It's a cracking problem as windscreen claims rise 17%

Authored by Allianz

The cost to fix a chip or replace a windscreen has increased year-on-year according to Allianz's personal lines business, which includes LV= General Insurance.

So far in 2024, the insurer spent an average of £327 per windscreen claim, which has risen from £308 in 2022, a difference of £19.

In addition to this, the volume of windscreen claims is also increasing, with many customers reporting issues and requiring maintenance.

Windscreen repairs for small chips were up 4% in 2023 vs 2022, while full glass replacements were up 13% in 2023 compared to the previous year.

As cars and the technology behind them evolve, so does the complexity and cost to fix repairs. With many more vehicles being fitted with heated windscreens, claims have increased by 21% in 2023 compared to 2021.

Furthermore, the number of vehicles which require Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) calibration, which involves adjusting the sensors and cameras in a vehicle's advanced safety systems to ensure they work as intended, has risen year-on-year. In 2016 just 1% of cars required this calibration, compared to 44% of claims in 2023. The insurer’s spend on ADAS calibration has increased from £122k in 2016 to over £7.7m in 2023 and is expected to rise 5% year on year

Caroline Johnson, claims director at Allianz personal lines business comments:

“It’s important to ensure your car insurance offers a good level of cover to suit your needs, as not all polices have the same level of cover. We include windscreen cover in all our car insurance policies as we believe it’s an important feature to help customers if they need to make a claim. We’re seeing more and more claims for windscreen chips and replacements, so it’s a good idea to check what you are and aren’t covered for, as well as any excesses to pay if making a claim.”

Caroline Johnson, Claims Director at Allianz Personal lines

“There are many different reasons why we’re seeing an increase in windscreen claims. This ranges from road conditions such as potholes, to extremes in temperatures. Cold snaps during winter, and sudden heat waves during summer can cause chips to turn into cracks. It’s also a good idea to get any small chips looked at as soon as possible, before they get worse over time and cost more to fix.”