Cracked windshield on new rental

[Gladiatorguy]

If you have comprehensive on your personal vehicle, you might only be stuck for the deductible. Also, check the benefits on the card you used for the rental.

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[BHoch]

Talked with my insurance. They said that they can work with rental company and they I will only be responsible for my deductible. So won’t be too
Crazy. They said that nice Avis contacts me just to let them know and they will work with them. So crazy that it broke. But things a pretty decent outcome.
Thanks everyone for the discussion!

 

[Cpt Adama]

Jeeps break windshields as often as you need to change the oil. It is what it is.

Let this be a lesson learned, either your private insurance has glass coverage and can be applied to this incident or if you rent another Jeep or something else with a flat windshield then upgrade to the rental insurance.

Living in Arizona my Wrangler windshield had been cracked and hit by rocks so many times I've lost count. I gave up the last time I got my windshield replaced when driving back from the shop, I got hit by a big rock and it cracked my brand new windshield. I couldn't even get home with a brand new windshield without it getting damaged. I've since given up on replacing windshields and now have 2 cracks and 11 rock hits on my windshield, one is about 3 inches in diameter. It's now a badge of honor,

 

[Okie Gladiator]

On a vacation in west Chester PA. Rented from Avis at the Philly airport. They had a 2025 jeep wrangler Willy’s. So we rented that. Like the drive. Really not much visibility out the back rides nice though. Updated interior is nice. Radio screen is really nice. Only real issue is drove from airport over to west Chester. Checked into hotel then driver downtown parked and met some family for dinner. Back to hotel. Got up next morning. And wondshield has a large crack that started at the top next to the big black box and follows that down and is. Now pointing towards the passenger side. Did not hit anything. Don’t rember seeing it when we parked back at the hotel. So. What a mess. Hopefully I’m not going to be stuck with this bill.

If the rental company doesn't take it tell them to pound sand, and if they charge you anything for it - file a dispute with your credit card company. You credit card provider will take it from there and make it go away. That merchant agreement is and no bull crap to deal with is more important than your one cracked windshield. No way I'd pay that.

 

[Hootbro]

If the rental company doesn't take it tell them to pound sand, and if they charge you anything for it - file a dispute with your credit card company. You credit card provider will take it from there and make it go away. That merchant agreement is and no bull crap to deal with is more important than your one cracked windshield. No way I'd pay that.

That is bad advice.

 

[Deleted member 57233]

Also, check the benefits on the card you used for the rental.

My travel card covers $75k in rental car damage, most travel related cards have some sort of coverage.

 

[Sweetums]

Did you get "walk away" insurance from the rental company? If not, you're in for a fight.

Rental companies make bank off damage claims, not only do they charge you for the repair - they also charge you the highest rental rate for every day the vehicle is out of rental circulation, regardless of if the vehicle would have been rented or not. Credit card coverage may cover the physical damage, but they usually won't pay for the "loss of use" claim by the rental company.

Legally the rental company has a duty to mitigate damages; that means they can't legally park the car and wait a month to get it repaired while charging you every day they park it. They also can only win damages if they show the car would have been rented for that time, meaning every other car in that class in the fleet was already booked.
All of this is what they could win in court if they sue you for damages, but that won't stop them from charging your credit card or billing you at the highest level possible because most people just end up paying it.

 

[Blade1668]

Living in Arizona my Wrangler windshield had been cracked and hit by rocks so many times I've lost count. I gave up the last time I got my windshield replaced when driving back from the shop, I got hit by a big rock and it cracked my brand new windshield. I couldn't even get home with a brand new windshield without it getting damaged. I've since given up on replacing windshields and now have 2 cracks and 11 rock hits on my windshield, one is about 3 inches in diameter. It's now a badge of honor,

