If you have searched online after a rock hit your windshield, you have probably seen the phrase “free windshield replacement in Florida.” There is truth in it, but it is often misunderstood. Florida does not hand out free windshields. What the law does is stop your insurance company from charging you a deductible when a covered windshield is repaired or replaced. A claim is still filed, your insurer still pays, and you pay nothing out of pocket.
This guide explains how the law works in plain English: who qualifies, what it does and does not cover, how a claim actually goes, what changed in 2023, and how to avoid the scams that have grown up around it.
What Florida Statute 627.7288 Actually Says
The whole benefit comes from one short section of Florida insurance law, Florida Statute 627.7288. In its own words, the deductible provisions of a motor vehicle policy issued in Florida that provides comprehensive coverage or combined additional coverage “shall not be applicable to damage to the windshield of any motor vehicle covered under such policy.”
Translation: if your Florida auto policy includes comprehensive coverage and your windshield is chipped, cracked, or shattered, your insurer cannot apply your deductible to that repair or replacement. Even if your comprehensive deductible is $500 or $1,000 for everything else, it is $0 for the windshield.
The reason the law exists is safety. A damaged windshield reduces visibility, weakens the roof structure in a rollover, and can change how the passenger airbag deploys. Lawmakers removed the cost barrier so drivers fix damage early instead of waiting for a chip to become a crack across the glass.
Who Qualifies for No-Deductible Windshield Replacement
Not every Florida driver gets this benefit automatically. Four things have to be true.
1. Your policy includes comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive (sometimes called “other than collision”) is the optional part of a policy that covers non-crash damage: road debris, flying gravel, storms and hurricanes, falling branches, vandalism, and theft. If you carry only the Florida minimum (personal injury protection and property damage liability), or liability plus collision, the deductible waiver does not apply and you will likely pay for the glass yourself. Comprehensive is usually inexpensive to add, and in Florida it pays for itself quickly.
2. The policy was issued in Florida
The statute applies to policies delivered or issued in Florida by an authorized insurer. If you are a snowbird or a new arrival still carrying an out-of-state policy, that state’s rules apply, and most states do not waive the glass deductible.
3. The policy was active when the damage happened
Damage that occurred before your coverage started, or during a lapse, does not qualify.
4. The damage is to the windshield
The waiver is for the front windshield only. Side windows, rear glass, quarter glass, sunroofs, and panoramic roofs are usually still covered under comprehensive, but your normal deductible applies to them. We cover that in detail in our article on what the Florida auto glass law covers beyond the windshield.
Most private passenger vehicles qualify: sedans, SUVs, minivans, and personally owned pickups. Commercial, fleet, and rideshare vehicles are often written on different policy forms, so check your policy or ask your agent.
When the $0 Deductible Does Not Apply
The waiver does not apply if your policy is liability-only or liability plus collision with no comprehensive, if the policy was issued outside Florida, if the damage happened before the policy started or during a lapse, if the damage is to side, rear, quarter or roof glass rather than the windshield, or if the damage was caused by a collision you were at fault in, which falls under collision coverage and its deductible. Commercial and rideshare policies vary; check the glass endorsement.
Windshield Coverage by Policy Type
| What you carry | Windshield deductible | What it means |
| Liability only (PIP and property damage) | No coverage | Damage to your own windshield is not covered. You pay the shop directly. |
| Liability plus collision | No windshield coverage | Collision pays for crash damage only. A rock chip or storm damage is not a collision. |
| Comprehensive (with or without collision) | $0 by Florida law | Your insurer pays the full cost of a covered windshield repair or replacement. |
| Commercial auto | Varies | Some commercial policies include no-deductible glass, some do not. Read the glass endorsement. |
What “No Deductible” Does and Does Not Mean
Most of the confusion about this law comes from four myths.
“Everyone in Florida gets a free windshield.” Only drivers with qualifying comprehensive coverage on a Florida policy do.
“No deductible means no insurance claim.” A claim is still opened, your insurer verifies coverage, and the insurer pays the shop. The difference is that your share is zero. Most reputable shops open the claim for you with a short three-way call, so the paperwork is usually a few minutes on the phone.
“All the glass on my car is covered with no deductible.” Only the windshield. Other glass is covered under comprehensive with your regular deductible.
“Any crack means a new windshield.” Many chips and short cracks can be repaired instead of replaced, and the same no-deductible rule applies to a covered repair. A technician inspects the damage and tells you which is the safe option. If you are unsure, our guide on windshield repair vs. replacement walks through how that decision is made.
What Changed in 2023: AOB Ban and No More “Gifts”
For years, some glass shops asked customers to sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) form, which handed the shop the right to bill and, if needed, sue the insurer. That led to tens of thousands of lawsuits, and insurers pointed to windshield claims as one reason Florida rates kept climbing. In 2023 the Legislature passed Senate Bill 1002, which took effect that summer. It did three things that matter to you:
- Assignment of benefits agreements for auto glass claims are no longer allowed. A shop that asks you to sign one today is not following the law.
