Driving back from shopping today I had to move over for a police car (with blues & two's) travelling in the opposite direction down the middle of the road.

The police car was really hoofing it, and without exaggerating must have been doing 70-80mph (in a 40 zone).

Unfortunately as he was travelling at such speed down the centre of an urban road, and in such close proximity to my car, it threw a whole load of stones / grit into my windscreen. I saw a couple of big ones land and they made a horrible noise.

The result is my windscreen is peppered with chips which have penetrated the lamination. Many in the centre of the drivers view.

So firstly, I need to stress I actually have no issues with the driver of the police car. They were on an emergency call. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. However my car is damaged as a result of their driving at speeds which are not normal in this environment, and needs fixing.

I reported the incident to our local station who logged it on their system.

1 hour later I get a call from a nice chap at the station. We have a chat about the incident, and I explain the details and make it clear I am not complaining about the driver of the police car or their actions in any way.

Cut a long story short, they will pay for the repair (or their liabilty insurance will). I just have to send the receipts and a covering letter.

I must admit I didn't expect it to be sorted at all, especially not that easily, but fair do's they held their hands up.

They also told me the officers involved were attending a RTA nearby so needed to get there quick.

One question, can a repair be undertaken on small chips directly in the drivers view, or is it a new screen?

A lot of chip repair companies do free chip repairs if you are fully comp.

A lot of chip repair companies do free chip repairs if you are fully comp.

I would have normally gone this route, but there are quite a few chips (7-8), and some are in the drivers direct view.

I'm not sure whether it can be repaired. May well be a new screen.

A lot of chip repair companies do free chip repairs if you are fully comp.

Not free - charged to your own insurer...

The repair or replacement glass is still counted as a claim on your policy and adversely affects your premium (to a lesser extent than most claims).

The party responsible sorting it is the correct route forwards. Pleased to hear they are dealing with it for you.

Not free - charged to your own insurer...

The repair or replacement glass is still counted as a claim on your policy and adversely affects your premium (to a lesser extent than most claims).

The party responsible sorting it is the correct route forwards. Pleased to hear they are dealing with it for you.

TBF, the officer dealing with it said if it was him he wouldn't inform his insurer!

As its debris on the road, its not classed as an accident and therefore I don't have to legally inform them.

I will wait and see what the glass people say.

Are Autoglass the best? or even the main dealer?

TBF, the officer dealing with it said if it was him he wouldn't inform his insurer!

As its debris on the road, its not classed as an accident and therefore I don't have to legally inform them.

I will wait and see what the glass people say.

Are Autoglass the best? or even the main dealer?

The repairing company will contact the insurers for payment if you have it done via that method ("for free") so will always be logged unless you pay yourself or it gets paid for by somebody else.

Just really a heads up as my father had 3 windscreen repairs (not replacement) done for free in a 5 year period and wondered why his premium kept going up. Contacting the insurers revealed the facts about the "free repair" service.

I'm just impressed with the response you have had about getting it sorted. Contrast that to the ignorant family at Butlins this week that dented the hell out of the side of my car and said/did nothing...

Cheers for that I'm always dubious about telling the insurers anymore than I'm obliged to. There's no free lunch these days.

I feel your pain regards the damage to your car. One of my many pet hates.

Nice result.

That's very good of the force.

Just really a heads up as my father had 3 windscreen repairs (not replacement) done for free in a 5 year period and wondered why his premium kept going up. Contacting the insurers revealed the facts about the "free repair" service.

Funny, I've had a few windscreen repairs done and none have counted as claims nor has my policy gone up, only down! Admiral insurance even clarified on the phone with me that it didn't count as a claim. I suggest your father has a poor insurance company and finds a new one.

Funny, I've had a few windscreen repairs done and none have counted as claims nor has my policy gone up, only down! Admiral insurance even clarified on the phone with me that it didn't count as a claim. I suggest your father has a poor insurance company and finds a new one.

Depends on the insurer.

They're all looking to avoid payouts and raise premiums

Funny, I've had a few windscreen repairs done and none have counted as claims nor has my policy gone up, only down! Admiral insurance even clarified on the phone with me that it didn't count as a claim. I suggest your father has a poor insurance company and finds a new one.

Interesting - it doesn't count as an accident but it does count as a claim but not one which affects NCB.

Feel free to do an insurance comparison site without the windscreen claims and with and note the price differences with most insurers.

If you stay with an insurer they may well absorb the price themselves but anybody who shops around (and declares the claims as they are required to) will be affected.

Best bit - it was Admiral he was with who first confirmed they count as a claim as they showed on the database.

Edited 29 March, 201313 yr by Lemming

Just to clarify - windscreen claims CAN affect your premiums, but most companies class these as minor non fault claims and will not increase your insurance at renewal because of it.

Chip repairs aren't always free, they can be subject to a small excess from your insurance company, and your excess may be higher if you go to a none approved repairer, eg. you go to Autoglass and their approved repairer is Auto Windscreens etc etc.

Every claim whether fault or non fault MUST be notified to all insurers. They will pay out for the initial claim, then claim the costs back from the third party (in your case, the police) so that your premiums aren't affected. (Again, some companies DO make non fault claims affect your premiums)

All claims are logged and insurers will carry out CUE (Claims Underwriting Exchange) checks for any claims they have not been notified of by someone.

