Yes, Nationwide covers windshield replacement if your policy includes comprehensive coverage (which some Nationwide policies call "other than collision" coverage). Repairs are the better deal: Nationwide says it waives your deductible for windshield repairs when you have glass coverage, while a deductible may apply to a full replacement, depending on your policy and state.
Key Takeaways
- Nationwide pays for glass damage through comprehensive or "other than collision" coverage. Liability-only policies don't cover your own windshield.
- Nationwide states it will waive your deductible for windshield repairs if you have glass coverage. For a replacement, a deductible may apply, and Nationwide doesn't publish one national rule.
- Florida waives the deductible for covered windshield damage, Kentucky for glass-only claims, and South Carolina for automobile safety glass (a pending bill could change that). Arizona and Minnesota require insurers to offer an optional zero-deductible glass add-on.
- To file, start a glass claim online or call 1-800-421-3535 and say "glass only," per Nationwide's own claims page.
- Safelite Solutions runs Nationwide's On Your Side Glass Service, but you can choose another shop. Call Nationwide before you agree to any work.
Which Nationwide coverage pays for a cracked windshield?
Comprehensive coverage. Nationwide's glass claims page puts it this way: "your comprehensive or other than collision coverage may apply, depending upon the facts." The two names mean the same thing. "Other than collision" is the older policy-form term, and you'll still see it on some declarations pages.
Comprehensive handles damage that doesn't come from hitting another car or object: a rock thrown up on the highway, hail, a falling branch, vandalism. Nationwide's own explainer uses this example: a windshield shattered by hail falls under comprehensive, while one shattered in a traffic accident goes through your collision coverage or the other driver's liability insurance.
If you only carry liability, Nationwide won't pay to fix your own glass. Check your declarations page before you call. If comprehensive isn't listed, the claim won't go anywhere.
Does Nationwide waive the deductible for windshield repair?
Yes, for repairs. Nationwide's claims page says: "If you have glass coverage, we'll waive your deductible for windshield repairs." Safelite's Nationwide page says the same thing in different words: repair is "often fully covered," and the deductible is waived "if you have the appropriate coverage."
Repair means injecting resin into a chip or short crack. Nationwide says damage under 6 inches can probably be repaired. Safelite's guideline is three or fewer chips, or cracks smaller than six inches. Anything bigger, or damage in the driver's line of sight, usually means a new windshield.
That's why it pays to act fast. A free chip repair this week can turn into a replacement after one cold morning, and Nationwide uses $1,000 as an example of a high comprehensive deductible. Nationwide itself warns that even a small crack can grow over time.
What does Nationwide charge for windshield replacement?
For a replacement, your comprehensive or other than collision coverage may apply, and so may a deductible. Safelite's Nationwide page says replacement is "usually covered" with comprehensive, "though you may need to pay a deductible." Nationwide doesn't publish one national replacement-deductible rule, so check your declarations page and policy.
Here's how that plays out. If the replacement bill is lower than the deductible that applies to you, filing gets you nothing. You'd simply pay the shop. If the windshield has cameras for lane-keeping or automatic braking, the bill is often higher because those cameras need recalibration, and then the claim can make sense. For typical cash prices, see our breakdown of Safelite windshield replacement cost.
Nationwide's optional Vanishing Deductible can shrink that out-of-pocket amount. Nationwide says it takes $100 off your comprehensive and/or collision deductible for each year of safe driving, up to $500. Availability varies by state.
Nationwide zero-deductible and full glass states
State law overrides the policy in a few places. Here's where the rules differ, based on the state statutes themselves:
| State | Rule | What it means for a Nationwide customer |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | No deductible on windshield damage under comprehensive (Fla. Stat. 627.7288) | $0 for covered windshield repair or replacement (other glass isn't named) |
| Kentucky | No deductible on glass-only claims under comprehensive or other than collision (KRS 304.20-060) | $0 for windshield, door and window glass, plus ADAS recalibration |
| South Carolina | Physical damage deductible doesn't apply to automobile safety glass (S.C. Code 38-77-280(B)) | $0, but see the note on pending legislation below |
| Arizona | Insurers must offer zero-deductible glass as an option (A.R.S. 20-264) | Only $0 if you bought the full glass option |
| Minnesota | Insurers must offer zero-deductible glass as an option (Minn. Stat. 65B.134) | Only $0 if you bought the full glass option |
A note on South Carolina: in 2026, the House passed H.4817, which would allow a glass replacement deductible of up to $100 starting January 1, 2027, with $0 glass coverage offered as an option, according to trade outlet glassBYTEs. When we last checked the statehouse record, it had a Senate committee report but hadn't become law. If you're in South Carolina, confirm with the SC Department of Insurance before your renewal.
