So I got in my shiny new Fabia yesterday, and noticed a foot long crack up the front windscreen! Called my Skoda insurance immediately. They said no problem, someone would contact me later. Nothing. Called this morning and they authorised it with National Windscreens. However they can't fix it until at least Thursday next week (that's when the new screen may be delivered to them). Here's my issue. My insurance says guaranteed courtesy car, but apparently that doesn't apply to windscreens! I'm off on my honeymoon on Thursday afternoon and it's our only car. If we get the train, they can't repair it as someone needs to be with the car during the repair. I don't want to leave the country for 3 weeks with a broken car. What can I do? Should they produce a courtesy car? I'm stuck without a paddle as we know no one where I live either. Help :(

Can you leave the car with you local Skoda Dealer and give them the problem?

 

Thanks AG Falco.

I had a similar problem, spoke to my insurance company and they arranged for another windscreen company to replace the screen within 2 days.

OR

The crack was there when you collected the car? If so, surely the supplier should sort it.

Sorry guys, lack of clarity on my part, I still think of it as new, but it's 10 months old! Does that change things?

Dont know how the insurance companies do this in GB, but you could leave with the car and get it fixed while at your point of destination.

A stone can always hit the windscreen, no matter where you are.

I live in Germany, and had a broken side window in NL. Got it repaired in NL and my insurance covered it.

 

Hope you have a wonderful honeymoon, despite the windscreen.

Are you taking the car on honeymoon with you, as in staying in the UK and not leaving it at an airport/port? If so, as was said above surely they could arrange to meet you at your destination to fix it?

 

If you mean you are taking the car abroad with you I would think it could still be fixed but obviously more difficult to arrange. If they did arrange a courtesy car you would have to check that you are allowed to take it abroad with you also.

Just drive the car and sort it out when your back.

Thanks guys sorry for the late reply.

 

@Tech1e I'm worried because if a stone hits the screen again on the motorway it could make it significantly worse. If I had to stop, or if the police stopped me I'm worried about the validation of my insurance now a claim is already underway.

 

@Gripper No no, it's just being used to get into Purple Parking for Heathrow

 

@magic62 Thanks Maybe they can change it at the parking place.....I can ask at least.

Carglass in NL and D have mobile services and they can come to your location to change the windshield.

If you're in Bristol, train to Reading and the airport bus from there? Depending on how long you're away for it might be cost effective compared to the parking charges anyway!

 

Those airport car parking places typically stack the cars up very tightly, I'd be surprised if they can do it there.

I would suspect that any glass replacer would be very lothe to do work on a car without the customer or their representative being there, plus as said above the tight packing of cars into spaces issues, they would not want to work around that.

 

Also as suggested, now that this has happened, work around it, crap happens, get there by other means and enjoy your holiday, maybe annoying you to do that but needs must it is not the end of your world. Get the windscreen sorted when you return.

 

Edit:- This has always been a worry of mine if travelling maybe 300 miles by car to park up before flying, comprehensive travel insurance might not have even worked in your case, but there again it might have!

Edited 8 August, 20169 yr by rum4mo

Sod national windscreen company! I've gone for Autoglass instead and they're doing the job tomorrow at 11am! Just means £30 more!

Good enough! (hopefully)

Don't say hopefully! I'm sure Autoglass are fine!

I have used autoglass several times, good job every time, but have a good look around before you sign it off

 

wipers sitting it right position on screen,

marks on paintwork where they used the wire to cut the old sealant,

no sealant on the interior trim around screen.

no visual defects in the screen when sat in either front seat?

leak due to small gap in sealant or poor adhesion due to not cleaning off old sealant properly

 

some of the issues I have had over 30 years of driving and screens being replaced from various glass replacement companies

 

at least gone are the days of toughened screens that shattered with a big bang and you never got all the little bits of glass out the car (under the seats, in the air duct, door pockets, I;m sure it used to breed)

Edited 9 August, 20169 yr by bluecar1

Nice list of tips there Mr.Bluecar. Thanks, I will make sure I look for all 5

Cheers!

Don't say hopefully! I'm sure Autoglass are fine!

 

No I didn't mean that they might not be okay to use, probably used them 3 times for chips and a wrong seal in a Fiesta rear hatch that kept walking out of place!  I was just meaning that it seemed so hard for the first fixers to get part and so easy for the second fixers to get part, I naturally smell a rat when that happens! Good luck tho!

Went smoothly, and was a perfect finish as far as I can tell. Really great service too, was done in about 90 mins!

Did they replace the plastic parking ticket holder?

If you live in Turkey, you can change windscreen once per year by automobile insurance.

Did they replace the plastic parking ticket holder?

 

Not sure if they replaced it or reused the original, but either way, it's still there

Not sure if they replaced it or reused the original, but either way, it's still there

Good!