Under Florida law, your insurance company cannot charge a deductible for windshield replacement—if it’s covered under your comprehensive insurance. Any windshield damage not covered by comprehensive insurance may carry a deductible.

Windshield replacement laws might not be the first thing that come to mind when you’re choosing your insurance coverage options—but for drivers in Florida, it should be part of the equation. Free windshield replacement might make the added cost of comprehensive coverage worth it!

Here to break down the Florida statutes that relate to windshield replacement is

Jerry

, the car insurance broker app that can help you lower your

Florida car insurance costs

Does Florida law cover windshield replacement?

Short answer: yes—if you’ve got

comprehensive coverage

Here’s the long answer. Under

Section 627.7288

of the Florida statutes, it’s illegal for any insurance company to charge a deductible for windshield replacement that’s covered under comprehensive insurance or a “combined additional coverage” policy—i.e. a “full coverage” policy that includes comprehensive and

collision coverage

along with other options. Florida is one of only three states, along with Kentucky and South Carolina, with a law of this kind.

What does that mean for you? Well, if your windshield was damaged due to any of the perils covered by a comprehensive car insurance policy—such as vandalism, riots or civil disturbance, a

natural disaster

, fire, or flooding—you can have it replaced for free. You won’t have to pay your usual deductible; it’s totally free of charge.

On the other hand, if your damaged windshield is due to a motor vehicle

accident

, including a single-car accident, you won’t be eligible for a free windshield repair. If you have collision insurance, you’ll still have coverage for part of the cost, but your deductible will apply.

And if you only carry Florida’s minimum required insurance coverage—

property damage liability

and

personal injury protection

—you may be out of luck altogether. If you can show that another driver was responsible for the damage, you might be able to file a claim with their insurance company through their liability coverage, but you’re not guaranteed a free replacement.

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Who pays for windshield replacement in Florida?

If you’ve got a broken windshield in Florida, you may be responsible for part of the cost of replacement—or you might be eligible for a totally free replacement.

If your auto insurance policy includes comprehensive coverage and the windshield was damaged by one of the non-collision events listed on that policy, state law says that your insurance company must pay the whole cost of replacement.

But if you can’t submit a comprehensive claim, you will likely be responsible for some part of the cost. If the windshield was damaged in a collision and you carry collision insurance, you’ll only need to pay your deductible, but if you only carry minimum insurance coverage, you’ll be on the hook for the full cost.

Without insurance, the average cost of a total windshield replacement ranges from about $150 to $500, depending on the size, make, and model of your vehicle. If you just need to repair

windshield cracks

or chips, the cost could be anywhere from about $50 to $200.

Does Florida law require auto insurance coverage for windshield repair?

Not exactly. While you need to carry comprehensive insurance to get your windshield repaired for free, the state of Florida doesn’t require drivers to purchase this coverage.

In fact, Florida law requires just two types of insurance: property damage liability, which pays for damage to other drivers’ vehicles and property, and personal injury protection (PIP), which covers your own medical costs. Those low minimum requirements keep insurance rates low—but auto glass, including windshields, isn’t necessarily covered by that minimum coverage.

Do I need to replace my cracked windshield in Florida?

If your windshield is caved in, it’s obvious that you need a replacement—but what if there’s only a small crack?

It’s always a good idea to

repair

any cracks in your windshield, but you may not need a total replacement.

Section 316.2952

of the Florida Statutes states that all windshields must be in “good working order,” with functional windshield wipers, and offer an unobstructed view of the road. You’re allowed to have a GPS device, a strip of sunscreening tint along the top of the windshield or any stickers or certificates required by law, but that’s it. If your windshield has significant cracks that could obstruct your vision, continuing to drive could land you with a nonmoving traffic violation.

Evaluate the damage, or bring the vehicle to a repair shop to have a professional technician advise you as to whether repairs or a total replacement would be a better choice. Look for a mechanic willing to do a free consultation and always get a written estimate before proceeding with any repairs.

How to save on windshield insurance in Florida

Thanks to Florida’s free windshield replacement law, you don’t need to have special glass coverage to get your broken windshield repaired at no cost—you just need a car insurance policy that includes comprehensive coverage.

Of course, adding comprehensive coverage to your state minimums will increase your overall insurance costs. But with help from

Jerry

, you can keep your costs low without sacrificing the coverage you need.

Here’s how it works. Jerry is

a licensed insurance broker

with over 55 partner companies, including some of the best insurance providers in the US. In under a minute, Jerry can find customized real-time quotes for any driver based on their unique profile. Looking to lower

Fort Lauderdale insurance costs

or cut your premium down in

Boca Raton

? We’ve got you.

“I had limited time to find a new insurance plan in Florida, so I tried
Jerry
. My experience was personalized and professional, and they found me a plan that fits my portfolio. You should give them a try.” —Valencia T.

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