Need a New Windshield in South Carolina? Get One With No Out-of-Pocket Cost to You

Cracked windshields can be a real pain. They typically happen due to circumstances we didn’t bring upon ourselves. Still, we can’t drive around with a damaged windshield. You must have it repaired or replaced. Sometimes, when surprise expenses like these pop up we don’t have the funds to pay for it. 

If you live in South Carolina, this shouldn’t be an issue. If you are insured, your policy may cover your new windshield at no out-of-pocket cost. That’s because, in 2023, South Carolina put a law that helps drivers repair or replace their windshields.

The Law Requires Windshield Repair or Replacement

Depending on where the chip or crack is on your windshield, the law requires that you repair or replace it. Damaged windshields are dangerous for everyone, which is why it's a law on the federal level. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) says it’s against the law to drive with a windshield that has the following:

• A chip or crack that exceeds 3/4th of an inch in diameter 
• Intersecting cracks
• Two cracks within three inches of each other
• Cracks or chips that obstruct the driver’s view
• Any matter that reduces the vision of the windshield

So, if your vehicle’s windshield has any of these damages, you are required by federal law to get it fixed. This is the part where residents in South Carolina can take a breath. 

The Law in South Carolina Requires The Insurance Company to Help Out

South Carolina put SC Code § 38-57-75 into action in 2023, which says that insurance companies must waive the deductible for vehicles with comprehensive coverage if they need the windshield to be repaired or replaced. That means, if you have full coverage, you may not have to come up with any payment, and the insurance will cover it completely. 

What’s Comprehensive Insurance?

Comprehensive insurance is also known as full coverage. This means that your vehicle and the vehicle you may collide with are both covered, including, in some cases, medical expenses for injuries incurred to you or anyone in the accident. 

Some drivers have liability insurance. If you have liability insurance, this means that your insurance only covers damage to other people’s vehicles if you were to cause the accident. Liability insurance does not include your vehicle, so the insurance company will not cover this. 

If You Have Comprehensive Insurance…

…it shouldn’t matter how your windshield was damaged, the insurance company should still waive the deductible. Whether your chip came from a rock flying out from the tire of a semi in front of you on the highway, or if you came out to your truck one day and found a crack and have no idea how it got there, the insurance company should still waive your deductible under the law of South Carolina. 

Many States Don’t Have This Law

While everyone across the country falls under the federal law that their windshield must be replaced if it suffers from any of the ailments we listed above, only residents of South Carolina, and a couple of other states, are fortunate to have a law that requires the insurance company to waive the deductible. Damaged windshields come as a surprise to a majority of sufferers, and sometimes we don’t always have the cash on hand to fix the problem. 

Do You Need a Windshield Repair or Replacement in the Charleston, SC Area? 

If you live in the Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, or Moncks Corner areas contact us at Clearview Auto Glass. Our expert technicians will get your windshield replaced in no time and we even offer insurance claims assistance to ensure a hassle-free experience. Clearview Auto Glass has been servicing this area of South Carolina for years and we are here for you.