C230 Sport Coup

My rear window got broken on a recent trip.
What would be the typical process I'd have to go through
with the insurance company, and is there any reason
they wouldn't cover it as long as I have comprehensive?
As in just for arguments sake, is a falling rock treated differently than
vandalism ? Like would a falling rock be considered an act of god and not covered but vandalism is OK?
What about just plain stupidity on the drivers part? Notice I am NOT saying how it happened.

I'd like to just buy a new hatch (ie used)
on ebay or something or a junkyard and bolt it on.
Will they want to replace the glass in their shop or will they write me a check? I see a silver hatch on ebay for 500, granted I'd have to get it painted. Any idea what the cost is on rear window replacement?

VVF

Geico apparently pays for both vandalism and falling objects under comprehensive.
Are you sure those falling boulders didn't damage more than just the glass?

As to the check - they will want you to go to one of the bodyshops they work with and to get a repair estimate from there.
After that, you can either let that shop take care of the car or get a check from them for whatever sum estimated less the deductible; or you can tell them that you want to take it to another shop (they will basically cut you a check in this case as well).

Moviela

In California you can go anywhere you like to fix it. Glass shops can come you and replace the glass in your driveway. They will charge the insurance company. You pay only the deductible. Unless your rear door has problems, I don't know why you want to change it.

Ask your dealer who they use to do glass. You can go directly to them, or let the dealer handle it, and you get the free 27 point inspection and car wash.

C230 Sport Coup

Geico is trying to tell me that Safelite can replace that piece of glass for less than $350 including the glass.
I don't believe it.

Dealer quote was for about $1000.
I have $500 deductible. Hoping to get at least $300-500 out of it, so I can just a buy a new hatch. Found one in blue for $400 I can pick up about 100 miles away.

I'm insisting I want OEM glass, they're tying to tell me that the Safe-lite shiet is
equal. comparable.

I called Safelite and they could not give me a quote as the glass is "limited availability" I call BS on Geico. They're supposed to call me back tomorrow.

My rear hatch has some body damage, hence my replacing the entire hatch makes more sense.

tommy

Hmm, that 15% savings doesn't seem so smart of a decision now, does it?

I don't see any real problem with using Safelite's glass. Don't forget that most of the OEM things on your car haven't been of the highest quality anyway. However, Safelite not being able to give you a quote on the work is pure

But yes, from seeing your hatch, I'd say that doing a full replacement would probably be the best policy, too.

VVF

Just tell them those rocks damaged the hatch too.

Tommy, I guess if he were to use Safelite glass, he would have to pay for it himself (350 < 500 deductible)... In that case I guess it's even better to buy that $400 hatch and install yourself, bypassing the insurance.

tommy

But the dealer-installed option would cost him his $500 deductible, no? If I am reading his fact pattern correctly, which is not a certainty at all, given the confusing layout of the facts.

But I agree on getting the used hatch; his hatch really should have been replaced by now anyway.

VVF

I think he calculates like this:
Dealer-installed = 1000
less deductible = 500.
So he will have $500 in hand, which he can spend on that used hatch.

IMO the problem is to get a geico-approved estimate for $1000...

tommy

well, that and have his rates not go up afterwards, I'd imagine.

C230 Sport Coup

Ha, well I can't exactly ask for more money for the hatch.
They paid me $2300 last year, and I opted not to get it fixed,
especially since I discovered a replacement hatch could be had for about $500 vs. a body shop repairing the damage piece by piece which was how they calculated the cost.

The damage didn't effect the hatch operation, and now it seems it was good to wait.

They said the glass wouldn't affect my rates, falling rocks are like a no fault thing.
No call back yet this morning.
Yeah, I was hoping to get it at least partially covered by insurance,
as I already called and made sure it won't effect the rate.

VVF

Mind sharing some pics?

Then I guess you can try to push them a little more, but it would not be too big of a deal if they insist that you fix it yourself (i.e. pay 350 for the glass, which you will buy the hatch instead)...

C230 Sport Coup

Already, I know Geico is full of BS.
Spoke to Safelite this morning, they can't give me a quote yet because they are still sourcing the price of the glass FROM Mercedes.
There is no aftermarket glass, and currently unable to quote me a price, so yeah, they lied.