Quick Summary
- Desert highways and roadworks in states like Arizona mean more loose stones, which can chip windscreens and damage tyres more easily.
- Windscreen and tyre cover can protect you against costly repairs that are often excluded from basic packages and many excess policies.
- Considering your route, driving style and peace of mind will help you decide whether this extra protection is worth adding.
As you leave the terminal and steer onto the interstate out of Phoenix, long desert stretches, passing trucks and bright sunshine make the drive feel like a film. Yet every time a lorry throws up gravel toward your car rental, you may wonder what would happen if a stone leaves a crack in the glass or a gouge in a tyre.
Why Arizona roads are tough on glass and tyres
States such as Arizona combine high speeds, strong sunshine and big temperature swings with long distances between towns. Road crews regularly spread gravel or temporary surfaces during repairs, and shoulders can be dusty or littered with small debris. All of this increases the odds of a stone being flicked up into your windscreen or a sharp object working its way into the tread.
Mountain routes toward Flagstaff and Sedona add steep gradients and changing weather to the mix. After monsoon rains or winter storms, more grit and small stones are scattered across the tarmac, which can be hard to spot from the driver seat while you enjoy the scenery and the freedom of Phoenix city driving.
What windscreen and tyre cover usually includes
Windscreen and tyre cover is designed to handle damage to glass and rubber that is often excluded from basic rental packages. It typically pays for repairing small chips, replacing a cracked screen and fixing or replacing punctured or damaged tyres caused by normal road use, subject to the full conditions of the product.
Some options also include roadside assistance if a puncture leaves you stranded at the roadside, plus cover for damage to wheel rims. Without this kind of protection, you might be responsible for the full cost of a new tyre, wheel or windscreen, which can be significant on modern vehicles with sensors and larger alloys, particularly after a long day ending in a late Phoenix Airport night-time return.
When extra cover makes sense in Arizona
If your plans involve plenty of freeway driving with limited time on unpaved surfaces, the risk of damage is still there but relatively controlled. However, if you are clocking up hundreds of miles between national parks, using scenic back roads or travelling during seasons with more debris on the carriageway, the chance of a stray stone or nail becomes much higher.
Drivers who are less experienced with large vehicles, travelling with family or simply do not want to worry about every ping on the windscreen often see good value in adding this protection. It can be especially reassuring if you are in a newer SUV with premium tyres and a panoramic glass area, or planning side trips across the desert toward places you might later reach after a loop through Las Vegas desert highways.
When you might decide to skip it
On a short city break where most of your time is spent on well maintained urban roads and in multi storey car parks, the risk of glass or tyre damage is lower. If you already hold an excess policy that explicitly covers windscreens and tyres, and you are comfortable paying a potential claim and waiting for reimbursement, you might choose not to add separate cover.
Even then, it remains important to drive carefully, avoid following too closely behind lorries carrying loose material and steer around visible debris where it is safe to do so. Taking a relaxed approach to speed and leaving more space between you and the vehicle ahead can dramatically cut the likelihood of problems.
How Hola Car Rentals helps you choose wisely
Hola Car Rentals clearly displays the protection options available with each offer, so you can see when glass and tyre cover is already included and when it is an optional extra. Many All Inclusive+ Rate packages are designed to minimise out of pocket costs by combining strong protection with free cancellation up to 48 hours before pick up and, on selected itineraries, cashback on tolls.
By comparing different levels of cover on one screen, you can decide whether the added security of windscreen and tyre protection suits your route and budget. If your plans change and you decide to adjust your trip, the flexible conditions offered by Hola Car Rentals make it easier to tweak your booking without stress.
FAQs
Are windscreens and tyres usually covered by basic packages?
In many cases they are not, or they are only partially covered. Damage to glass, wheels and tyres is often treated differently from other bodywork, so it is important to check the wording of any package you select to avoid surprises.
Will a tiny stone chip always lead to a new screen?
Not necessarily. Small chips can sometimes be repaired rather than replacing the whole windscreen, especially if they are not in the driver direct line of sight. However, leaving a chip unattended can allow it to spread, so reporting it promptly is sensible.
Does windscreen and tyre cover let me drive off road?
No. Most policies only apply to normal road use. Driving off authorised roads or tracks can void cover entirely, so always follow the route rules in your rental agreement, even if a dirt trail looks tempting.
How do I decide whether to add this cover?
Consider how far you will drive, which types of roads you will use and how much financial risk you are comfortable carrying. If you want fewer worries about stray stones and punctures on your Arizona adventure, choosing a package with windscreen and tyre cover through Hola Car Rentals can be a very reassuring step.
When you are ready to plan a sun soaked itinerary through deserts, canyons and cities, booking with Hola Car Rentals and selecting the right level of cover lets you enjoy every mile knowing that unexpected glass or tyre issues are far less likely to derail your budget.
