REVscene Automotive Forum - ICBC's free windshield repair program launches today!

ICBC's free windshield repair program launches March 27

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Starting next Monday, March 27, customers who purchase ICBC's optional comprehensive coverage for their private passenger vehicles will be able to get a chipped windshield repaired for free, as long as an ICBC Glass Express facility determines it's safe and appropriate to do so.

In February, ICBC announced the new program would be introduced this spring. Over the past few weeks, ICBC has consulted with its Glass Express suppliers, the Automotive Retailers Association and the New Car Dealers Association of B.C. These groups have provided valuable feedback and support as the details of the program have been developed.

Now, eligible customers will be able to take their vehicle directly to an ICBC-accredited Glass Express facility for windshield repairs without calling ICBC first or paying a deductible. Windshield repairs will also have no impact on a customer's claims history or future deductible.

"This is a great program – it will benefit more than 2.5 million British Columbians across the province and, at the same time, help reduce ICBC's material damage costs by approximately $8 million per year," said Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

In recent years, ICBC would replace a damaged windshield rather than repair it because repaired windshields would often still need to be replaced a short time later. Today, repairs last substantially longer due to improvements in the technology and materials used.

"This is an important new program because it will have enormous benefits for our customers, our valued business partners, as well as the environment," said Mark Blucher, ICBC's president and CEO. "This is another step we're taking to help reduce the growing pressure on insurance rates and we're committed to continuing to explore other initiatives which can do the same."

Program highlights:
- Windshield repairs must be completed by an ICBC Glass Express facility.
- Customers will not pay a deductible for windshield repair claims and there will be no impact to a customer's claims history or future deductibles.
- A maximum of three damaged areas can be repaired on an individual claim basis. There's no limit to the number of windshield repair claims per policy period.
- Customers don't need to call ICBC first. They can take their vehicle directly to one of ICBC's Glass Express facilities to determine if the windshield repair is safe and appropriate to complete.
- Glass Express suppliers will be the ones to determine whether a chip is safe and appropriate to repair. For instance, windshield chips which are larger than the size of a loonie or in the line of vision, may require a replacement (rather than a repair).

In the past 10+ years, I must have had close to 10 stone chipped windshield incidents (if not more). During one particular spell, I had the misfortune of suffering 3 stone chips to the windshield within a matter of months, one of which happened to a fresh and newly replaced windshield as well. It was no fun shelling out big $$ to fix these damn things.

I haven't suffered a major stone chipped windshield for a few years now, but I am nevertheless very happy to see ICBC adopting this new policy.