Car insurance policies vary in their coverage for engine damage. Comprehensive coverage typically protects against non-collision events like hail, flooding, or theft. Collision coverage covers damage caused by collisions with another vehicle or object. If your engine is damaged due to a covered event, such as a collision or a flood, your insurance will likely cover the cost of repairs or a replacement engine. However, wear and tear or mechanical breakdowns are generally not covered by car insurance.
What Coverage Do You Need for a New Engine?
Car engines can fail for a variety of reasons, from lack of maintenance to accidents. If your engine fails, you’ll need to replace it, which can be a costly repair. Fortunately, car insurance may cover the cost of a new engine, depending on your coverage.
Comprehensive vs. Collision Coverage
There are two types of car insurance that may cover the cost of a new engine: comprehensive and collision.
- Comprehensive coverage pays for damages to your car that are not caused by an accident, such as theft, vandalism, fire, or hail. If your engine is damaged by one of these events, comprehensive coverage will pay to replace it.
- Collision coverage pays for damages to your car that are caused by an accident with another vehicle or object. If your engine is damaged in an accident, collision coverage will pay to replace it.
The table below summarizes the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage.
| Coverage | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive | Damages not caused by an accident, such as theft, vandalism, fire, or hail |
| Collision | Damages caused by an accident with another vehicle or object |
If you’re not sure whether your car insurance policy includes comprehensive or collision coverage, you should contact your insurance company. They can help you determine what coverage you have and whether it will cover the cost of a new engine.
When Will Your Car Insurance Pay for a New Engine?
When your car breaks down, expenses can add up quickly, especially if you need to replace your engine. While car insurance can help cover some of these costs, it’s important to understand what your policy covers and what it doesn’t.
Engine Damage Exclusions
- Wear and tear: Insurance policies typically don’t cover damage caused by normal wear and tear, which includes engine failure due to age or lack of maintenance.
- Lack of maintenance: If your engine fails due to a lack of proper maintenance, such as not changing your oil regularly or neglecting to fix minor problems, your insurance may not cover the repair or replacement.
- Pre-existing conditions: If you buy a used car with an existing engine problem, your insurance is unlikely to cover that damage unless you purchased additional coverage specifically for it.
- Intentional damage: If you intentionally damage your engine, such as by driving recklessly or abusing it, your insurance will not cover the repairs.
When Your Insurance Will Pay
There are some instances when your car insurance will cover the cost of a new engine, including:
- Collision: If you’re involved in a collision and your engine is damaged as a result, your collision coverage will pay for the repairs or replacement.
- Comprehensive coverage: If your engine is damaged by a covered peril, such as fire, theft, or vandalism, your comprehensive coverage will pay for the repairs or replacement.
- Mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI): If you have MBI, it may provide coverage for engine repairs or replacements if the damage is not excluded under the policy.
| Damage Type | Collision Coverage | Comprehensive Coverage | MBI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wear and tear | No | No | No |
| Lack of maintenance | No | No | No |
| Pre-existing conditions | No | No | No |
| Collision | Yes | No | No |
| Fire, theft, vandalism | No | Yes | No |
| Mechanical breakdown | No | No | Yes |
Will Car Insurance Pay for a New Engine?
A car’s engine is one of its most critical components, and replacing it can be a costly repair. In some cases, car insurance may cover the cost of a new engine, but it depends on the type of insurance coverage you have and the cause of the engine failure.
Mechanical Breakdown Coverage
- The only type of car insurance that typically covers the cost of a new engine is mechanical breakdown coverage.
- Mechanical breakdown coverage is an optional add-on to most car insurance policies.
- It covers the cost of repairing or replacing major components of your car that fail due to mechanical problems, including the engine.
However, it is important to note that mechanical breakdown coverage does not cover all engine failures. It typically only covers failures that are caused by a defect in the engine itself or by a problem with another covered component that causes the engine to fail.
Other Types of Car Insurance Coverage
Other types of car insurance coverage, such as collision coverage and comprehensive coverage, do not typically cover the cost of a new engine. These types of coverage only cover damage to your car that is caused by an accident or by a covered peril, such as theft or vandalism.
If your engine fails due to an accident or a covered peril, your car insurance policy may cover the cost of repairing the damage, but it will not cover the cost of replacing the engine itself.
What to Do If Your Engine Fails
If your car’s engine fails, the first thing you should do is check your car insurance policy to see if you have mechanical breakdown coverage. If you do, you can file a claim with your insurance company to cover the cost of repairing or replacing your engine.
If you do not have mechanical breakdown coverage, you will be responsible for paying for the cost of repairing or replacing your engine yourself. You may be able to get a loan from your bank or credit union to help cover the cost.
What Does Car Insurance Cover for Engine Replacements?
When it comes to car insurance coverage for engine replacements, it depends on the specific policy and its terms. Generally, comprehensive insurance covers engine damage caused by non-collision events, such as fire, theft, vandalism, or animal strikes. However, if the engine failure is due to mechanical problems, routine wear and tear, or lack of maintenance, it’s typically not covered.
Aftermarket Engine Replacements
In case of an engine replacement, insurance companies typically prefer to replace it with an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) engine. However, if an aftermarket engine is installed, there may be coverage limitations.
- Coverage Amount: Insurance may cover the cost of the aftermarket
engine up to the value of a comparable OEM engine. - Warranty: Aftermarket engines may come with their own warranties. However, the insurance company’s coverage may not extend beyond the original factory warranty period.
- Documentation: You may need to provide proof of the aftermarket engine’s quality, performance, and installation.
Comprehensive Insurance Coverage
Comprehensive insurance covers non-collision damages, including engine damage. It typically covers the following:
- Fire
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Windstorm
- Hail
- Falling objects
| Cause of Engine Failure | Covered? |
|---|---|
| Mechanical failure | No |
| Collision with another vehicle | Yes (collision coverage) |
| Fire | Yes (comprehensive coverage) |
| Lack of maintenance | No |
Hey folks, I hope this article has shed some light on whether car insurance will cover a new engine. Remember, every insurance policy and situation is different, so it’s always best to check with your insurance provider to get the most accurate information. If you have any more car-related questions, feel free to drop by again. Thanks for reading, and I’ll catch y’all later!