RAC/ D4 Windscreen

[DJC]

Got a nice crack running all the way across the windscreen last night after getting a stone thrown up off the freeway.

I do get one free windscreen a year with RAC but following discussion with them, they wont pay for an OEM screen. They will only pay for glass that meets Australian standards.

The costings were $370 for the aftermarket one (apparently called "FY"?, definitley wasnt XYG) and $1,040 for the OEM one. I can always make a claim but would need to pay the $450 excess. They did also say I could pay for it myself and then send them the invoice and they would refund what they would normally pay, but wouldnt tell me what that would be!!

Is it worth me shelling out for the OEM screen or does anyone have any tips for getting RAC to come to the party?

Other posts seem to indicate that other insurers are happy to pay for OEM. I think the difference is that RAC treat this as an added 'benefit' to the policy rather something that you pay extra for. Hopefully a warning to others.

Cheers
Darren

[discotwinturbo]

Well that's crap.

Going to check with my insurer now!

Brett....

[SWH]

My insurer paid for an OE replacement by the dealer even though the dealer quote was $400 more than the national windscreen supplier's. But I did have to argue a little.

[101RRS]

The original screen has Opticool in the glass - does the RAC suggested replacement have OPticool? If not then you insurer is not returning your car to original. The problem is that if you insure your car with another insurer later and you break a windscreen they only replace it with the same standard - eg cheap.

I had mine replaced and had no issues with my insurer (Allianz) replacing it with an OEM screen- even included all new clips for the trim around the windscreen.

I would be taking your insurer to task aver this and if necessary making it clear that this is a deal breaker and taking your business elsewhere in renewal.

Garry

[DJC]

The original screen has Opticool in the glass - does the RAC suggested replacement have OPticool? If not then you insurer is not returning your car to original. The problem is that if you insure your car with another insurer later and you break a windscreen they only replace it with the same standard - eg cheap.

I had mine replaced and had no issues with my insurer (Allianz) replacing it with an OEM screen- even included all new clips for the trim around the windscreen.

I would be taking your insurer to task aver this and if necessary making it clear that this is a deal breaker and taking your business elsewhere in renewal.

Garry

Thanks Garry - unfortunatley have only just renewed with them! Mentioned the Opticool but they still wouldnt budge. Its obviously different if I process it as a full claim as they would pay for OEM then (with me paying the excess) but they wont replace with OEM under their 'free windscreen' offer.

Its fairly clear in the PDS that they dont have to use OEM provided it meets Australian standards and handles the rain sensors etc. Just looked at AAMI PDS and that the same. Seems to be luck of the draw with insurers. Would be interested to hear of policies where they did gurantee use of OEM windscreens

Cheers
Darren

[trevorj]

Hiya DJC: try GIO; my 11 D4 has done one a year, both replaced OEM with only one question asked by me. My new best friends are at Instant Windscreens/OPark. Funny - never really broken a windscreen in a lifetime of driving (all round Oz - few chips but no breaks) but get a new D4 - bang bang. Both stones thrown by trailers towed by fourbies. My policy provides one free in each insurance year, certainly saved me a bundle, and has been much cheaper premium that RAC. Just about to renew; always have a phone haggle, saves usually a further 10% for the price of a ten minute phone con. My suggestion-ring around, and concentrate your policies on one insurer - helps a lot when you call them each year to beat it down. Small price to pay for the pleasure of driving D4. best of luck.

[mowog]

Look out for issues with the rain sensor with non OEM screens. I had an OEM screen fitted but there was damage to the rain sensor in the process. My Insurance RACQ covered the cost to fix rain sensor as well.

[LGM]

Please see my comments below from a previous post that I had made re Windscreen replacements.

My insurance company had wanted me to go to a generic mob again. I said no to that and added that I had paid a substantial amount of cash for my car and wanted it fixed by persons who know what they are doing. I paid for the work myself which was over $1k and lodged a refund application with my insurer. The insurer came to the party with a refund of the total amount. It has been my experience that the generic windscreen mobs are OK with vehicle types they see on a regular basis but put anything remotely different in front of them and they struggle.

I concur with the Gary's comments about the type of windscreen and only want the OEM type on my vehicle.

At insurance renewal time I will be asking some more questions re what my insurer does and does not cover / provide.

LGM (Lindsay)

[DJC]

Please see my comments below from a previous post that I had made re Windscreen replacements.

