The Independent Glass Association (IGA) recently published an open letter to insurance companies emphasizing the “critical importance of adhering to OEM recommendations for using OEM glass when necessary for vehicle calibration.” 

“The use of OEM glass often follows explicit OEM requirements/recommendations to ensure the safety and functionality of vehicles post-repair,” the letter says. “However, it has been observed that claims involving required recalibration frequently only authorize aftermarket glass which fails to meet these recalibration standards, leading to additional repairs and increased costs.” 

Gary Hart, IGA executive director, said Wednesday that for about the past six to eight months, the association has received reports that third-party administrators in the automotive glass industry have been declining to cover claims for OEM windshields unless the repairer first tried an aftermarket part that failed to calibrate. 

He said glass shops are not reimbursed for the work or material costs for failed aftermarket calibrations. 

“Shops have lost a lot of money and time,” Hart said. “Something that would take a couple hours before could be an entire day affair.” 

Consumers are also without their vehicles and face additional costs, he said. 

“Most auto glass shops will not release the vehicle if it is not calibrated,” Hart said. “The consumer doesn’t understand why their car can’t be given back to them.” 

Hart said the letter is the organization’s first phase of advocacy to bring awareness around the issue. Next, the association plans to send letters to state attorney generals and insurance commissioners. 

Recently, State Farm and LYNX released a notice requiring the insurance provider’s National Glass Program participants to provide a recalibration failure report when requesting authorization from OEM glass if the installed non-OEM windshield can’t be recalibrated. 

The notice fueled the IGA to take action now, Hart said. He said insurance companies sidestepping OEM procedures becomes a liability issue for shops. 

Hart said aftermarket glass often doesn’t have the positioning of components, such as camera brackets, in the right spot. This will cause calibrations to fail, he said. 

However, some shops will modify aftermarket glass in an attempt to get it to pass calibrations, he said. 

“There are numerous examples where a technician will go out to service a vehicle and they will find the glass company used Gorilla Glue to remount the camera, and they rigged it and got it to pass. The problem is whatever adhesive you are using could cause the camera to come loose and now it is not calibrated correctly.”

Glass shops are already facing tight margins, Hart said. He said insurance companies often pay glass shops to do calibrations at a lower cost than collision shops. 

If an aftermarket part is used and doesn’t calibrate the shop has to take the time to clean the glass and return it. Hart said that’s the best-case scenario. 

“In some cases, they damage the glass in removing it,” Hart said. “They don’t get reimbursed for that.” 

The open letter urges insurance companies to prioritize safety and efficiency by authorizing OEM glass when OEM guidelines dictate it is necessary for proper recalibration. It also asks that shops be fully compensated for parts and labor incurred for failed calibrations on aftermarket parts when initial OEM authorization was not granted. 

“By aligning insurance practices with OEM recommendations, we can ensure safety, reduce unnecessary costs, and maintain the trust of vehicle owners,” the letter says. “We look forward to your support and commitment to these principles, which are vital for the integrity and sustainability of our industry.” 

Multiple OEMs have issued position statements on calibrations and glass replacement in recent years including Volvo, Porsche, GM, and Ford. Each statement recommends the use of their specific OEM glass. 

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Photo courtesy of herraez/iStock

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