Behind the screens

As the automotive industry advances, so too does the cost of repairs and maintenance to modern cars. Windscreens today are a far cry from the original 'wind-stopping' designs of yesteryear, and the use of enhanced glass is common in standard models as well as their high-end counterparts.

Today's large multi-functional windscreens often incorporate infra-red rain sensors, wire-heating or heat-coated screens, radiation reducing solar control, head-up displays and satellite navigation components to make driving an easier and more pleasurable experience.

First and foremost, the purpose of the windscreen is to protect the safety of drivers and their passengers. Nowhere is this safety factor more apparent than in the fact that bonded windscreens account for 30% of a vehicle's structural strength.

Greater demands

Other recent developments are also placing greater demands on vehicle glass. For example, the front passenger air bag relies heavily on the windscreen to function properly.

Many newer car models demonstrate radical increases in glass area, with the windscreen extending further back into the car's roof offering near-panoramic views. For example, the new Ford Focus windscreen is not only five kilograms heavier than that used in the original Ford Escort but newer designs often display a more pronounced curvature, both horizontally and vertically.

In 1999, complex windscreen replacements made up only one in 10 replacement jobs. By next year, this number is forecast to have risen to one in three, pushing up the cost by as much as £50 a time.

More glass is being used in vehicle designs, with today's cars typically using 20% more glass than 20 years ago. Soon, enhanced windscreens will be as standard as electric windows.

However, while the enhanced design of windscreens brings obvious benefits to drivers, it means that the cost of replacing windscreens is far greater. Installation costs have been driven up by as much as 200% due to increased glass costs and the amount of time and skill it takes to fit a modern windscreen.

In addition, more storage space is required for larger windscreen stock, new transport is required for delivering replacements and more training for technicians is needed. Ultimately, this expenditure will be felt by insurers.

Due to the increased cost of glass replacement, some companies are advocating a 'repair first' policy be adopted.

Chipped windscreens can often be repaired if the chip is less than the size of a £1 coin by using the latest resin technology. Repairs can be carried out at a specialist supplier's branch, or at the motorists' home or place of work, and the cost of repair is usually covered under fully comprehensive insurance.

If chips are left for a prolonged period of time, however, they can deteriorate and could lead to a full windscreen replacement. This typically takes at least two to three hours, while a repair can take as little as 20 minutes.

For motorists, time spent without the use of a car can be crucial so there is a consumer demand for repair over replacement. In fact, since 2002, motorist awareness and understanding of windscreen repair has increased. Currently, more than two thirds of people know that a repair service is available for screen damage.

Repair philosophy

Within insurance circles, the repair philosophy for windscreens has met with some opposition. As numbers of claims for chip repairs grow, some within the industry feel they are counting the cost of repairing more windscreens. In reality, the cost savings are much greater.

Windscreen repair versus replacement can only bring about savings for insurers if policyholders are educated about the benefits. An alarming number of motorists drive with a chip in their windscreen and wait until a crack develops before getting it repaired - by which time a complete windscreen replacement is required.

In the next three years, the cost of claims could rise by £18m due to the additional cost of enhanced windscreens alone, so insurers should proactively seek to reduce claim values by promoting repair to policyholders.

Complex windscreens will be around for many years to come, and everyone must adapt and work together to ensure that hi-tech does not mean high-loss.

- Nigel Doggett is managing director at Autoglass.