Does insurance cover engine damage?
Many people choose to purchase an auto insurance policy that consists only of the minimum requirements in their state. Often, the minimum coverage requirement consists only of liability insurance. This standard car insurance policy is not going to help you with repair costs if you have problems with your engine. While there is no specific engine insurance, there are policies that can help in the event of any sort of engine damage after an accident.
Basic liability insurance only covers damage to another driver’s vehicle after an accident you cause. Liability is made up of bodily injury and property damage coverage. The former pays for medical bills resulting from injuries the other driver or their passengers might sustain, the latter covers the cost to repair their vehicle.
Liability coverage does not cover damages incurred by your own vehicle and it won’t cover the cost of repairing or replacing a damaged engine.
You will need to repair a damaged engine as soon as you can, so you may start asking a lot of questions pertaining to auto insurance. Does comprehensive cover engine failure? Does insurance cover engine replacement? These are important questions, and the answers may help you to better understand when car insurance will cover engine failure.
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What different types of auto insurance will cover an engine?
Does insurance cover engine repair? Comprehensive insurance will pay to repair the costs of your engine only if the damage is the result of vandalism, flooding, natural disaster, etc. Collision coverage covers damage to your own vehicle after an accident.
The insurance provider will take into account the total damage to the engine when deciding whether or not to replace it. In many instances the repairs or replacement of the engine might exceed the value of the car causing your insurance company to “total” your vehicle. The engine is one of the biggest factors in deciding how much it will take to repair your car.
In most cases, your insurance will cover the costs of minor damage to your engine as the result of an accident.
Consider the age and perceived value of your car when purchasing collision and comprehensive coverage. These types of insurance can come with a high deductible causing you to pay more for overall repairs than you would to simply replace the car with a new one.
Insurance isn’t designed to repair damage due to the normal wear and tear of your car. It won’t provide coverage for mechanical failures or damage caused due to lack of maintenance. For instance, your insurance company will deny your claim if they find your engine was damaged due to low oil or failure to replace a worn-out timing belt.
If improper maintenance leads to a collision while driving the car, your insurance may pay for the damage resulting from the accident but won’t pay to repair the engine. That’s why it’s important to perform regular maintenance checks on your vehicle.
What are your other auto insurance coverage options?
What other kinds of auto insurance cover engine failure?
Some insurance providers offer what’s known as mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI). MBI is a type of coverage designed to cover the cost of repairs resulting from mechanical failure in your car. It covers a variety of mechanical components from your brakes and spark plugs to your transmission and even your engine. (For more information, read our “Does Car Insurance Cover Brakes?“).
Many of the major insurance companies now offer mechanical breakdown insurance as a policy add-on, and purchasing it can help extend the life of your car’s warranty. Remember to take the total value of your car into account before purchasing mechanical breakdown insurance, otherwise you could end up paying a higher deductible than your car is worth.
Your other option is to purchase an extended warranty from the dealer when you purchase your vehicle. An extended warranty can often cover mechanical repairs, including repairs to your engine, for up to 100,000 miles, protecting you in the event of an engine failure.
There may be other forms of optional coverage offered by your auto insurance provider for handling an issue like this, as every company is different.
If you want to discuss insurance policies that help you in the event of damage to your engine, reach out and speak with us today. Experienced agents are available to walk you through your options.