EXCESS LEDGER / 2026
Windscreen replacement insurance UK, what's covered.
A windscreen claim usually leaves your no-claims bonus alone, and most insurers do not raise your premium for one, though Aviva warns some may. You pay your glass excess: Aviva Signature £115 for a replacement and £10 for a chip, Swinton £125 and £25.
DIRECT ANSWER
Does a windscreen claim affect your premium or no-claims bonus?
Usually not, but check your insurer. Aviva says most insurers won’t affect your No Claim Discount for a windscreen claim and most won’t increase your premium, “however there’s the chance they may”. Swinton says windscreen claims through it do not count towards your No Claims Bonus. You pay your glass excess: £115 for a replacement on Aviva Signature, £125 at Swinton.
The exceptions are narrow. A handful of insurers treat glass like any other claim, and repeated claims in a short window can prompt the underwriter to ask questions. If protecting your discount matters, check that your schedule lists windscreen claims as excluded from the no-claims calculation before you claim.
QUICK ANSWER
What you actually pay.
Chip repair
£0 - £25
AvivaPlus Premium £0, Aviva Signature £10, Swinton £25
Full replacement
£115 - £125
Aviva Signature £115, Swinton £125. Insurer pays the rest.
ADAS calibration
Ask
Confirm the claim covers it before booking
HOW EXCESS IS SET
There is no universal “per insurer” excess figure.
Glass excess is set on your own policy schedule, not by a fixed brand rate. The same insurer charges different amounts across its policy tiers, and the figure also flexes with vehicle and options. So the only reliable number is the one printed on your schedule. What follows is the market picture, not a lookup table.
Chip repair
£0 to £25
Small, and sometimes nothing: AvivaPlus Premium charges no excess for windscreen repairs, Aviva Signature charges £10 and Swinton £25 through its approved repairer (£200 through a non-approved one).
Full replacement
£115 - £125
The two published examples: Aviva Signature £115 and Swinton £125. Other insurers print theirs only on the policy schedule, which shows your exact figure; it can differ from your standard accidental-damage excess.
Published examples checked October 2026 against the insurers’ own windscreen-cover pages (Aviva, Swinton). Figures are the stated comprehensive-policy excess for those tiers and change without notice, so treat them as illustrative of the market spread rather than a quote for your policy.
PROCESS
How to claim, step by step.
- 1
Find the glass helpline
Look for the glass-only number on your policy schedule, app or insurer's website. It is separate from the main claims line and routes you to the glass team directly.
- 2
Describe the damage
Chip or crack, where on the windscreen, approximate size, and any active cracks. Have your registration and policy number to hand.
- 3
Choose a fitter
The helpline books a slot with the insurer's preferred network (often Autoglass, National Windscreens or Auto Windscreens). Ask whether mobile or workshop suits you.
- 4
Confirm ADAS coverage
Ask explicitly that any required calibration is included in the claim, not a separate cost to you. This avoids surprises at handover.
- 5
Pay the excess
Your glass excess is paid to the fitter at completion (for example £115 on Aviva Signature, £125 at Swinton). A chip repair excess is smaller, £10 and £25 on those two.
- 6
Drive away
Wait out the Safe Drive-Away Time the fitter gives you; UK Car Glass says at least 30 minutes after fitting.
When paying cash makes sense
If your excess is close to the cash price, pay cash. Halfords lists a chip repair at £50, so on a policy with a £50-plus chip excess the claim saves nothing.
Cash also gives you full choice of fitter (independent specialist, OEM glass preference, mobile-only). For replacement, cash rarely beats the insurer rate, but always run the numbers.
When to always claim
- + Full replacement on any car: the cheapest car on UK Car Glass's published list is £297, well above a £115 to £125 glass excess.
- + ADAS-equipped car: confirm calibration is part of the claim, then you pay only the excess.
- + Tesla, premium German, Range Rover: OEM-only fitments are expensive.
- + Anything classed as a screen replacement (not chip repair).
FAQ
Will claiming for a windscreen increase my premium?+
Usually not, but it can. Aviva's own guidance says most insurers won't increase your premium after a windscreen claim, 'however there's the chance they may', and that you should tell a new insurer about any windscreen repair or replacement claim when you switch. Check your insurer's wording before you claim.
Does a windscreen replacement affect your no-claims bonus?+
Usually not. Aviva says most insurers won't affect your No Claim Discount for a windscreen claim, and Swinton says windscreen claims made through it do not count towards your No Claims Bonus, however many you make. Not every insurer says the same, so if your bonus matters, check that your policy wording excludes windscreen claims from the no-claims calculation before you claim.
How much is the windscreen excess?+
It is set by your own policy, so read your schedule. Two published examples: Aviva Signature charges a £115 excess for a windscreen replacement and £10 for a chip repair, and AvivaPlus Premium has no excess for repairs; Swinton charges £125 for a replacement and £25 for a repair through its approved repairer, or £200 if you use a non-approved one. The glass excess can differ from your standard accidental-damage excess.
Does windscreen cover come as standard?+
Often on comprehensive policies, but not always: Aviva notes that some basic or essentials comprehensive products may not include glass cover. Third party fire and theft policies sometimes include windscreen cover, so check the schedule. If your renewal removes glass cover, that is a meaningful drop in benefit.
Can I choose my own repairer on insurance?+
Sometimes. Many insurers route to a preferred network (often Autoglass, National Windscreens, or Auto Windscreens). Going outside that network can mean the insurer refuses to pay or only pays a portion. If you have a preferred independent fitter, ring the glass helpline first and ask whether they will authorise it. Some flex on this, especially for OEM-only luxury vehicles.