I went 3 in a week with my Wrangler I gave up after that. Road debris on 565 in Huntsville AL.
Back to the thread, your vehicle insurance company can be a lifesaver and or C.C. covers some. If I'm renting one for personal use I'll foot the rental insurance for damage, a bad experience with a rental when on A.D. and some jackass ran red light. T-boned my rental car few minutes away from dropping off and flying out.
And back O.T.
Nothing like having to call your boss that's a G.O. to tell him you missed flight, rental car is totaled and scheduled to fly overseas in few days for next 6-9 months. Bad news part 2 you are not authorized "allowed" to take rental insurance, so full cost of car was charged on my Gov. C.C. and you have to pay it back within 30 days. Nice to have a C.C. bill for around $40,000.00 being on TDY for a month. A interesting few phone calls for that. About a year later, had a rental Chevy Blazer melt down somewhere between Los Vegas and armpit of California. The wrecker service transported replacement vehicle and pickup of it from San Bernardino CA. I've had some bad history with Chevy products.... Not only are typically Chevy owners problems.
Damn auto correct.... and new cellphone #3 this year...

 

[Okie Gladiator]

That is bad advice.

It has worked me for me 100% of the time I've used this method to resolve an issue. Takes about 10 minutes to file and submit online.

 

[Hootbro]

It has worked me for me 100% of the time I've used this method to resolve an issue. Takes about 10 minutes to file and submit online.

That is fraud but ok, you got away with it, great.

 

[Deleted member 57233]

That is fraud but ok, you got away with it, great.

How is that fraud? You tell the credit card that you didn't cause the damage, and shouldn't be charged for it. They look into it and fight with the rental company over the charge for you. If they decide in your favor, that means they found you shouldn't have been charged. It's one of the main benefits of using credit cards, I use charge backs all the time.

 

[Sweetums]

How is that fraud? You tell the credit card that you didn't cause the damage, and shouldn't be charged for it. They look into it and fight with the rental company over the charge for you. If they decide in your favor, that means they found you shouldn't have been charged. It's one of the main benefits of using credit cards, I use charge backs all the time.

It depends entirely on the contract with the rental company. If the crack happened while the vehicle was in your possession then it's often on you unless you have some kind of insurance. The rental company offers insurance for exactly that reason, if you decline it, then you are liable for any damage that happens during your rental term, regardless of fault. This is made very clear in writing and verbally if you decline coverage; the vehicle could be parked in a secure lot and a cement truck loses the brakes and smashes it flat - still your problem.

 

[Hootbro]

How is that fraud? You tell the credit card that you didn't cause the damage, and shouldn't be charged for it. They look into it and fight with the rental company over the charge for you. If they decide in your favor, that means they found you shouldn't have been charged. It's one of the main benefits of using credit cards, I use charge backs all the time.

I was in the middle of writing basically the same response as what @Sweetums above said. One is still liable for the rental while in ones care regardless of how the damage happened.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

It depends entirely on the contract with the rental company. If the crack happened while the vehicle was in your possession then it's often on you unless you have some kind of insurance. The rental company offers insurance for exactly that reason, if you decline it, then you are liable for any damage that happens during your rental term, regardless of fault. This is made very clear in writing and verbally if you decline coverage; the vehicle could be parked in a secure lot and a cement truck loses the brakes and smashes it flat - still your problem.

I returned an Enterprise rental just a few days ago. When I picked it up, it was made clear "use your insurance or pay xx for coverage".
I said - use our insurance (knowing it would be driven mostly by my wife and will be safer with her than anyone else who has ever been behind the wheel)
You are right - they offer you the choice, you can decline their insurance, but there's a box checked that you declined and it's on you (or your own insurance)


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Now as far as the glass - I've seen these break when a really tiny sharp rock hits - and you don't necessarily hear or see it. It happens (personal experience).
If you have the radio on - you'll either not hear it at all, or, it will sound like a bug.
One time we got a chip that happened when we were going though a lot of bugs - couldn't tell any difference in sound, didn't see it until I washed the windshield of the thousands of bug hits.
Doesn't take much of a rock hit, especially on a standard glass windshield. A tiny rock with a sharp edge. Glass is under stress pretty much most of the time in a car.
the edges of these are exposed unlike other cars and trucks of the past - protected by trim. Something hit that very edge, you may not see it from the inside and again, may not hear it. A rock hit isn't always loud (again, personal experience - countless windshields over the years)

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I was in the middle of writing basically the same response as what @Sweetums above said. One is still liable for the rental while in ones care regardless of how the damage happened.

IS that what's called care and custody?

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