Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Pay for a Windshield?
Reviewed by the Skyview Auto Glass technical team — NWRD-, ASE- and DINITROL-trained technicians · Updated November 2026
Quick answer
Uninsured motorist coverage pays for injuries or, in some states, property damage caused by an uninsured driver. Property-damage versions vary by state and policy. For glass, comprehensive is the usual route, even after a hit-and-run. Whether uninsured motorist applies depends on your policy, so confirm with your insurer or agent.
Does uninsured motorist coverage pay for a windshield?
Uninsured motorist coverage is designed to protect you when another driver who has no insurance causes a crash. It pays for injuries, and in some states, for property damage. The property-damage version, where it exists, varies by state and by policy, so what it covers is not the same everywhere.
For glass specifically, comprehensive coverage is the usual route. A windshield cracked by a hit-and-run, a rock, or road debris is a comprehensive loss, handled under your own policy subject to your deductible. Uninsured motorist coverage is built around another driver’s fault, and glass damage from road debris often has no identifiable at-fault driver to pursue.
Whether uninsured motorist property damage applies to a particular glass loss depends on the policy and the state. Some states offer it; others do not. Read your declarations page or ask your agent whether your policy carries it and what it covers.
Uninsured motorist versus comprehensive
Uninsured motorist coverage
- Pays for injuries from an uninsured at-fault driver.
- Property-damage versions exist in some states.
- Tied to another driver’s fault.
- Varies by state and policy.
Comprehensive coverage
- Pays for glass damage from rocks, storms, and break-ins.
- The usual route for a cracked windshield.
- Subject to your comprehensive deductible.
- Does not depend on identifying another driver.
For glass, comprehensive is the usual route. Whether uninsured motorist property damage applies depends on your policy and state.
Hit-and-run broken window insurance
- A hit-and-run that breaks glass is usually a comprehensive claim.
- Comprehensive does not depend on identifying the other driver.
- Uninsured motorist property damage, where offered, varies by state.
- File a police report for a hit-and-run to support the claim.
- Confirm with your insurer or agent which coverage applies.
More questions about uninsured motorist and glass
Does uninsured motorist cover a broken window?
Property-damage versions of uninsured motorist coverage vary by state and policy. For glass, comprehensive is the usual route, even after a hit-and-run. Confirm with your insurer or agent which coverage applies.
Does uninsured motorist cover a hit-and-run windshield?
A hit-and-run that cracks a windshield is usually a comprehensive claim, subject to your deductible. Whether uninsured motorist property damage also applies depends on your state and policy. File a police report to support the claim.
What is the difference between uninsured motorist and comprehensive?
Uninsured motorist covers injuries and, in some states, property damage from an uninsured at-fault driver. Comprehensive covers glass damage from rocks, storms, and break-ins regardless of fault. See our guide on comprehensive coverage.
Related guides
More in Insurance and claims
- Does a windshield chip repair count as an insurance claim?
- What happens if you chip the windshield on a rental car?
- Is it worth paying cash for a windshield instead of filing a claim?
- Does insurance cover windshield replacement?
- Does liability insurance cover windshield damage?
- What is full glass coverage?
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