My insurance company had wanted me to go to a generic mob again. I said no to that and added that I had paid a substantial amount of cash for my car and wanted it fixed by persons who know what they are doing. I paid for the work myself which was over $1k and lodged a refund application with my insurer. The insurer came to the party with a refund of the total amount. It has been my experience that the generic windscreen mobs are OK with vehicle types they see on a regular basis but put anything remotely different in front of them and they struggle.

I concur with the Gary's comments about the type of windscreen and only want the OEM type on my vehicle.

At insurance renewal time I will be asking some more questions re what my insurer does and does not cover / proLGM (Lindsay)

Thanks Lindsay

I saw your comment when researching. Do you think it was just luck that they paid up when you sent the invoice in or did you have to argue any more given their earlierl stance? I am now being quoted $1800 by Instant Windscreens in Perth to do the full job including A frame etc. This gives me some comfort they know what they are doing as the mob the insurers want me to use are quoting $1k fitted for an OEM screen and I know the screen itself is a grand from the dealer so that doesn't fill me with confidence that they know what they are doing.

Will be getting an OEM Screen , just got to work out the best group and price to fit it. Will then either try for a full refund from RAC or if worst comes to worst do an insurance claim.

Cheers
Darren

[Tombie]

Not being funny... Goes to show.. Cheaper insurance often has a bigger cost.

Any policy where you cannot: choose the repairer of your choice and / or the vehicle is not returned to its condition prior to the incident should be avoided.

[101RRS]

Not being funny... Goes to show.. Cheaper insurance often has a bigger cost.

That may be very well the case but not in my case.

My RRS is with Allianz which is over $400 a year cheaper than the next best with the same excess and agreed value, just paid my renewal and it only went up $30 over last year's premium and agreed value did not reduce.

When I needed to get my windscreen replaced absolutely no issues with putting in an OEM screen - their policy is like with like.

Garry

[SteveL]

Grrrrr....those two words!
That's why we have blood pressure medication.
We did both screens on our last trip North and really, I must say that AAMI were very good.
We had the rear windscreen replaced in Darwin at my cost ($670 from bitter memory) and managed to get home with the front one when we had it replaced at one of the major generic windscreen places.
Thats when the fun started. AAMI went the "Australian Standard route" and I didnt have a leg to stand on as per my policy. However, when the Australian Standard secreen showed up, it was like looking through incorrect glasses in different spots. A dud in fact. The local windscreen place had an OE screen on hand and fitted it. They lied to AAMI about my D4 requiring a heated fornt screen and AAMI must have copped it. So. it was just a fluke really.
The rear screen is not OE and looks like it has a bend in the bottom of it in the cut out section. I queried them on this under their lifetime guaranteee but the local chap said that it looked fine to him. Dead end.
We will be looking a lot closer at this aspect next time on renewal however, I am loathe to leave AAMI as they have been great on another extremely unpleasant matter a few years ago.

[Tombie]

Steve - don't feel any loyalty to those thieving mongrels...

They feel none towards you!

[seano87]

Steve - don't feel any loyalty to those thieving mongrels...

They feel none towards you!

Agreed. I'd been with the same company for a while... until they jacked the premium for no apparent reason, 50% higher than everyone else that I got quoted by. And they would not budge even when I provided them other comparable quotes. Not a single policy with AAMI held by me anymore.

Besides, I hate their TV ads.

[DJC]

Not being funny... Goes to show.. Cheaper insurance often has a bigger cost.

Any policy where you cannot: choose the repairer of your choice and / or the vehicle is not returned to its condition prior to the incident should be avoided.

Mate - I paid over a grand for this insurance with RAC. Certainly at the upper end of of the scale from quotes i received, so thought it would be a premium level of cover. Agree that if I had only paid 5-600 like AAMI had quoted that I should have seen this coming. Oh weel, a lesson learned etc

[Tombie]

Been screwed over myself..

Only use Cgu or Shannon's now

[SBD4]

Agreed. I'd been with the same company for a while... until they jacked the premium for no apparent reason, 50% higher than everyone else that I got quoted by. And they would not budge even when I provided them other comparable quotes. Not a single policy with AAMI held by me anymore.

Besides, I hate their TV ads.

Same here, just about to get rid of my last policy with them - home insure which has gone from $785 7 years ago to $1950 this year with a massive jump from last year.

I think they are trying to recover funds after the QLD disasters.

[101RRS]

Ditto - I was with AAMI from 1994 to 2011. I was on a cover note for my new car and cancelled the the old policy and because their was a day gap in taking out the policy for my new car they stripped me of my long term member discount. Actually did me a favour in the end as Allianz was much much cheaper for similar cover.

