On my PIP I got a rock ding on my windshield and cracks are spreading. Prices run from over a grand at the dealer to $205 at a mobile site. Does quality matter? How would I know. The 205 guy said glass is glass. The thickness is the same.
You need to go with a company which has all the right certifications, guarantees their work, and has good reviews. I'm going through the same process right now, Safelite seems to have a lot of great reviews, not too many companies seem to offer OEM glass as an option (haven't found any actually).
If you want OE glass, you have to get it from the dealer, and be prepared to pay for it. I'm not aware of any insurance company that is willing to pay for OE glass if there is an aftermarket alternative. There are definitely different quality levels with the windshields. I had an inexpensive windshield installed in my Supra, only to notice that there was a weird distortion on the passenger side., right at eye level for me. I couldn't see it from the driver's side, so I didn't bother having it replaced again, but resolved not to go with the cheapest glass in the future. They use gravel on the roads instead of salt when it snows, so we tend to go through a lot of windshields here in the Pacific NW, and clear bra is mandatory to prevent rock chips.
Make sure you inspect the glass. Some of the cheaper ones appear wavy and distorted if you shine a light through them. I had a previous cars windshield replaced with one of those, and really ended up regretting it.
Unfortunately, standards are different. The question is more if you care. Worse glass I've seen is where it's wavy and distorts vision in sections. Often times though, the difference in cost isn't justified and the quality of the cheaper glass is acceptable. The hard part is you don't know how good/bad it is until it's installed. Oh, and then there's the tint as well..
If you have it done at home, make sure you let the car sit for at least 24 hours. This allows the glue to firmly set around the windshield. No chance of cowl shake.....
I went with Safelite based on the recommendation above and am satisfied. They even included that little speckled decal around the top center which is supposed to block sunlight? I guess its a decal. On the phone I said I was going to call for another quote and they almost immediately lowered the price by $40 (about 25%). On top of base charge there was a haul away fee for old glass, moulding charge and $25 mobile fee (as opposed to waiting 2 plus hours in the shop.. When asking for quote its better to ask for a non-insurance quote. Cost $261 out door.
