Car window smashed in Germany: who pays

Updated:
05.10.2026

A broken car window in Germany is an unpleasant and often unexpected situation that any driver can face. Regardless of the cause – whether it is an accident, an act of vandalism or an attempted theft – it is important to know how to act correctly in such a situation. In this article, we will look at the steps you need to take immediately after discovering the damage, how to document the damage, who to contact for help and what to consider when dealing with the insurance company.

Which insurance covers a broken car windscreen

In Germany, a broken car windscreen is usually covered by partial comprehensive car insurance (Teilkaskoversicherung). This type of insurance covers various types of damage not caused by the driver’s fault, such as natural disasters and theft, including vehicle glass damage.

What to do when you discover Glasschaden (glass damage)

If you have Teilkasko, the insurance will cover incidents like this. Here is a step-by-step action plan in the event of damage to your car’s windows being discovered:

1. Assess the damage.
First of all, make sure the damage does not compromise your safety on the road. If the glass is severely damaged, it is best not to continue driving and to call a recovery vehicle.

2. Photograph the damage.
Take several photographs of the damage from different angles. These pictures may be required by the insurance company to assess the damage.

3. Report the incident to the insurance company.
Contact your insurance company immediately. To do this, you can use the phone, mobile app or website. Provide your insurance policy number, describe the circumstances of the incident and provide photographs of the damage.

4. Get repair referrals.
Once the insurance company has processed your claim, you will be given a referral for repairs. Some insurance companies work with specific garages, where repairs can be carried out faster and at a lower cost.

5. Repair or glass replacement.
Proceed to the designated garage for windscreen repair or replacement. Be sure to keep all documents and receipts related to the repair.

6. Additional expenses.
In most cases, Teilkasko will cover the cost of glass repair. However, if your policy includes an excess (Selbstbeteiligung), you will have to pay this yourself. With some insurers, the excess is reduced under certain conditions: for repairs at partner garages or chip repairs without glass replacement, the excess amount is lowered.

7. Final steps.
After the repairs are complete, ensure that everything has been done to a high standard and obtain confirmation from the garage that the work has been finished. If any additional questions arise or further documents need to be submitted, contact us.

Useful tips

• Always carry your policy number and the insurance company’s contact details with you; you do not need to have the actual policy document.

• Do not delay the repair, as damaged glass can impair visibility and cause an accident.

How to contact the insurance company in the event of glass damage

Links to insurance company resources will help you obtain detailed information on how exactly you should proceed under your policy:

Repair or replacement: what does it depend on

A stone chip (Steinschlag) does not always mean a new windscreen. The workshop can repair it with resin if all of the following conditions are met simultaneously:

damage less than 5 mm;
it is out of the driver’s field of vision — this is an A4-sized area right in front of the driver’s face;
to the edge of the glass at least 10 cm;
only the outer layer is damaged, not the film between the panes or the inner glass;
water and dirt have not got inside yet.

If even a single condition is not met, the entire windscreen is replaced. The practical conclusion is that it is better to take a chipped windscreen to a workshop immediately. After a week of rain, repair is no longer possible, and replacement costs significantly more and almost always comes with an excess.

Three things that are important to know in advance

Excess

When replacing the windscreen, Teilkasko pays minus your excess (Selbstbeteiligung) — usually €150. When repairing a chip, many companies do not deduct the excess at all: it is cheaper for them to pay for a repair than for the whole windscreen later. Check the conditions in your contract.

No claims bonus will not be affected

The Teilkasko insurance policy does not have a no-claims bonus system — a glass claim does not reset your SF class (Schadenfreiheitsklasse, no-claims class), unlike payouts from a Haftpflicht (third-party liability) or Vollkasko (fully comprehensive) policy. However, the insurer can see the claim history and may take it into account when renewing the contract.

The sensors will have to be calibrated

A modern windscreen houses a camera and driver assistance system sensors. Following replacement, they must be recalibrated – otherwise, the lane assistant and automatic braking will not function correctly. Insurers generally cover these costs, but confirm this in advance and do not agree to a replacement “without calibration”.

Werkstattbindung (approved repairer clause): exactly where to go

If the contract includes Werkstattbindung, you must have repairs done at the insurer’s partner garage. If you go to your own garage, the payout may be reduced. Therefore, the first call is always to the insurance company, not the nearest garage: they will also name the garage and issue the work order.

And conversely: if you do not have Teilkasko, a broken windscreen is entirely at your own expense. Replacing a windscreen on a modern car with sensors easily runs to over a thousand euros—which is one of the main reasons why people take out Teilkasko even for cars that are not brand new.

What else to read

Motor insurance in Germany - what Haftpflicht, Teilkasko and Vollkasko cover and what the price depends on.
Schutzbrief (breakdown cover) — if you cannot drive any further and need a recovery vehicle.
Green Card — if the glass has been broken abroad.
10 useless insurances — why a separate Glasversicherung (stand-alone glass insurance) is on this list.

Chip repair and calibration conditions were checked against ADAC information in August 2026. The excess and Werkstattbindung vary by company — please check the wording in your policy. This material is for information purposes only.