Let’s address the perennial question that haunts every driver in the Sunshine State. It’s not if your windshield will get cracked; it’s when, and more importantly, how many times you can use your insurance before they cancel your policy.
You asked: How many windshields are covered by insurance in Florida?
Here is the legally correct answer: The law allows for an unlimited number of windshield replacements, provided you maintain Comprehensive Coverage.
Florida law—specifically Statute §627.7288—is one of the most generous in the nation. It mandates a zero-deductible for the repair or replacement of the front windshield. This means you should not pay a single cent out-of-pocket, regardless of how many times a rock chips your glass.
However, that law exists in a vacuum. The moment you file a claim, you enter the real world where insurance companies are governed by profit margins, not public service. You need to understand the brutal two-part limit they impose, which has nothing to do with the statute.
Part I: The Zero-Deductible Mandate (The Law’s Power)
The law’s goal is simple: eliminate the deductible barrier so people fix their glass immediately, which improves road safety for everyone. This benefit is tied solely to having Comprehensive Coverage. If you only carry Liability, stop reading now—you’re on your own.
The Unlimited Feature
Because the statute simply mandates the waiver of the deductible, it sets no cap on the frequency of use. If you catch a flying rock on I-95 in January, another one on I-75 in March, and a piece of construction debris in May, you are legally entitled to three separate, zero-deductible replacements under that single year’s comprehensive policy.
This is the power you have: the legal right to keep your line of sight clear without being penalized hundreds of dollars for doing the legal, safe thing.
The Scope of Coverage (Mind the Details)
Crucially, the law covers all necessary related work for the front windshield:
- The Glass Itself: The full cost of the glass and installation.
- The Labor: All the labour required to seal and install the new unit.
- The ADAS Recalibration: This is huge. Since modern cars have cameras mounted to the windshield (for systems like lane keep assist), the subsequent recalibration of that system is a mandatory part of the repair and is also covered under the zero-deductible mandate. You must ensure the shop bills your insurer for this.
The law works exactly as it is written. The state forces the insurer to give you the glass for free. But here comes the trap.
Part II: The Actuarial Penalty (The Insurer’s Revenge)
While the Florida Legislature controls the deductible, the insurance company controls the premium, and that is where they exert their power.
Every time you file a claim—even a no-fault comprehensive claim like a windshield—it generates a mark on your record in industry databases like the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE). Insurers use this data to model future risk.
The High-Frequency Red Flag
If an insurer sees a file marked with three or four windshield claims in 18 months, their algorithms flag you as a “High-Frequency, Low-Severity Risk.”
- The Logic: They calculate that if you cost them $3,000 in glass claims over two years, you are almost certain to cost them more. They want you gone, or they want you to pay a massive risk premium.
- The Action (Non-Renewal): This is the ultimate limit. They can legally decide that you pose an “unacceptable underwriting risk” due to excessive claims frequency and send you a non-renewal notice at the end of your policy term. You are forced to find new insurance in the high-risk market, where rates instantly spike by 50% to 150%. You saved three $500 deductibles, but you now pay an extra $1,500 per year in premiums. That “free” glass just cost you a fortune.
The Hidden Premium Hike
If they decide to keep you, they will adjust your premium skyward. They will argue the rate hike is justified by the statistically proven, increased likelihood of future claims. The money you saved on the deductible is now being silently clawed back over the next few policy periods.
This is the strategic limit: The law says “unlimited,” but the insurer’s tolerance for claims makes the practical limit around one or two major replacements before you become a financial pariah.
Part III: The Veteran Driver’s Strategy
Given this hostile environment, you cannot treat your insurance like a warranty. You must think like a cost/benefit analyst.
Pay Cash for Small Chips (The $75 Tactic)
If your windshield has a chip or a crack small enough to be repaired (typically a resin injection), the cash price is usually under $100. Pay for it yourself. Do not file a claim. Keeping a low-cost, easy-to-fix damage off your claims history preserves your clean record for when you truly need the zero-deductible benefit.
Save the Claim for the Full Replacement
Only activate the zero-deductible law when the damage is catastrophic—a massive spider-crack, damage in the driver’s direct line of sight, or an issue requiring a full ADAS-calibrated replacement. A $1,200 replacement with a $0 deductible is a massive, justifiable financial benefit.
Ask the Right Questions
If you have to file a claim, be demanding.
- Ask the Insurer: “Will this claim affect my renewal premium or policy status?” (They must answer truthfully, though often vaguely.)
- Ask the Shop: “Are you using Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) quality glass, and are you certified to perform the specific ADAS recalibration required by my vehicle’s manufacturer?”
This entire Florida system is a trade-off: immediate financial relief for potential long-term premium pain. You have the unlimited legal right, but you must use it with surgical precision to avoid the much greater financial penalty of non-renewal.