OEM Windshield Vs Aftermarket Glass

[UnloosedChewtoy]

I could’ve sworn there was no deductible for windshield replacement…

Depends on your state and policy details

Yup, what Stubs said. Some states require insurance companies to cover it.

Colorado, I know for example, has a law where if you have a cracked windshield, you cannot drive it on public roadways (unless you're on your way to get it fixed maybe, depending on how nice the cops are or are not, that day). I've seen many people in Colorado have their vehicles towed to glass shops to get their windshields replaced, so that they don't get ticketed (or worse).

 

[AZDinoPwr]

AZ forces insurance companies to offer $0 deductible glass coverage as an option. Worth it here IMO.

 

[discretion37]

definitely recommend oem glass.. ca insurance not covering it is definitely criminal.
i was able to find a very good local shop that replaced mine with oem with calibration for 1k last year..

 

[mtbr]

All of the features you mentioned work fine on my Pilkington replacement BUT......

We had a freeze down here in Texas this winter. The windshield CRACKED when I was defrosting it. Simply from heat from the defrost vent. Massive crack across the entire windshield following the vent line. There were no previous chips or damage. Installer and Pilkington will not replace.

 

[Dubstep Shep]

I could’ve sworn there was no deductible for windshield replacement…

Depends on your state and policy details

Stubs is correct. Here in Texas, there's no separate deductible for window coverage. I can get chips repaired for free, but once it's a crack, the windshield replacement goes towards your standard deductible.

 

[Tex TRX 55]

In September of 2025, I had a bad windshield crack that needed to be replaced. I have Texas Farm Bureau Insurance and they initially wanted me to use aftermarket glass for my windshield. I told them about the comments here and that OEM glass was required for the HUD and sensors to work. It took an extra week of waiting while they investigated it, but they finally authorized Safelite to repair it with OEM. My insurance covers bullseye damage at no charge to me, and used to cover windshield replacement. Unfortunately, with the rising cost of windshields, they now require you to pay the deductible, which was $500 for me. After reading these comments, I'm interested in the Yuhao windshield replacement to see if that really works with all our sensors and HUD.

 

[Dubstep Shep]

The crack in my windshield is growing and starting to encroach on my normal field of vision. I'm going to have to get it fixed before my July road trip, so probably in the next month or two.

I plan to use Safelite as they've always been good to me. We'll see how that goes, and I'll keep the forum updated once I get it done.

 

[84 Sheepdog]

Stubs is correct. Here in Texas, there's no separate deductible for window coverage. I can get chips repaired for free, but once it's a crack, the windshield replacement goes towards your standard deductible.

Correct, to have full no cost glass coverage in Texas, you have to lower your comprehensive deductible to $0. The total cost to do this on all 4 of our vehicles through state farm was less than $10/month. Definitely has been worth it for us.

 

[DinosaursandJesus]

The crack in my windshield is growing and starting to encroach on my normal field of vision. I'm going to have to get it fixed before my July road trip, so probably in the next month or two.

I plan to use Safelite as they've always been good to me. We'll see how that goes, and I'll keep the forum updated once I get it done.

Any update on this? Needing to get mine replaced in NC soon and no insurance coverage for cracks

 

[Dubstep Shep]

Any update on this? Needing to get mine replaced in NC soon and no insurance coverage for cracks

I'm going to schedule it for late July. I've got an off-roading road trip planned for the end of this month/start of July so I wanted to wait until after that to replace it.

 

[HORSZ]

It can be confusing since different states have different rules for glass coverage/replacement. When you watch commercials they give you the blanket "your windshield may be replaced at no charge to you" wording, which just depends on a few factors. Last year when both mine and my wife's windshields had to be replaced, since it was the first time I had ever dealt with it, I just assumed, because the general narrative out there is that glass is just automatically replaced with no deductible, that I was just gonna get it taken care of by insurance. And because my vehicles were so expensive, there would be no question about OEM glass being used, especially with all the dependent features. I was wrong on both counts.

