Straight answers about windshield replacement, Florida’s insurance law, and ADAS recalibration. Can’t find your question? Call us at (866) 300-5013.
Florida’s windshield insurance law
Is windshield replacement really free in Florida?
For most drivers with comprehensive coverage, yes. Florida Statute §627.7288 says an insurer may not apply a deductible to windshield repair or replacement under comprehensive coverage. You pay $0 out of pocket, your insurer pays the shop, and Florida law lets you choose any licensed auto glass company — you are never required to use the shop your insurer suggests. For a deeper dive, see our guides to understanding the Florida windshield law and how the free-replacement process works.
What insurance do I need to qualify for the $0 deductible?
Comprehensive coverage (sometimes called “comp” or included in “full coverage”). Liability-only and collision-only policies do not qualify. Not sure what you carry? Call us — we check this for customers every day, before any work is scheduled.
Did Florida’s windshield law change in 2023?
The zero-deductible rule itself did not change — it is still the law. What changed on July 1, 2023: assignment-of-benefits (AOB) agreements were prohibited for auto glass, so the claim stays in your name — we guide you through it and handle the paperwork with your insurer, but no shop can take over your claim anymore. Glass shops were also barred from offering gift cards or other incentives in exchange for a claim. If a company offers you cash or a gift card for a windshield claim, that is illegal in Florida — walk away.
Does the $0 deductible cover ADAS recalibration too?
When your vehicle requires camera recalibration as part of a covered windshield replacement, the recalibration is generally covered as part of the same claim. We include required recalibration in the job and in the claim — you should not see a separate bill for it.
Does the law cover side windows, rear glass, or sunroofs?
No. The zero-deductible rule applies to the windshield only. Side windows, rear glass, and sunroofs fall under your normal comprehensive deductible. We replace door glass and rear glass too — we’ll tell you honestly whether a claim makes sense or whether paying cash is cheaper than your deductible.
Will a windshield claim raise my insurance rates?
Florida law protects you from a direct surcharge: under Florida Statute §626.9541(1)(o), an insurer may not add premium to comprehensive coverage solely because you were in an accident, and may not raise your rates for an accident that wasn’t your fault. There is a limit worth knowing, though — the same statute lets an insurer decline to renew a policy after three or more accidents, regardless of fault, within the most recent 3-year period. Glass claims are comprehensive claims and insurers treat them far more gently than collisions, but a run of frequent claims can count against you at renewal. One honest windshield claim is nothing to fear.
ADAS recalibration
What is ADAS recalibration, and why does my windshield need it?
Most vehicles built in the last decade have a camera mounted behind the windshield that powers safety features — automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping, adaptive cruise control. These are Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). When the glass in front of that camera is replaced, the camera must be recalibrated so it sees the road correctly. This is not an upsell; it is specified by the vehicle manufacturer.
What happens if recalibration is skipped?
The camera can be aimed wrong by fractions of a degree — enough for lane-keeping to drift, or for emergency braking to trigger late or not at all. The car usually will not warn you; the systems simply work incorrectly. If a shop replaces a camera-equipped windshield and doesn’t mention recalibration, ask why.
Do you handle recalibration yourselves?
Yes. Recalibration is part of the job when your vehicle requires it — scheduled with the replacement, performed to the manufacturer’s procedure, and included in the insurance claim.
Service questions
Can I really reach you at 2 a.m.?
Yes. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — call (866) 300-5013 at 2 a.m. and you’ll talk to us, not a voicemail. We can take your information, start your quote, and get your appointment scheduled around technician availability, any day of the week.
Do you come to me?
Yes — mobile service at no extra charge across Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, Sarasota, and Manatee counties. Home, office, anywhere the vehicle sits safely. In-shop service is available too if you prefer.
How fast can you replace my windshield?
Usually next-day, depending on your glass. Common windshields we stock; rarer glass may take a day or two to arrive. Call with your VIN or plate number and we can tell you exactly.
Do you service Teslas?
Yes — including the camera recalibration Teslas require. Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X windshields are something we handle routinely.
My car is older — can you still replace the windshield?
Usually, and we quote it case by case. Two things decide it: whether the glass is still manufactured, and whether the pinch weld (the metal frame around the windshield) is rust-free enough for a safe bond. Give us the year, make, and model and we’ll tell you straight.
Should I repair the chip or replace the windshield?
The industry repair standard — ROLAGS, the ANSI standard for repairing laminated auto glass — technically allows repairs on bullseyes up to an inch, star breaks up to three inches, and even cracks up to fourteen inches. Our standard is stricter: a chip smaller than a quarter, outside the driver’s line of sight, and away from the edge of the glass. In our experience, repairs pushed to the limits of the standard leave visible distortion and a weakened windshield — beyond the quarter rule, replacement is the honest recommendation. Never repairable at any size: edge damage, damage in the driver’s primary view, or anything in the ADAS camera’s sightline. And repair early — chips spread fast in Florida heat.
Why do you ask for my VIN?
The same model year can have three or four different windshields — rain sensors, acoustic glass, heated wiper park, camera brackets. The VIN tells us exactly which one your vehicle left the factory with, so the right glass shows up the first time. Don’t feel like reading a 17-character VIN through the glass? Your license plate number works too — we can pull the vehicle details from the plate.
What do you NOT do?
We stick to what we’re best at. We do not offer window tinting, sunroof or moonroof glass, or RV, semi-truck, boat, or residential glass. For those, a dedicated specialist will serve you better — for windshields, door glass, rear glass, chip repair, and ADAS recalibration on cars and light trucks, that’s us.