Costa Del Mar Repair: Warranty, Repair Program or Fix It Yourself

Costa Del Mar repair comes down to three routes. A warranty claim covers manufacturing defects for two years. The Costa Repair Program handles damage the warranty does not cover, and Costa's page lists a professional repair at $18 plus the cost of parts. A loose hinge screw is the third route, and it is a job you can do yourself.

This guide shows which Costa Del Mar repair route fits your problem and what Costa says each one covers, then shows where a home fix makes sense for Costa sunglasses repair. It uses Costa's own US pages, so the terms below apply to the US and Canada. Terms can differ by country, so check Costa's site for your location before you send anything in.

Costa Del Mar repair: which route fits your problem?

Ask yourself three questions, in this order, to find your Costa Del Mar repair route.

• Is it a loose or missing screw? Fix it yourself, as covered below.
• Could it be a manufacturing defect, and did you buy the sunglasses within the last two years? Make a warranty claim.
• Is it anything else, such as a snapped arm, accidental damage or a scratched lens outside the warranty? Use the Repair Program.

Lost or stolen sunglasses are not covered by either route.

Costa warranty vs Repair Program: how do they compare?

What does the Costa sunglasses warranty cover?

The Costa glasses warranty is a limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship. For non-prescription sunglasses bought on or after November 3, 2022, the page says Costa will repair or replace them if there is a manufacturing defect within two years of purchase. Prescription sunglasses and prescription eyeglasses also get two years for defects, plus one year of cover against scratched lenses, with a one-time replacement of the same lens.

The warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, scratched lenses on non-prescription sunglasses, broken hinges, accidental damage, or lost or stolen items. It is also non-transferable, so only the original buyer can use it.

To make a Costa sunglasses warranty claim you need proof of purchase. Costa says it will assess a claim within 5 business days of receiving it. Prescription lenses and frames generally go back through your Eye Care Practitioner. Costa's FAQ also says you may be asked to cover a processing fee for return shipping and handling plus tax, and that you pay to ship your sunglasses to Costa.

How does the Costa repair program work, and what does it cost?

The Costa Del Mar repair program is separate from the warranty. It is for damage that is not a manufacturing defect, and Costa says it also helps with glasses that are out of warranty. You can start a repair or order parts through Costa's aftersales portal, linked from its repair program page.

Costa's page lists a professional repair with shipping and handling included at $18 USD, plus the cost of parts. Its FAQ says every repair is looked at individually, so costs vary, and that you are charged shipping, handling and tax. If repair or parts are not possible, Costa offers a discount on a replacement pair.

You can also buy parts and fix the sunglasses yourself while parts are available. Pricing is shown in the portal. The Repair Program is not available for Costa Optical eyeglass frames. For glass lenses, Costa recommends professional repair, and says select Costa authorized dealers and LensCrafters locations may also be able to help.

What should you have ready before you start a Costa Del Mar repair?

• Proof of purchase, which a warranty claim needs.
• The date you bought them, since the two-year and one-year periods run from the purchase date.
• Whether they are prescription or non-prescription, because the rules differ.
• A clear description of the problem: a loose screw, a snapped arm or a scratched lens.

Which Costa Del Mar repair jobs can you do at home?

A loose hinge screw is the repair most owners can handle. Costa's own FAQ says regular tightening of your hinge screws helps maintain your frame. Costas are built for time on the water, and heat, salt and sand all work on a hinge, so check them more often than you would a pair that lives in a drawer.

Try the wiggle test. Hold the sunglasses by the front and gently move each arm side to side. If the arm has play at the hinge, the screw has backed out. If you have just been near salt water or sand, rinse the hinge with fresh water and dry it first, because grit makes a screw harder to turn.

The fix needs a screwdriver small enough for the screw head, and a spare screw in case yours has gone missing. A kitchen-drawer screwdriver rarely fits. SnapIt Screw sells repair kits built around that pair. Each kit has a screwdriver with a plus tip at one end and a minus tip at the other, and five color-coded screws in different sizes stored in its handle. You can choose the Standard repair kit or the Premium repair kit.

Turn the screw clockwise a quarter turn at a time and stop when it feels snug, then repeat the wiggle test. If the arm still moves, or the screw spins without gripping, stop and see an optician.

If the screw is missing, match the size before you replace it. Costa does not publish its screw sizes on the pages we checked, so compare the screw against the ones in the kit. Once you know your size, the Screw Refill pack keeps spares on hand. It holds spare screws in sizes XS to XL, from 1.2mm to 1.7mm thread width. Our guide to eyeglass screw sizes, types and replacement helps with matching.

One caution. If your Costas are still under warranty and the problem could be a defect, ask Costa before you open anything. The pages we checked do not say whether tightening a screw yourself affects a claim.

A home fix stops at the screw. Anything that touches the lenses, the frame itself or your warranty status belongs with Costa, which is why the questions above send defects, snapped arms and scratches to its programs. For a snapped arm, see our guide to fixing a broken glasses arm hinge in metal and plastic frames. For other hinge types, see repairing sunglasses hinges in metal, plastic and spring-loaded frames.

What about Costa lens replacement and parts?

Costa sunglasses lens replacement goes through Costa, not through a home repair. Scratched prescription lenses fall under the one-year scratch cover, and any other Costa lens replacement is handled through the Repair Program, for a fee. We do not sell replacement lenses, so this guide does not cover swapping them.

Replacement parts for Costa sunglasses come through Costa's aftersales portal while parts are available. Among Costa sunglasses parts, Costa says replacement nose pads can be ordered for many of its metal frames. Pads are a Costa order, not a kit job. The pages we checked do not list replacement screws, so a spare screw set is the practical option for a lost hinge screw.

Costa Del Mar repair outside the US and Canada

For Costa Del Mar sunglasses repair, Costa's US page says customers in the US, Canada and US Special Territories use its standard claim form, and everyone else must submit an international service request. Prices on this page are in US dollars. If you live elsewhere, start with Costa's site for your country.

Quick answers about Costa repairs and warranty

Does Costa repair sunglasses for free?

Not always. A warranty claim covers manufacturing defects for two years, but Costa's FAQ says it may ask you to cover a processing fee for return shipping and handling plus tax, and you pay to ship the sunglasses to Costa. Repairs for damage the warranty does not cover are paid.

How much does it cost to get Costas repaired?

Costa's repair page lists a professional repair at $18 USD with shipping and handling included, plus the cost of parts. Its FAQ says each repair is assessed individually, so the final cost can vary.

Is there a lifetime warranty on Costa sunglasses?

The Costa Del Mar sunglasses warranty on the pages we checked is a two-year limited warranty, plus a one-year scratch cover on prescription lenses. They do not mention a lifetime warranty.

Can I claim a Costa warranty without a receipt?

Costa says you need proof of purchase to submit a warranty claim for manufacturing defects. Its page says you can still use the Repair Program without a receipt.

Check the hinge screws before you book a Costa Del Mar repair

If your Costas have a wobbly arm and no sign of a defect, tightening the hinge screw takes a couple of minutes, far less than a Costa Del Mar repair by mail. The Standard repair kit or Premium repair kit has the screwdriver and screws for it. Keep it with your sunglasses so the next loose screw never turns into a trip to the post office.