damage to your windscreen due to an insured event such as severe weather, theft, intentional damage or an accidental incident – such as kangaroo collision or road debris impact – may be covered.1,3
On the other hand, if you have Third Party Fire & Theft car insurance, windscreen damage will only be covered if it was caused by fire or someone stealing – or attempting to steal – your car.1,3
Are sunroofs and windows covered by windscreen insurance?
There isn’t a straightforward answer – it will depend on your specific car insurance policy.1
“Along with your car’s windscreen, Youi’s Comprehensive and Third Party Fire & Theft policies also cover your car’s windows and, if fitted, its sunroof as part of the vehicle for insured events,” says Jackson.
Why consider windscreen cover insurance?
If you’re trying to decide what level of car insurance might suit you best and whether taking out a more extensive policy that includes windscreen insurance makes financial sense for you, you could start by asking yourself: “Could I afford to repair my car without insurance?”4
“Windscreen repairs and replacements can be particularly costly,” says Jackson, “especially in newer vehicles where windscreens often have cameras, sensors and other embedded technology.”
How do windscreen insurance claims work?
How car insurance claims work – and specifically, whether or not you’ll have to pay an excess – can depend on whether you’re at fault for the damage or someone else is, and the specific details of your insurance policy.5
Your excess is the amount you have to pay towards a claim,6 and insurance companies sometimes waive it when the damage is entirely someone else’s fault and that person can be identified.3,5
“However, most windscreen damage – such as from stones, debris, storms or hail – doesn’t involve another at-fault party,” explains Jackson.
“As a Youi customer, the excess amount you’ll pay for windscreen-only damage will depend on whether you’ve been offered and taken up the option of having a reduced excess for windscreen claims,” says Jackson.
What is a reduced excess for windscreen claims?
Paying a standard basic excess just to fix a damaged windscreen – as opposed to other larger elements of a vehicle – can prove uneconomical, in cases where the standard excess is higher than the actual repair or replacement cost. That’s where reduced windscreen excess comes in.
“If you have a car insurance policy with Youi, we may offer you the option – for an additional cost – of having a reduced basic excess amount for claims where only the windscreen is damaged,” says Jackson.
“The reduced basic excess for windscreen claims is substantially lower than the standard basic excess, and unlike some insurers, at Youi, there’s no limit on the number of windscreen-only claims you can make.
“Plus, the reduced excess can also apply to some other glass-only related claims.”
If Youi’s reduced basic excess for windscreen claims is selected as part of a policy, here’s what is and isn’t covered when the rest of the car remains undamaged:3
| Reduced excess applies to damage to: | Reduced excess doesn’t apply to damage to: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
How can you add a reduced excess for windscreen claims to your policy?
If you’re interested in finding out whether you’re able to add the reduced basic excess for windscreen claims to your existing Youi policy, you can give us a call on 13 9684.
“If we do offer this option to you, it can be added on when you first buy your policy, or during the term of your policy,” says Jackson.
How to claim windscreen insurance
The process to lodge a claim for windscreen damage at Youi is the same, regardless of whether you have a reduced excess for windscreen claims.
“It’s only the excess amount that you’ll need to pay that might differ,” says Jackson.
Where possible, Jackson suggests taking photos that support your claim, such as of the actual damage to your windscreen and – if appropriate – where the damage happened. Then, when you’re ready, you can lodge your claim by phone or any time of day or night online.
“From there, if your claim’s approved, we’ll organise for your windscreen to be repaired or replaced through our approved network of windscreen repairers,” says Jackson.
“And remember that windscreen damage can worsen over time and could lead to safety issues. Making a claim as soon as possible after the incident can help to make sure the damage is addressed early – and catching a chip sooner can sometimes be the difference between a quick repair and needing a full windscreen replacement.”
Will claiming for windscreen damage affect your insurance premium?
Maybe. “Like all claims, windscreen damage claims do form part of your claims history, which is something that may be considered when calculating future premiums,” explains Jackson.
“However, it’s just one part of the puzzle – your premium is shaped by a variety of factors, such as the cost of repairs across the industry, the make and model of your car, your age and driving history and where you live and park your vehicle.”
Now that you understand more about how windscreen insurance works, what types of damage may be covered by different levels of cover, and what a reduced excess for windscreen claims is, you may feel more confident in making a claim – or deciding whether car insurance that includes windscreen cover is the right fit for you.
If you’re interested in finding car insurance that’s a bit more you-shaped, you can explore our policies – or you might like to jump ahead and consider starting a quote. You can do that online or by giving us a call on 13 9684.
1 Source: Canstar – Windscreen excess cover in car insurance, March 2025
2 Source: Financial Rights Legal Centre – Understanding your Insurance Policy
3 Exclusions, limits and additional fees may apply. For full details, see the Car Insurance PDS.
4 Source: Moneysmart – Choosing car insurance
5 Source: Financial Rights Legal Centre – Paying Insurance Excess
6 Source: Insurance Council of Australia – ABC’s of General Insurance
