Generating about 7.5 million insurance claims per year, vehicle glass damage is the most frequent type of claim. Fortunately, the cost of repair is relatively low and the opportunity to satisfy policyholders is high. For those reasons, it can be seen as the best type of claim to have.
It is important to understand how the vehicle glass and automotive industries are evolving and impacting future claims. Luckily, in this day and age, there is also growing research into glass breakage. This research can help insurance carriers prepare for these changes.
Evolving Trends
The first key automotive industry trend is placing more glass—and larger pieces of glass—in every car. According to glass makers, the glazed area of a vehicle has increased by 15 percent during the last decade. Some designs, such as panoramic roofs, are actually made of glass that blends right into the windshield. Obviously, if there more glass in a vehicle, then there is a greater likelihood of damage.
Secondly, with a recent focus on energy and gas efficiency, auto manufacturers have made vehicles lighter in weight. As a result, vehicle glass is thinner than ever before—again, increasing the chance for breakage.
Finally, as the automotive industry introducosces new technologies, there is an increase of technically complex vehicle glass. For instance, more cars have sensors and heads-up displays (HUD), which project vehicle data directly onto the windshield. Some of the newest developments include driving-assistance devices, including lane deviation systems, night vision systems, collision avoidance, and smart cruise control, which may rely on sensors built into the vehicle’s glass.
There has also been an evolution of more radical glass shapes with extreme curves, all-glass tailgates, and double and triple curvatures. As these new enhancements work their way into more automobiles, they make vehicle glass more difficult to replace when damaged.
All of these advances require the vehicle glass repair and replacement industry to stay ahead of the game, and will require more specialized technicians, better training, and advanced installation tools and equipment. These changes may also result in higher claims costs. Fortunately, most windshield damage begins as a chip and, if repaired quickly, will prevent a more costly replacement. Repair systems have improved vastly during the past decade, making repair a smart alternative to replacement when a crack is less than six inches long.