- Shops and their agents may not offer you cash, gift cards, rebates, or other inducements to file a windshield claim. If a tent in a parking lot offers you $100 or a free dinner to “check your windshield,” walk away.
- Repair shops must tell you in writing whether your vehicle’s safety systems need recalibration after the glass is replaced, and whether that calibration was done.
The $0 deductible rule itself was not changed. As of 2026, Florida Statute 627.7288 is still in force and still applies the same way.
ADAS Calibration Is Part of the Job
Most vehicles built in the last several years have Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS): lane-keeping, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise, and similar features that depend on a camera mounted behind the windshield. When the glass is replaced, that camera has to be recalibrated or those systems can read the road incorrectly.
Calibration is a normal part of a windshield replacement claim in Florida, and insurers routinely pay for it as part of the covered loss. Ask the shop to confirm in writing that calibration is included, which is now required under the 2023 law. Our article on whether you need ADAS recalibration after a windshield replacement explains which vehicles need it and what the process looks like.
How a Windshield Claim Works, Step by Step
Step 1: Look at the damage and take a photo
Note where the damage is and roughly how big it is. Damage in the driver’s line of sight, a crack longer than a few inches, or a chip at the edge of the glass usually means replacement. Photos from a couple of angles help if the insurer asks.
Step 2: Confirm you have comprehensive coverage
Check your declarations page or insurance app. If you are not sure, a glass shop can usually verify it with your insurer in a few minutes.
Step 3: Open the claim
You can call your insurer’s glass claim line yourself, or let the shop set up a three-way call. Either way, the insurer confirms coverage and issues a claim or referral number. Florida law says no one may require you to use a particular glass company; your insurer can recommend a “preferred” vendor, but the choice is yours. The one exception is if you accepted a discounted “managed repair” policy that names a network, which is uncommon and will be on your declarations page.
Step 4: Schedule the work
For common vehicles, glass is often available next day. Mobile service, where the technician comes to your home, office, or parking lot, is standard in Florida and should not cost you extra.
Step 5: Installation and calibration
A replacement takes about an hour, plus calibration time if your vehicle has ADAS. The shop bills your insurer directly. You sign a work order and a calibration notice, and you drive away without paying a deductible.
If you want the full checklist, read our Florida windshield claim checklist, and if a claim has already been turned down, see why windshield claims get denied in Florida.
Will a Windshield Claim Raise My Rates?
In most cases, no. A single comprehensive glass claim is a no-fault claim and is not treated like an at-fault accident. Insurers do look at claim frequency, so several glass claims in a short period can draw a policy review. Use the benefit when you need it, and do not file for cosmetic blemishes that do not affect safety.
Scams to Watch For
Because the benefit is generous, it attracts fraud. Red flags include unsolicited “free inspections” at gas stations and parking lots, any offer of cash or gifts for filing a claim (illegal since 2023), pressure to replace a windshield that could be repaired, and shops that will not give you a written calibration notice. Use a licensed, insured shop, and report suspicious offers to your insurer or the Florida Division of Investigative and Forensic Services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Florida still replace windshields for free?
If you have comprehensive coverage on a Florida policy, your insurer pays the full cost of a covered windshield repair or replacement with no deductible. The law is still in effect in 2026.
What is the windshield rule in Florida?
Florida Statute 627.7288 says a comprehensive policy’s deductible cannot be applied to windshield damage. It covers the windshield only, not side or rear glass.
How many times can I claim a windshield in Florida?
There is no legal limit. Each covered loss is a separate claim. Frequent claims can lead your insurer to review your policy, so use the benefit for real damage.
How much does a windshield replacement cost in Florida without insurance?
Roughly $250 to $500 for a basic windshield on a common vehicle, and $800 to well over $1,000 for glass with a rain sensor, heads-up display, or ADAS camera plus calibration. With comprehensive coverage, your cost is $0.
Does the no-deductible law cover ADAS calibration?
Calibration is part of a proper windshield replacement, and Florida insurers routinely cover it on the same claim. Get it confirmed in writing before the work starts.
Can my insurer make me use its preferred glass shop?
Generally no. Florida law says no one may require you to use a particular glass company. The insurer can suggest one, but the choice is yours, unless you chose a discounted managed-repair policy that names a network.
Do I have to sign an assignment of benefits form?
No, and a shop should not ask. AOB agreements for auto glass claims have been prohibited in Florida since 2023.
Need a Windshield Replaced in Tampa Bay?
Mr. Auto Glass has handled Florida no-deductible windshield claims for years. We verify your coverage, set up the claim with your insurer on a quick three-way call, and send a mobile technician to you, with ADAS calibration done on site. We serve Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Brandon and Riverview, and Bradenton.
Have a specific question? Our windshield replacement FAQs cover the law, calibration, repair vs. replacement, and what to expect on the day, or call (866) 300-5013. The line is answered 24/7.