Stone chips: Ding – and the windshield is broken
Tiny stone, huge damage, great expense? Not for Zurich customers: With Zurich, glass damage on the car is fixed almost as quickly as it occurred.
Juggling work and family commitments, many people have hectic lives these days. That’s why stone damage on the car is so annoying: Who has got time to take the car to the repair shop? For this reason, Zurich offers its customers a premium service: They don’t have to do anything.
A stone chip on the front windscreen: What should I do?
For Zurich customers the answer is simple: "Almost nothing". Just report the damage, and the rest will be taken care of. Our damage specialists will contact you shortly after you report the damage to make an appointment. Often the circumstances allow for the damage not only to be inspected by the expert, but also to be repaired right away: At home, or in the underground car park at the office – all that matters is that the vehicle is not outside, exposed to the elements. The damage specialist will be happy to advise you.
Can the windscreen be repaired?
Big cracks can develop from any tiny chip. For this reason, every stone chip should be repaired. However, the whole windscreen does not always need replacing. If the stone chip is no larger than a two franc coin, a repair will usually suffice. The specialist assesses the repair options on an individual basis.
Isn’t it better to completely replace the windscreen anyway?
Regardless of whether the windscreen is replaced or repaired, from a quality perspective, the result is the same. However, a repair is more ecologically sound, as it is less wasteful. Furthermore, it makes more sense economically to repair the windscreen whenever possible. In any case, Zurich customers receive a lifelong guarantee on the repair. It is important that the windscreen is repaired by a professional, as this is the only way to ensure that no new cracks develop. That is why Zurich works with its partner of many years, who is the Swiss market leading glass damage repair specialist.
IMPORTANT: Repairing the stone chip yourself with a stone chip repair kit is not a good idea. Specialist knowledge and special tools are required for the job. The cracks are so small that with regular cleaning agents, a professional cleaning is not possible.
IMPORTANT: Repairing the stone chip yourself with a stone chip repair kit is not a good idea. Specialist knowledge and special tools are required for the job. The cracks are so small that with regular cleaning agents, a professional cleaning is not possible.
If the stone chip was caused by another vehicle: Who pays?
It is usually not possible to prove that the damage was caused by a third party, whose liability insurance would then have to pay. There are rare exceptions; for example if it has been proven that the vehicle was being driven too fast on loose chippings, or the stone fell from a loaded truck. However, it is better to insure yourself against stone chips through accidental damage insurance.
Insure properly against glass damage
Partial accidental damage insurance provides cover in the event of a stone chip to the front, side and rear windscreens, or the sun roof. Extended glass cover is recommended to protect against stone chips on other glass parts, such as headlights or indicators.
