law, car insurance companies are required to offer windshield replacement coverage as part of their policies, with either a zero deductible or a $100 deductible option.

Comprehensive car insurance is optional in the state of Massachusetts. But if you choose to purchase it, your insurance provider must cover a windshield replacement for no more than a $100 deductible.

Want more details? You’re in luck—

Jerry

, the

car insurance

super app has created this handy guide with everything you need to know about The Bay State’s windshield replacement laws.

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Does Massachusetts law cover windshield replacement?

Sort of—but you need to purchase optional

comprehensive coverage

for your windshield damage to be covered.

According to Massachusetts state law, anyone who has comprehensive coverage must be provided with glass coverage. For a windshield replacement on your comprehensive coverage, you can choose to have a zero glass deductible or a $100 glass deductible. Legally, your windshield replacement deductible cannot be higher than $100.

Comprehensive insurance covers damage from falling or flying objects, fire, flooding, hail, vandalism, animal strikes, and theft. It is optional and usually comes with a deductible of $300, $500, or $1,000.

Windshield replacement is handled differently. Regardless of what your usual comprehensive deductible is, your windshield deductible will always be $0 or $100, depending on the terms of your policy.

MORE:

Car insurance deductibles: what they are and how they work

Who pays for windshield replacement in Massachusetts?

Ultimately, this depends on what

type of insurance

you have and what sort of claim you submit.

If you have comprehensive insurance and submit an appropriate claim, your insurance provider will cover the cost of repairing or replacing your windshield. You’ll only need to pay the $100 deductible if you selected a plan that includes one.

If you submit your claim through your

collision coverage

because your damages were the result of a traffic accident, you might be responsible for paying your full collision deductible.

Finally, if you only have —which is

liability coverage

only—you’ll likely be responsible for paying for your windshield repairs or replacements out of pocket.

The average cost of replacing your windshield yourself will range from about $150 to $500 depending on your vehicle’s make and model, as well as the overall size of your windshield. Bear in mind that you may not need a full windshield replacement—if you're only repairing small cracks or chips, it could cost anywhere from $50 to $200.

You can also purchase a windshield chip repair kit from your local auto supply store for a cheap DIY option.

MORE:

Does rental car insurance cover a cracked windshield?

Does Massachusetts law require auto insurance coverage for windshield repair?

No. Comprehensive coverage—which covers windshield repairs and replacements—is not required by the state of Massachusetts.

Massachusetts only requires drivers to hold the following:

Liability car insurance to pay for damage that occurs to other people, vehicles, and property

Personal injury protection (PIP)

to cover medical costs

Uninsured motorist coverage

to protect drivers against those without adequate coverage

MORE:

Cheap full coverage car insurance

Do I need to replace my cracked windshield in Massachusetts?

Believe it or not, it is perfectly legal to drive with a damaged windshield according to Massachusetts law—so long as that damage is small and/or doesn’t create unsafe conditions.

Minor damage that may not need replacement includes:

Cracks less than six inches in length

A star break, bullseye break, or ding in the outer layer of the windshield that is less than one inch in diameter

Larger damage that occurs outside of your viewing area, which is typically considered to be the area of the windshield that your wipers cover

Keep in mind that whether or not the damage to your windshield can be considered unsafe may be up to the discretion of a ticketing officer.

How to save on windshield insurance in Massachusetts

Although you may not be legally required to fix certain damage to your windshield, it’s a good idea to tend to cracks and chips as soon as possible. After all, cracks can spread unexpectedly—compromising the safety of your vehicle in a flash.

Fortunately, adding comprehensive coverage to your

car insurance

policy doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg—at least, not if you shop with

Jerry

A licensed broker

, Jerry does all the hard work of

finding cheap quotes

from name-brand insurance companies and finalizing your new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy.

And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price. This level of service is why Jerry earned a 4.7/5 rating on the App Store and made it the top insurance app in the country.

“
Jerry
is the future of car insurance! I downloaded the app, entered the information, picked my insurance rate, and paid my fee. I even switched insurance providers easily! Jerry saved me $182/month so quickly!” —Paulina F.