Outside these states, ask your Nationwide agent whether a full glass option is offered where you live. Nationwide doesn't list one nationally, and state-required options like Arizona's only apply if you pick them. For the full state-by-state picture across insurers, start with our guide to whether car insurance covers windshield replacement.
How to file a Nationwide glass claim
Nationwide's claims page lists two ways to start:
- Online. Use the "start your auto glass claim online" link on Nationwide's windshield claims page. Have your vehicle's year, make and model ready.
- By phone. Call 1-800-421-3535 and say "glass only." That routes you to the glass process instead of a general auto claim.
- Pick the repair route. Nationwide's On Your Side Glass Service is run by Safelite Solutions, an optional third party. It can book work at a shop in Nationwide's network or, where available, at your home or office.
- Confirm calibration. If your windshield has a camera behind it, ask whether ADAS recalibration is part of the job before the technician starts.
You can also start with Safelite directly. Safelite calls itself "the only national windshield repair and replacement partner of Nationwide" and says it will verify your coverage and file the claim for you.
Do you have to use Safelite with Nationwide?
No. Nationwide says you're free to use an independent shop, but asks you to call 1-800-421-3535 before agreeing to any work. The trade-off is the guarantee: Nationwide says the work is guaranteed if you use a shop in its Claims Service Network, and that promise doesn't extend to shops outside it. In Kentucky, state law goes further and says your insurer can't require a particular glass shop as a condition of paying the claim.
If you'd rather get a quote from someone local, you can compare auto glass repair shops near you and then call Nationwide with the shop's name before booking.
Will a glass claim raise your Nationwide rates?
It can, and Nationwide doesn't publish how a glass claim affects its pricing. The answer varies by insurer, state and your claim history. A rock chip normally goes through comprehensive rather than counting as an at-fault accident, but that doesn't guarantee a surcharge-free renewal, and several claims in a short window can come up at renewal. Ask your agent how a glass claim is rated before you file. We cover the rate question across insurers in will a windshield claim raise your insurance.
One thing to watch if you use Vanishing Deductible: Nationwide says an accident resets your credit to $100. Ask your agent whether a glass claim counts toward that reset before you file for a cheap repair.
How Nationwide compares with other insurers
Nationwide's approach looks a lot like its peers: comprehensive pays, repairs are favored, and Safelite handles the logistics. State Farm's windshield coverage and Liberty Mutual's glass coverage follow similar repair-first rules, while Farmers' glass deductible options work a bit differently.
One common mix-up: Nationwide is not National General. National General is a separate insurer that Allstate bought in January 2021, according to Allstate's announcement filed with the SEC. Its glass rules and claim line are different, so check which company's name is on your ID card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Nationwide cover windshield replacement?
Yes, if you carry comprehensive (also called "other than collision") coverage. A deductible may apply to a replacement unless state law removes it or you bought a zero-deductible glass option, so check your declarations page.
Does Nationwide waive the deductible for a windshield?
For repairs, yes. Nationwide says it waives the deductible for windshield repairs if you have glass coverage. For replacements, a deductible may apply. Florida waives it for covered windshield damage, Kentucky for glass-only claims, and South Carolina (for now) for automobile safety glass.
What is the Nationwide glass claim phone number?
Nationwide's windshield claims page lists 1-800-421-3535. Say "glass only" when you call. You can also start the claim online from the same page.
Is Safelite Nationwide's glass partner?
Yes. Safelite Solutions administers Nationwide's On Your Side Glass Service, and Safelite says it's Nationwide's only national windshield repair and replacement partner. You can still choose another shop if you call Nationwide first.
Is Nationwide the same company as National General?
No. National General is owned by Allstate, which closed its acquisition in January 2021. Nationwide is an unrelated insurer with its own glass claim process.
Sources
- Nationwide: Windshield Replacement Insurance Claims (accessed Oct 2026)
- Nationwide: What Is Comprehensive Car Insurance? (accessed Oct 2026)
- Nationwide: Vanishing Deductible (accessed Oct 2026)
- Safelite: Nationwide Windshield Replacement and Repair Coverage (accessed Oct 2026)
- Florida Legislature: Fla. Stat. 627.7288 (accessed Oct 2026)
- Kentucky Legislature: KRS 304.20-060 (accessed Oct 2026)
- SC Department of Insurance: Auto Insurance FAQ (accessed Oct 2026)
- South Carolina Legislature: H.4817 Bill History (accessed Oct 2026)
- glassBYTEs: Bill May Overturn State's Zero Auto Glass Deductible Status (accessed Oct 2026)
- Arizona Legislature: A.R.S. 20-264 (accessed Oct 2026)
- Minnesota Revisor of Statutes: 65B.134 (accessed Oct 2026)
- SEC: Allstate Closes Acquisition of National General Holdings Corp. (accessed Oct 2026)