Hope this clear things up.

Edited 29 March, 201313 yr by Jayneyyyy

when a chip is repaired it is still visable .. if the car is new or valuable i would get a new screen and hand the receipt in ..... but if its older // your not that bothered repair it and put it down to experience

Once upon a time windscreen claims didn't used to be counted as claims.

Then in order to save costs most Insurers agreed to deals with the windscreen companies for the so-called free fitting. It never was free, but at considerably reduced costs, and the windscreen companies adjusted their prices to "pay" your policy excess.

So what happened? Have a guess.

Go to any supermarket car par on a Saturday or Sunday and you could find an Autoglass van and a man thrusting leaflets into your hand, looking at your windscreen, sucking on his hollow tooth and talking about the swept are and drivers eye line etc. etc.

Funny that, what started out as the Insurers negotiating a deal to make a simple, low cost job even quicker, cheaper and simpler for their clients ended up costing them a fortune.

Just to clarify - windscreen claims CAN affect your premiums, but most companies class these as minor non fault claims and will not increase your insurance at renewal because of it.

Chip repairs aren't always free, they can be subject to a small excess from your insurance company, and your excess may be higher if you go to a none approved repairer, eg. you go to Autoglass and their approved repairer is Auto Windscreens etc etc.

Every claim whether fault or non fault MUST be notified to all insurers. They will pay out for the initial claim, then claim the costs back from the third party (in your case, the police) so that your premiums aren't affected. (Again, some companies DO make non fault claims affect your premiums)

All claims are logged and insurers will carry out CUE (Claims Underwriting Exchange) checks for any claims they have not been notified of by someone.

Hope this clear things up.

I'm normally asked have you had any claims or incidents regardless of fault excluding glass or words to that effect. I'll what they say next time I renew however I won't be volunteering glass claims since as far as I am aware they don't count still.

Interesting - it doesn't count as an accident but it does count as a claim but not one which affects NCB.

Feel free to do an insurance comparison site without the windscreen claims and with and note the price differences with most insurers.

If you stay with an insurer they may well absorb the price themselves but anybody who shops around (and declares the claims as they are required to) will be affected.

Best bit - it was Admiral he was with who first confirmed they count as a claim as they showed on the database.

Very strange, I'd suggest double checking and by all means state others have been told different. I'd suggest changing anyway as last year with admiral I paid £1068 (multi car policy) this year they wanted £1000 so I contacted aviva and got the same cover for £620!

I'm normally asked have you had any claims or incidents regardless of fault excluding glass or words to that effect. I'll what they say next time I renew however I won't be volunteering glass claims since as far as I am aware they don't count still.

Very strange, I'd suggest double checking and by all means state others have been told different. I'd suggest changing anyway as last year with admiral I paid £1068 (multi car policy) this year they wanted £1000 so I contacted aviva and got the same cover for £620!

I'm still teaching both mine and the wife's dad that they can change insurers (and other things) yearly. Lack of Internet access makes it more difficult for her father.

Mine just believes companies still reward loyalty. Then again he used to use the same broker which had a local shop - sadly gone a few years back...

Have a good evening all

Edited 29 March, 201313 yr by Lemming

Cant believe it was resolved so quickly, mate had his 510 ripped out as a smash and grab and still have not been to see him 2 days later, his work have it on cctv, but they said make a copy and drop it in !

Cant believe it was resolved so quickly, mate had his 510 ripped out as a smash and grab and still have not been to see him 2 days later, his work have it on cctv, but they said make a copy and drop it in !

I wasn't expecting anything really. I was miffed when it happened but couldn't really moan at the boys in blue going about their business. Especially when I heard it was because they had to get to a lad trapped after a RTA.

The actual claim hasn't actually been approved as such, but the guy who deals with the admin has basically given it the nod.

All within the hour, impressive. Maybe its because I went to the HQ which wasn't too far from where it happened. Who know's.

Hope your mate gets something sorted

Not free - charged to your own insurer...

The repair or replacement glass is still counted as a claim on your policy and adversely affects your premium (to a lesser extent than most claims).

The party responsible sorting it is the correct route forwards. Pleased to hear they are dealing with it for you.

My insurance policy clearly states that a windscreen claim will NOT affect the NCD

My insurance policy clearly states that a windscreen claim will NOT affect the NCD

Not wanting to get into the 'will it - won't it' debate too much, but NCD & premium loading are two different things.

On any comparison sites I have used since their inception, when asked about claims regardless of fault/blame in last 5 years that if you don't think glass counts you skip past. Click add claim and you will fine windscreen or glass as a declarable option. I would never give an insurance company an excuse to not pay out in the event of ever actually needing them some day, especially when it could be my fault and affect a third party. I doubt pleading ignorance would get someone anywhere. They don't wipe out unprotected NCD but they are still a claim if you have called up and they have had to spend out money on your behalf, it's fair enough anyway. My old C5 was dealer only windscreen at near £900!

It goes on your no claims bonus certificate!

But doesnt affect no claims, windscreen repairs flash up as a claim - but beside it says 'allowed' and then the subsequent value of the claim

ALWAYS specify windscreen claims unless they specifically say to you "you don't have to specify glass claims" I get this plenty of times daily at work!

Do what the copper said, put the receipt in and don't go via your insurer. Save any hassle then