Drivers who buy Insurance Corporation of British Columbia's optional comprehensive coverage will be able to have a chip in their windshield repaired for free starting this spring.
The move comes as the quality of repairs has improved, the Crown corporation said in a statement.
ICBC has typically replaced a damaged windshield rather than repair it because the repaired windshield would often still need to be replaced a short time later.
In 2016, ICBC handled about 109,800 windshield replacement claims - a 17-per-cent increase in frequency and a 28-per-cent increase in average replacement costs compared to 2010.
The average cost of a windshield replacement in 2016 was approximately $820; whereas typically a windshield chip repair costs under $70.
It is also estimated 8,000 fewer windshields will be in B.C.'s landfills each year as a result of the initiative.
"The new program will have many benefits for our optional customers, including having no impact on their claims history or deductible." ICBC CEO Mark Blucher said.
