What Is A NAGS Number?

For some reason this question has come up a lot recently, followed by, “Do I need it?” Glass shops are familiar with NAGS, but apparently many repair only technicians are not. I will give a brief explanation of what NAGS is, and how it applies to windshield repair, but first let me say that at this time NAGS numbers are not required for most, if any, windshield repair claims.

NAGS stands for National Auto Glass Specifications. NAGS assigns a part number to every glass part in the automotive industry that is recognized by glass manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and insurance companies. NAGS also provides a numbering system to identify the location and type of a windshield repair on a particular windshield, although the NAGS windshield repair part number concept has not been universally adopted.

Every windshield is assigned a 7 digit NAGS number. The first two digits will always start with DW domestic windshield, or FW foreign windshield. The next 5 numbers identify the windshield. A NAGS windshield repair code uses the same number to identify the windshield, except the first two digits are reversed, so a windshield repair on a domestic windshield starts with a WD, and windshield repair on a foreign windshield starts with a WF. The next 5 digits remain the same, but there are two digits added to the end. The digit in position 8 identifies the type of break, and the digit in position 9 identifies the location of the break. There are 5 designations for break types, and 9 designations for the break location. NAGS provides the repair type codes and location codes.

This may sound a bit confusing, but it is actually pretty simple once you get used to it. The hardest part is obtaining the windshield number if you don’t have access to NAGS reference books. If at some point the windshield repair industry adopts the NAGS numbering system as the “only” way to properly identify a windshield repair, you will probably need to either start using a computer based application to submit your insurance claims, or purchase past, current, and future reference books from NAGS.

If you would like more information about NAGS please visit their website at http://www.nags.com. Basic information about the NAGS numbering system and how it applies to windshield repair is also covered in the NGA Auto Glass Repair Technician Reference Manual. Click on http://www.glass.org/cert/cert.htm for more information.

The bottom line is, if you are a repair only technician you probably don’t need to worry about NAGS numbers just yet. If you receive a claim form or job assignment from an insurance company that is asking for the NAGS number, it is probably only there in case the claim turns out to be a replacement.
 

-Brent Deines