Safelite "partners" with most if not all insurance companies, and they were the default vendor with mine. When I submitted my claim online, it gave me no other vendor alternative. So they scheduled Safelite to come to the house and replace windshields. The tech kinda scoffed and giggled under his breath like I was an idiot and said "with these vehicles I have no idea why you wouldn't go with OEM glass instead of this cheap stuff that will cause your HUD and other stuff not to work...." A can of worms opened...

I called Safelite and they of course said they just do what the insurance companies tell them, and that they can't on their own determine that my vehicle qualifies for OEM glass.

So I called my insurance company. They said that in the fine print of my policy that they can, at their discretion, not use OEM glass and that I would have to pay full price for it if I wanted it. What they didn't tell me of course is that I can use any glass company I want.

I called a local company and they laughed at the whole thing and said "you'll get OEM glass with us, we deal with insurance companies daily..." They also said they won't install anything other than OEM glass when tech features depend on them, never have and never will.

A couple days later I had OEM glass and paid nothing but my deductible. It pays to shop around, but your insurance company prolly won't tell you that, since they get spiffs when you use Safelite, or whoever else they contract with.

The insurance companies are just trying to make as much money as they can.

 

[Dubstep Shep]

It can be confusing since different states have different rules for glass coverage/replacement. When you watch commercials they give you the blanket "your windshield may be replaced at no charge to you" wording, which just depends on a few factors. Last year when both mine and my wife's windshields had to be replaced, since it was the first time I had ever dealt with it, I just assumed, because the general narrative out there is that glass is just automatically replaced with no deductible, that I was just gonna get it taken care of by insurance. And because my vehicles were so expensive, there would be no question about OEM glass being used, especially with all the dependent features. I was wrong on both counts.

Safelite "partners" with most if not all insurance companies, and they were the default vendor with mine. When I submitted my claim online, it gave me no other vendor alternative. So they scheduled Safelite to come to the house and replace windshields. The tech kinda scoffed and giggled under his breath like I was an idiot and said "with these vehicles I have no idea why you wouldn't go with OEM glass instead of this cheap stuff that will cause your HUD and other stuff not to work...." A can of worms opened...

I called Safelite and they of course said they just do what the insurance companies tell them, and that they can't on their own determine that my vehicle qualifies for OEM glass.

So I called my insurance company. They said that in the fine print of my policy that they can, at their discretion, not use OEM glass and that I would have to pay full price for it if I wanted it. What they didn't tell me of course is that I can use any glass company I want.

I called a local company and they laughed at the whole thing and said "you'll get OEM glass with us, we deal with insurance companies daily..." They also said they won't install anything other than OEM glass when tech features depend on them, never have and never will.

A couple days later I had OEM glass and paid nothing but my deductible. It pays to shop around, but your insurance company prolly won't tell you that, since they get spiffs when you use Safelite, or whoever else they contract with.

The insurance companies are just trying to make as much money as they can.

Essentially, if you can prove that aftermarket glass doesn't work properly, the insurance HAS to pay for OEM.

Up to the body or glass shop to prove that, usually.

 

[HORSZ]

Essentially, if you can prove that aftermarket glass doesn't work properly, the insurance HAS to pay for OEM.

Up to the body or glass shop to prove that, usually.

Correct... but if they are in cahoots $$-wise, like Safelite usually is, that won't happen. You have to get an impartial company to do it... and the insurance companies will do everything they can to hide the fact that that you can use any installer...

 

[Dubstep Shep]

Correct... but if they are in cahoots $$-wise, like Safelite usually is, that won't happen. You have to get an impartial company to do it... and the insurance companies will do everything they can to hide the fact that that you can use any installer...

To be fair, Safelite guarantees that their replacement will work with the HUD and sensors.

 

[evillrdnikon]

look HUD works great on my aftermarket glass, replaced by safelite. Brand stamped is Fuyao. Got my windshield retinted to 35% and have not had issues. mileage varies with everyone, i just know I have not had issues after replacement .