What Is a Collision Deductible Waiver?
Reviewed by the Skyview Auto Glass technical team — NWRD-, ASE- and DINITROL-trained technicians · Updated November 2026
Quick answer
A collision deductible waiver is an optional add-on, where offered, that waives your collision deductible when an uninsured driver is at fault in a crash. It applies to collision claims, not to glass damage on its own. Glass broken in that crash is handled under the collision claim. Whether the waiver applies depends on your policy, so confirm with your insurer or agent.
What is a collision deductible waiver?
A collision deductible waiver, sometimes called CDW, is an endorsement some insurers offer on a policy that already carries collision coverage. When another driver who is at fault has no insurance, the waiver lets your insurer waive the collision deductible you would otherwise pay on the claim. The coverage exists because an uninsured at-fault driver often cannot be collected from, leaving you to absorb the deductible.
The waiver is tied to the collision portion of the policy, which means it reaches glass only when the glass broke in a crash. A rock chip, a hail crack, or a side window smashed in a break-in is a comprehensive loss, not a collision one, so the waiver does not touch those. See our guide on comprehensive versus collision insurance.
Whether the endorsement is available, and what it costs, depends on the insurer and the state. Not every policy offers it, and the wording varies. Read the declarations page or ask your agent whether your policy carries it and what it covers.
How glass damage in an uninsured-driver crash is handled
With a collision deductible waiver
- The collision deductible is waived when an uninsured driver is at fault.
- Glass broken in the crash is part of the collision claim.
- The insurer may seek repayment from the uninsured driver.
- Coverage depends on the policy and state.
Without the waiver
- You pay the collision deductible on the claim.
- Glass broken in the crash is still part of the collision claim.
- The insurer may still pursue the uninsured driver.
- The deductible is your share of the loss.
The waiver changes what you pay on a collision claim with an uninsured at-fault driver. It does not turn a glass-only comprehensive loss into a collision claim.
Common myths about the collision deductible waiver
The waiver covers any windshield damage.
It applies to collision claims, so it reaches glass only when the glass broke in a crash. A rock chip or hail crack is comprehensive and is not affected by the waiver.
CDW is the same as uninsured motorist coverage.
They are separate coverages. Uninsured motorist coverage pays for injuries or, in some states, property damage from an uninsured driver; the waiver only removes the collision deductible on your own collision claim.
Every policy includes the waiver automatically.
It is an optional endorsement where offered. Not every insurer sells it, and state rules differ, so check your declarations page or ask your agent.
More questions about the collision deductible waiver
What is CDW car insurance?
CDW stands for collision deductible waiver, an optional endorsement that waives your collision deductible when an uninsured driver is at fault in a crash. It is part of the collision coverage, not a standalone product. Confirm with your insurer whether your policy carries it.
Does the waiver cover a cracked windshield?
Only when the windshield broke in the crash. A rock chip or hail crack is a comprehensive loss, handled under comprehensive coverage, and the collision deductible waiver does not apply to it.
Is a collision deductible waiver worth it?
That depends on how you weigh the endorsement cost against the chance of a crash with an uninsured driver. Ask your agent what the waiver costs and how it works on your policy before deciding.
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?
Need auto glass service?
Skyview Auto Glass has 191 shops across Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, each offering in-shop and mobile service. Call us or book a visit — same-day service is often available.