Progressive Windshield Claim in Georgia: Your Shop Choice

Progressive is one of the few big insurers that says it plainly. On its glass claims page, Progressive tells customers that “the choice of where you get your repair or replacement done is yours.” If you carry Progressive and live around Cumming, that is good news. It also comes with a catch that trips up a lot of people: file the claim before the work starts.

We are Executive Auto Glass, a mobile auto glass company based in Cumming in Forsyth County. We have been in business since 2009. This guide is for Progressive customers who want to understand how a glass claim works, what Progressive says on its own website, and what we do. We are not Progressive and we cannot read your policy for you, so we point to Progressive’s pages as we go.

What Progressive says about choosing your shop

Here is the line again, from Progressive’s glass claim page: “the choice of where you get your repair or replacement done is yours.”

The same page recommends Safelite AutoGlass or one of its affiliates. That is Progressive’s suggestion, and Progressive is free to make it. But the page does not say you must use Safelite, and it says the choice is yours.

So if you want a local mobile company that comes to your driveway, you are allowed to ask for one. Here is what we suggest you say when you file or when a representative calls: “I would like Executive Auto Glass to do the work.” Then give them our number. We are a preferred insurance vendor for all major insurance companies.

We will not tell you Progressive recommends us. Progressive recommends Safelite on that page, and we say so plainly. What we can offer is a local team: we have been working on windshields since 2009, our technicians are graduates of the Equalizer Auto Glass Academy, and our workmanship warranty lasts for the life of the vehicle.

The Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance tells drivers to be familiar with their company’s policy on repair shops in its auto claim tips. Georgia’s consumer protection website adds that some insurers suggest a particular shop and others ask for several estimates. Both pages are about collision repair in general, not glass only, but they make the same point as Progressive’s page. Know your policy before you book.

How to file a Progressive glass claim

Progressive’s page lists three ways to submit a glass claim:

1. Log in to your policy online.
2. Use the Progressive mobile app.
3. Call the claims center at 1-800-776-4737.

Here is the order we suggest for a driver in Forsyth County, Dawsonville, Alpharetta or anywhere else we serve.

1. Do not book any work yet. Progressive says to file as soon as possible and before any repairs are made. We will not start until you tell us the claim is filed.
2. Photograph the damage. One photo from inside, one from outside, and a coin next to a chip to show its size.
3. Gather your VIN. We need it to quote a replacement, because one vehicle can have up to about 15 windshield versions by option package.
4. Choose your filing route. App, online, or phone.
5. Name your shop. Tell Progressive you want Executive Auto Glass, and give them our number.
6. Ask what you owe. Ask for your deductible and whether it applies to your damage.
7. Send us the claim number. Text it to us with the photo of the damage.
8. Book the visit. We come to your home or workplace. We are fully mobile, with no shop and no walk-in.

If you would rather skip the app, give us your information and we file the claim for you.

Filing a glass claim right now? Call or text us a photo of the damage and your Progressive claim number. We are a preferred insurance vendor for all major insurance companies, and we can file the claim for you. Get a free quote

Why “file before the repair” is the Progressive rule that matters most

Progressive’s glass damage guide says that for a broken windshield, you should file a claim “as soon as possible and before any repairs are made.” For a chip or crack, it says to file a comprehensive claim before you proceed with repairs.

We see why it matters. If you pay first and file later, you may end up asking for money back, and that is a harder conversation than a claim filed up front.

Our advice follows from that: if you want to use insurance, file first. If you do not want to use insurance, tell us and we can book you in. You are in charge. Filing is not required. Plenty of people pay us directly for a chip. But whichever you choose, choose before the work.

Comprehensive, collision and your deductible

According to Progressive, if you have comprehensive coverage, you should be covered for auto glass repair, including a full windshield replacement. The page adds that collision may apply instead if an accident with another vehicle or object caused the damage.

On cost, the guide says the most you will need to pay is your deductible, depending on your state and policy. On the claim page, Progressive says that for a repair, “If your glass can be repaired (and you have comprehensive coverage), you don’t have to pay anything.” For a full replacement, you “may have to pay your deductible, depending on your state.”

The guide also says some Progressive glass-only claims in certain states may qualify for a no-deductible option. We do not know whether that option is open to you in Georgia, and we will not guess. Check your policy documents, or ask when you file.

What this means for your wallet:

• A repairable chip or crack. Progressive’s page says repairs are covered with no payment from you when you have comprehensive. Our chip repair is a flat $85 for up to 3 chips on the same windshield, mobile service included, if you choose to pay us yourself.
• A replacement. Your deductible may apply. Get our free estimate from your VIN, then compare it with your deductible. If the estimate is lower than the deductible, filing does not help you.
• A big crack that grew. That is a replacement. Read our page on windshield replacement for how it works.

For the general picture, see our page on whether insurance covers a windshield.

Repair or replacement: what we look at

Whether a break can be repaired is a call we make by looking at it. Our rule of thumb is simple. A chip smaller than a quarter that sits outside your line of sight is a good candidate for repair. A crack that has run to the edge of the glass, or damage right in front of the driver, usually means replacement. More than 3 chips on the same windshield, and we usually recommend replacement.

Do not trust a rule of thumb for yours, though. Text us a photo and we will tell you what we see. A photo is the easiest way to get a straight answer, and it costs you nothing.

If it is a chip, windshield repair is where to start. We would rather catch it before a cold night or a bumpy ride turns it into a crack.

Glass type, warranties and the dealer

Many Progressive customers ask about glass type. We install OEM, OEE (original equipment equivalent) and aftermarket glass, so you can choose, and we have a fallback when one type is not available. What Progressive will pay for is a question for Progressive, so ask when you file and tell us what they say.

Progressive’s claim page also says Safelite or an affiliate comes with a warranty for as long as you own or lease the vehicle. Ours lasts for the life of the vehicle, and it covers our workmanship.

One more thing, for drivers whose car has a camera behind the windshield. We do not do ADAS camera calibration. If your car needs it after a replacement, we refer it to the dealer. Manufacturers recommend dealer calibration, and makers require a controlled indoor space, which cannot be done on a mobile visit.

What it looks like for a driver near Cumming

Say you live in Gainesville or Braselton and a stone hits the glass on your drive home. You open the Progressive app, file the glass claim, and name your shop. You text us a photo and your claim number. We confirm the vehicle and the glass, and we set up a visit at your house or office.

If Progressive tells you something different from what we expect, we help you read it. We are the local people who answer the phone. We reply within an hour during business hours. Our hours are Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, and Saturday by appointment.

We take cash, check, credit or debit, Venmo, Zelle and Cash App for any deductible or anything your policy does not cover. Our Google rating is 4.9 from 110 reviews, if you want to read what other drivers say.

Short answers for Progressive customers

Is it my choice where I go? Progressive says it is.

Do I have to use Safelite? Progressive recommends Safelite, but its page says the choice is yours.

Do I file before or after? Before. Progressive says to file before any repairs are made.

Can you file for me? Yes. Give us your insurance information and the details of the damage.

When you are ready, take a photo, find your VIN, and request a free quote. We will tell you what to say to Progressive so the claim goes the way you want.