Car Insurance Companies Are Having a Hard Time Keeping up With High-tech Windshields
Jane Lu
· 3 min read
If you walk around and take a closer look at your vehicle, there isn't a part of it that hasn't improved because of
car technology
.From intuitive dashes and incredible connectivity options, today's cars are loaded with complex tech engineering. As a result, even your windshield is likely equipped with some form of advanced technology.
Not everyone in the auto industry can keep up with the latest and greatest. Windshield repairs are becoming more problematic, with both repair shops and insurance providers.
You might not be too concerned now. However, when you go to fix a rock chip or cracked windshield, your car technology could present a repair problem.
Windshield repairs today are incredibly complex
Your car's windshield used to just be a piece of glass, separating you from the open road. Today's cars, even those with a few years on them, are far more high-tech, and so are the windshields.
More automakers are arming their latest models with rain-sensing wipers, visible displays, and multi-angle camera technology, making that windshield the most intelligent piece of glass in your sweet ride. And that's a good thing until you need to have that intelligent windshield replaced.
According to
CNET
, the car technology within today's windshields is posing a problem for many repair shops. The existence of sensors and embedded displays means swapping out the glass is a little more complex than it used to be. If you're driving a newer Audi, BMW, Ford, or Honda, chances are you have a fancy, high-tech windshield. And knowing where to get reliable repairs when you need it is going to be important.
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Repair shops race to keep up with car technology
It didn't used to require much tech knowledge to pull a cracked windshield and replace it. But today's repair shops and auto technicians need to be savvier about existing car technology.
It’s dangerous to return a customer's vehicle without proper repairs, as drivers will expect their smart components to continue to work.
It's not just the know-how that can be challenging, either. There are additional issues arising with getting those high-tech, driver-aid-loaded replacement windshields. They're more expensive, and getting the insurance companies on board to properly quote and cover the repairs is a struggle.
Car insurance companies are falling behind as well
The insurance industry is slow to adopt new processes for repair quotes and claims when it comes to car technology components. It's ironic because most industry experts suggest it's the insurance industry that helped propel the advanced driver assistance features movement in the first place, emphasizing driver safety in newly designed cars.
Not all insurance providers are privy to these car technology upgrades, even those associated with windshield replacement. While most insurance companies insist on these driver aids to help reduce accident risks, they're behind the curve in underwriting the repairs.
10 years ago, it only cost about $500 to replace a piece of windshield glass. But today's tech-loaded windshields could cost thousands. According to a
Reuters
analysis, more and more of today's vehicles have some level of car technology advancement. So the days of the 30-minute, in-your-driveway windshield replacement might be long gone.Even the most minor of windshield repairs can be a nightmare if you don't have the right insurance coverage. If you’re looking for more affordable car insurance, check out
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