Verified August 13, 2026
Primary source: S.C. Code § 38-77-280(B). We link the statute, not an aggregator's summary of it.
South Carolina law says the deductible on your auto physical-damage coverage doesn't apply to safety glass. Have the coverage, break the glass, pay nothing for it. One quiet condition: physical-damage coverage is itself optional in South Carolina, so the waiver only helps drivers who carry it. If you dropped comprehensive on an older car, there's nothing for the waiver to waive.
In 2026, H.4817 tried to end this. As passed by the House (96 to 17), it would have sunset the mandate at the end of 2026; a Senate amendment softened it to a $100 cap on replacements with repairs still free. Then it stalled. No action after April 30, 2026, and the session adjourned, which by the normal rules means it died with the session. We say "appears to have died" rather than "died" because that conclusion comes from the absence of a ratification entry, not an official statement. We re-check in early 2027, and this page carries the date of our last check at the top.
Today: with comprehensive coverage, a glass claim costs you $0 and filing usually beats cash. Worth confirming with your insurer: whether camera recalibration is included (the statute doesn't address it), and whether a claims-free discount survives a glass claim.
The calculator applies the South Carolina rule automatically from your ZIP code, prices your specific car, and shows the arithmetic for both paths.
Should I claim it? Find out →