It made some good points, such as checking your wiper blades offen for nicks and tears. With the high heat we are getting here in Oklahoma City, I can safely say many will be needing windshield wiper replacements. I've seen this situation over the years, the heat and sun bake the wiper blades, then they become stuck to the windshield. When we do get rain the driver turns on their wipers only to find part of the rubber still on his windshield. If they're lucky they won't end up with a scratched windshield. Besides inspecting your windshield for chips, you can check your windshield wipers and make sure they aren't stuck to the windshield, each time you fuel up.

Another thing they say is that chips and cracks in the windshield can cut and shorten the life of wiper blades. Yes, this does happen I've seen it. This is another savings that windshield repair can do for you. Since vision is important for safety you get the benefit of improved safety while saving money by extending wiper blade life and preventing a cracked windshield.

With the temperatures reaching over the century mark everyone is looking for a way to keep their cool. I've seen a lot people using windshield sun shades when their car is parked, in an effort to lower the interior temperature and protect the inside from uv damage.

While this may seem like a good idea, CAUTION Should Be Used: these shades reflect the sunshine and heat, if the windshield has any chips it can increase the risk of cracking the windshield. The more reflective the shade is, the hotter the windshield will get, and since glass does not like to change temperature cracking can occur.

By parking in the shade or placing a shade on the outside of the windshield the risk of cracking is reduced. However only by repairing a chipped windshield can the risk of cracking be eliminated.

As a note to this we receive just about the same number of calls concerning windshield replacement due to cracking on extremely hot days as we do on cold days where the defroster has produced a cracked windshield.

Remember, check your windshield for chips each time you fuel your car or truck. By locating damage and repairing it in a timely fashion, you won't be one of the 70% (7 out of 10) replacing a cracked windshield that was caused by a little chip.

Please take the time to think about what can happen when you drive with a damaged windshield; 90% of driving decisions are based on vision. If you can't see, you may also have to live with the knowledge that a death was caused by you.

This is an article showing that lack of visibility through the windshield caused a death, it can also cause a death if it is damaged before an accident occurs; this includes cracks and chips. I have stated before that the windshield is part of the safety restraint system designed to keep you and your passengers in the vehicle. A death can also occur to you or one of your passengers in an accident. Your chances of being killed are 8 out of 10 if you are thrown from the vehicle in an accident. Remember, a windshield loses the strength it was designed to hold, if it is damaged.

Check your windshield each time you fuel. Protect a chip you find by placing clear tape over a dry chip and repair it as soon as possible. For more extensive damage, replace your windshield before the unthinkable happens. Don't let a damaged windshield put you in a position of being charged with manslaughter.

Lately I have received a number of phone calls about State Farm paying for windshield chip repairs. Unfortunately as of the first of the year State Farm stopped paying for windshield repairs, unless the insured had a zero deductible. I have heard many reasons for this action and feel it is time to clear the air.

While there are a number of reasons, undoubtedly the number one answer is "MONEY". According to an article in the Denver Post, that's right Colorado -- among other states who joined us as of June 1, 2006 with windshield chip repairs being dropped, the following information was provided:

Beginning in 1997, State Farm began waiving deductibles for windshield chip repairs as a way to save money. Over 50% of those insured had a $100 or less deductible on windshield coverage. Each repair performed saved a lot of money, as windshields were more expensive then compared with today.

As time went by, things changed. By 2004, less than 37% had $100 or less deductible. During this time frame, glass shops began waiving deductibles up to $250, giving steak dinners and movie passes among other things, to bring in windshield replacement work. Insurance companies hated this marketing and felt they should be given a lower price for windshield replacements.

State Farm reacted to this by changing contracts with glass shops that stated such gifts were a violation of the contact and the shop would be removed from their list.

At the end of February 2005, the benchmark price that all insurance companies use to set what they will pay for a replacement windshield was rebalanced. Most windshield prices were slashed from 68% to 72%. The result, most windshields fall well below $500 for replacement. While in order to keep their insurance premiums low, car owners have taken deductibles up to $500 or more. At present the percentage with a low deductible stands around 25%. In short each time State Farm pays for a windshield repair, most times they lose money.

Besides this, other information I have been given for this change in payment for windshield repair includes:

• State Farm's opinion is that this should be a shared responsibility, and by doing this they will be able to reduce premiums.
• Since this was the only coverage that they waived the deductible, it was not fair to other industries, like paintless dent repair.

A few other insurance companies appear to be looking at this also and/or have dropped waiving the deductible for windshield repair. One other major insurance company, which has sent out notices with their bill that they would waive deductibles for windshield repairs apparently is having second thoughts. Based on calls we have received from 2 individuals about problems they have encountered with this insurance company; these are the only customer complaints I have ever received.

Incidents another situation we have observed as of late is with what a few insurance companies have referred to, for lack of another word, as incidents. While other insurance companies have waived deductibles for windshield repair, some have created this class of incidents. How they use it is 2 fold: First, a windshield repair is listed as an incident, by itself it means nothing; but you have other issues. Say someone breaks into your car by breaking a window, you open your door and the Oklahoma wind grabs it and you damage another car, your car has hail damage or you return to your car after shopping only to find you are a victim of hit and run, you now have multiple incidents. Keep in mind each chip they pay to repair is a claim they keep on file, according to one insurance agent with one of the largest insurance carriers. "Once we see a pattern of damage with the windshield, we feel that the car must also have a high rate of damage and as such is a higher risk." In both the situations you could be facing increased premiums.

Looking at these changes, it would appear it is just a matter of time before waiving the deductible for windshield repair becomes obsolete. Due to the fact that it appears that in most cases the insurance companies lose money on each repair they pay for, which means higher insurance rates for everyone, I believe the time has come for insureds to pay for the repair out-of-pocket, thus eliminating the risk of increased insurance premiums for themselves and everyone else.

As in the past, I will continue to bill insurance companies for windshield chip repair when they will pay for the repair, as to the customer's desire. The consumer should also be aware that inspite of what any insurance company states, in Oklahoma the individual has the right to choose who performs work on their vehicle--by state law. Further "all guarantees" remain in effect and that if their insurance company is billed, "they will have no additional expense" for the windshield repair, at Glass Aid.

All in all the consumer still comes out ahead with windshield repair even if they pay for the repair themselves. After all is said most windshields installed run $180 and up, here in Oklahoma City. With most replacements being under $500, the consumer saves big with windshield repair and it is a safer choice than replacement.