As a Tucson, Arizona glass shop I feel it’s important to keep the consumers in our local market educated and informed so they don’t make a bad decision when having their auto glass repaired or replaced, simply based on the fact that they didn’t know any better. So check back often, as we will be publishing a series of “consumer awareness” articles.
One thing I am convinced consumers are typically confused about is auto glass quality, and yes there IS a difference in quality when it comes to replacement glass!
To begin, the original windshield that comes in your vehicle is designed specifically for that vehicle, it’s the perfect size and curvature to fit the opening of your vehicle and has certain thickness and clarity requirements that it most meet. It is stamped with the logo of the particular vehicle (ie: Ford, Chevy, etc.) to guarantee it meets these factory specifications and is what comes with all brand new vehicles when they roll off the line.
So now you have a huge crack in your windshield and are looking to have it replaced, but how do you know that you are going to get the best quality glass? We’ll you CAN buy the aforementioned “factory windshield”, however the only place you can get one of these is from the dealership, and if you have ever purchased parts from the dealership you know that it can be REALLY EXPENSIVE. Oh, you’re replacing through your insurance, you don’t have to worry about that, they replace with factory glass…or do they? Unless you have a brand new vehicle, and I mean like less than a year old, your insurance WILL NOT PAY FOR FACTORY GLASS. What do you do then? How, do you get a safe, quality windshield??
Well, when replacing your windshield most of the time you will be getting replacement or after market glass. Don’t worry, this is not a bad thing, you just need to be informed, as there is a big difference in after market glass brands and their respective quailty. Most companies, including Royal Auto Glass & Tint, (especially when replacing through your insurance company) will use what is called OEM glass. However, beware of those who use cheap, imitation, knock off glass imported from China!
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacture. This means that although the glass is not “factory” it meets all the original specifications for safety and quality as the glass that your vehicle came with from the factory. This makes the glass a bit more expensive as it is thicker for strength and more carefully crafted for a perfect fit than the cheap stuff, but if you are running the claim through your insurance they HAVE TO provide you with OEM glass. There are 2 brands of OEM glass, make sure your replacement shop uses PGW or Pilkington glass. Don’t just let them tell you they are using this glass either, check the glass for the label once it’s installed!!
So in what case could you end up with cheap, non-OEM glass when replacing through your insurance company? Why would a shop use cheap glass if they can bill the insurance for the safer option? Well, some companies will replace with cheap glass to increase their margins by billing your insurance company for OEM glass. “Your just a dumb consumer, you won’t know any better” Well be informed!! Another scenario, believe it or not, is if you use Safelite to do your replacement. But they are the biggest glass company in the US, why would they use cheap glass, you may ask? The answer is they are in bed with the insurance companies so they use Chinese imported non-OEM glass to save the insurance companies a few bucks AT THE EXPENSE OF YOUR SAFETY!
Make sure you use a shop that ONLY uses OEM glass even if replacing out of pocket. It may cost you a few extra bucks, but your safety and the longevity of the glass depends on it!
