Missouri Windshield Replacement Auto Insurance (2024)

Missouri’s full glass coverage laws are some of the most strict in the country. Under state law, you must repair or replace your windshield as soon as there is a chip or crack that your windshield wipers can reach.

While this state strictly mandates when you must repair your windshield, the Missouri windshield insurance laws are much looser. You don’t need to get special coverage for your windshield, and insurance companies don’t have to offer policy riders for glass. This article will outline the basics of full glass coverage in Missouri.

What are Missouri’s full glass coverage laws?

Missouri does not require that its insurance companies provide full glass coverage. The state also does not mandate that comprehensive insurance plans, which cover damages that occur when you’re not operating your car, include windshield repair and replacement.

Insurance companies are welcome to develop windshield policies, sell insurance riders for glass replacement, or add windshields to comprehensive plans.

This flexibility in coverage laws stems from the fact that Missouri law doesn’t require you to have special insurance for your windshield. According to Missouri’s Department of Revenue, you only need liability insurance to drive in the Show-Me State:

• Property damage liability insurance of up to $25,000
• Bodily injury liability insurance of up to $50,000 per accident
• Bodily injury liability insurance of up to $25,000 per involved party

Liability insurance covers damage that you cause to other people and their property rather than damage to your own vehicle. As a result, the state auto insurance requirements don’t include personal windshield replacement policies.

Are zero-deductible full glass policies mandatory in Missouri?

Just as insurance companies in Missouri don’t have to offer full glass coverage, companies also don’t have to offer zero-deductible policies.

This means that if you file a Missouri windshield replacement claim with your insurance company, the company is allowed to charge you a fee. This fee, known as a deductible, must be specified in your insurance contract. When you file a claim, expect to pay both your deductible and your regular monthly rates.

Do you have to file a full glass claim for a broken windshield?

If your insurance company elects to offer glass coverage and you’ve purchased a policy, you’re not obligated to use it. Missouri state law requires you to repair cracks and holes within your windshield wipers’ range. Otherwise, the state puts no stipulations on how you go about repairing your glass.

When thinking about filing a claim, consider whether you have a reasonable deductible for car insurance and how much you must pay to fix the windshield out-of-pocket. You should also factor in the time it takes you to look for a reputable glass repair service.

Filing a claim generally costs less than repairing your Missouri windshield on your own. Keep in mind that if you have a history of filing claims, requesting help with your windshield may result in higher rates. Check your insurance claim history to see whether filing a claim is worth it.

Can you choose your full glass repair or replacement service?

Under Missouri’s full glass coverage laws, insurance companies get to pick the repair service that fixes or replaces your windshield. Usually, insurance companies have relationships with various repair services and can quickly identify a reputable one close to you.

These repair providers are chosen based on a variety of factors:

• Location. Since you can’t legally drive with a broken windshield, can the repair provider quickly reach your house?
• Pricing. Does the repair service charge comparable rates or offer discounts for insurance companies?
• Knowledge. Does the repair company know how to fix your windshield model?
• Past experience. Has the insurance company worked with this provider in the past, and what was it like?

If you don’t like your insurance company’s choice, you can voice that opinion to your agent, but you do not have the right to insist on a different provider.

In some cases, your insurance contract may give you the power to identify a different repair service. In this scenario, most insurance companies require you to assume financial responsibility if that repair service is more expensive than the insurance company’s preferred choice. State law does not require your insurance company to give you this option, though, and it’s rare in Missouri.

Insurance Companies Can Provide Aftermarket and Used Glass

Your insurance company also has the right to pick the kind of glass that replaces your windshield. Missouri allows insurance companies to supply used glass and aftermarket windshields or ones that aren’t made by your car’s manufacturer.

State law does require your insurance company to choose windshields that are comparable to your original glass. For example, if your windshield has a protective coating against solar rays, the new one must have this feature, too.

Additionally, if your insurance company wants to provide used or aftermarket glass, you must be notified in advance. After you file a claim, look for a letter or email detailing the type of glass you’ll get, the manufacturer, whether it’s used, and what condition it’s in.

Summing Things Up on Missouri Windshield Replacement Laws

When your windshield cracks or shatters in Missouri, you can file a claim on your comprehensive insurance policy or full glass policy, but you’re not required to have either form of insurance. If your insurance company does cover windshields, it can charge you a deductible, select a repair provider, and pick a used or aftermarket windshield.