Every policy varies, some will offer windshield coverage with different conditions/deductibles than others. Ultimately somebody is paying for it, insurance doesn't just magically produce money out of thin air, and in places where it's more likely to be needed, either the policy is going to be inflated, or the deductible higher. No matter how your policy is structured, a claim is going to put you at risk of an increase down the road, if not this time, then the next. Windshield damage can be associated with driving habits. Yes, you can be following at a safe distance and get a rock thrown up by traffic from the other direction, but when you add up all of the instances where it happens, following too closely is more likely, so whether that was what you did or not, it puts you into a higher risk group, and your policy costs will increase. Then the cost of the part has to be considered. Many policies may have been written to cover the "usual" cost of windshield replacement, but when the true cost of these is recognized by those policy writers, you can bet either the windshield coverage will change, or the policy cost will increase substantially. I have no idea what the average claim rate is for windshields, but with these being so expensive, I'm certain that will be the case.
