Heatwave Alert: Rising Costs in Windscreen Claims

As many parts of the UK enjoy hot, dry weather and with some areas officially experiencing heatwaves (BBC), we at Auto Windscreens would like to bring to your attention the associated risks this present to vehicles, and ultimately to insurance claims.

James Macbeth, Auto Windscreens’ Managing Director, explains: “It’s widely known that frosts and cold weather can cause chipped windscreens to crack, but it’s also the case that high temperatures can have the same effect. The cost of a full windscreen replacement claim is 83% higher to an insurer, compared to getting a chip repaired.”

With the average daily temperature last week peaking at 19.3C, up from 12.8C two weeks prior, we have seen a 14.7% rise in the volume of windscreen repair and replacement bookings. During last year’s heatwave, windscreen replacements increased by 5% on average, while the proportion of repairs reduced by the same figure. Based on these findings, we strongly recommend customers with chipped windscreens to get them repaired before they become a bigger problem.

James added: “We appreciate times are tough for many at the moment, but when you consider an average repair excess is only £8.50 which is 10% of the cost of a replacement excess, it’s best not to wait. A repair is negligible in terms of carbon impact in comparison to fitting a new windscreen, too. It makes sense to get chips repaired quickly, not only for our customers and the insurance industry, but for the environment, too.”

As a trusted partner, Auto Windscreens is committed to providing high-quality service to customers while also mitigating the potentially high costs of claims. By encouraging customers to repair windscreen chips promptly, especially during hot weather, we can work together to keep both insurance claims and environmental impacts low. We are here to help keep our roads safer and our environment greener.