Also AAMI cannot work out how much they want to charge - $300 difference in renewal price, ring up quote and online quote for the same coverage. Renewal price was most expensive and online cheapest.

There is no loyalty to customers with any of the insurance companies - they will fleece you if they can.

Garry

[LGM]

Darren, I had to point out to my insurer that I had paid a prestige price for my car and was not having Holden parts applied to it (apolgies to those with Holdens but you know what I mean). They conceded my point on the phone but reminded me that it does say in the policy document that the choice of reparier and components is theirs to make, subject to safety etc. Given that comment I was not expecting to be paid the total amount. In fact I ended up recouping the $1700+ dollars it cost to replace the windscreen with the correct OEM part. Prestige Windscreens did the job and provided a detailed reciept which I think helped get the insurer across the line.

Lindsay

[Scouse]

We will be looking a lot closer at this aspect next time on renewal however, I am loathe to leave AAMI as they have been great on another extremely unpleasant matter a few years ago.


Steve - don't feel any loyalty to those thieving mongrels...

They feel none towards you!


Agreed. I'd been with the same company for a while... until they jacked the premium for no apparent reason, 50% higher than everyone else that I got quoted by. And they would not budge even when I provided them other comparable quotes. Not a single policy with AAMI held by me anymore.

Besides, I hate their TV ads.


Been screwed over myself..

Only use Cgu or Shannon's nowI was with Shannons for the house.....now with AAMI after an unpleasant experience.

Then I found out they're the same company in the end anyway:
Suncorp Group - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[101RRS]

Then I found out they're the same company in the end anyway:
Suncorp Group - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suncorp_Group)

There are only two car insurance companies in Aust - all the insurers we see being advertised are just sub groups of these two companies. The other is IAG/CGU.

Garry

[tonys tank]

My D4 is insured with QBE with unlimited replacement glass, which I am glad we did, as we went through 6 windscreens in 2 years whilst living in the NW, all replaced with OEM screens no question

Tony

[ghoti]

Well, contrary to others, I'm with AAMI for all our cars (5 in total with kids & missus) and our home, and I cannot praise them highly enough.

I had my D4 windscreen replaced on Friday (would you believe it cracked while I was washing the car?). Didn't think to question them, but just went out and checked. Sure enough its an OEM screen.

As for CGU - lets say my experience is no insurance would be better than CGU. When my D3 was written off we had no end of trouble - commencing with "under the influence" from having a light beer 12 hours earlier, through to market value unascertainable as only one second hand vehicle was on the market and it was "overpriced".

[DJC]

Ok - have tried to go up the food chain at RAC but to no avail. They will only fund an aftermarket windscreen despite presenting all the arguments to them. Hopefully this helps guide anyone looking at insuring a nearly new vehicle thinking they will get a genuine windscreeen - read the PDS carefully!

I will therefore have to fund the difference in cost (about 600 bucks), or make a full insurance claim. Will probably do the former to avoid losing no claims bonus etc.

I will definitley be moving all my insurances from RAC - their call centre didnt even care about this despite a significant amount of polices being with them.

If I find an insurer who is happy to confirm they use OEM screens I will update this thread.

Cheers
Darren

[chuck]

DJC

Below is an extract from my RACV Complete Cover Insurance PDS

Windscreen, sunroof & window glass damage
If only your vehicle’s windscreen, sunroof or
window glass is damaged as a result of an
incident described on this page under the
heading ‘Cover for loss or damage’:
we will:
repair or replace the windscreen, sunroof
or window glass, or
pay you the cost of repairing or replacing
the windscreen, sunroof or window glass.

Parts used when repairing your vehicle
If we agree to repair your vehicle we will
repair your vehicle using new parts or quality
non-mechanical reusable parts.
Our policy is to use non-mechanical
reusable parts or non-genuine parts only
when this:
is consistent with the age and condition of
the vehicle
does not affect the safety or the structural
integrity of the vehicle
complies with the vehicle manufacturer’s
specifications and applicable Australian
Design Rules
does not adversely affect the post-repair
appearance of the vehicle
does not void or affect the warranty
provided by the vehicle manufacturer

I would interpret this as an OEM screen will be supplied as a non OEM screen will void the warranty either for structural integrity or leaks.

hope this helps.

Cheers

[DJC]

Thanks Chuck - my insurance is with RAC WA- here is the extract from their PDS which is unfortunately in hindsight fairly clear in relation to windscreens!


We will only use new and/or recycled OEM (original
equipment manufacture) parts except for the replacement
of windscreens and window glass for which Australian
manufactured and Australian Design Rule compliant parts
may be used.