A minimum auto insurance plan won't cover engine failure, but you might be covered if you're involved in an accident while you have a full coverage insurance policy.
It’s always a pain to deal with repairs, and engine breakdowns
are something that no driver wants to experience. You might even have to consider whether to pay for the repairs or cut the losses and entirely purchase a new vehicle
. If the car has high-mileage, has been involved in an accident before, or has a blown engine, it might not be worth it to shoulder the cost.
The good news is that certain insurance plans let drivers claim the cost of engine repairs, depending on the situation.
RECOMMENDEDNo spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
Basic insurance will not cover engine breakdowns
Standard car insurance does not cover engine repairs. Legally speaking, most minimum car insurance policies will only cover liability
, such as bodily injury liability
and property damage liability
. Some states require more car insurance, such as personal injury protection (PIP)
or uninsured motorist coverage
, but those won't cover engine breakdowns, either. Since engine breakdowns typically don’t fall into any of the above categories, engine repairs won’t be covered by a standard car insurance policy.
Does full coverage insurance cover engine failure?
Full coverage insurance might cover engine failure, but it depends on what causes your engine breakdown.
Car insurance is meant to cover you from unexpected and unpreventable accidents. That means you won't be covered if your engine breaks down due to age or your own negligence.
However, if you have full coverage auto insurance with comprehensive and collision and you're involved in an accident, it's likely your insurance can pay for your engine repairs. Here are some more details about collision and comprehensive coverage.
Collision coverage might cover engine repairs
Collision coverage
could help cover the cost of engine repairs, but this type of coverage will only apply to engine damage resulting from a collision with another vehicle or object.Keep in mind that the driver will have to prove to their car insurance company that the engine damage resulted from a crash, which isn’t always easy.
Regular wear and tear or a mechanical breakdown are excluded from collision policies and won’t count here.
Comprehensive coverage might cover engine repairs in certain situations
Another type of car insurance coverage that could cover the cost of engine repairs is a comprehensive policy plan
. An important thing to note here is that comprehensive insurance only covers non-accident damage resulting from a specific unforeseen event, like, for example, a vehicle catching on fire or being stolen. The driver will have to prove that the damage resulted from this particular event, which can sometimes be tricky.
If the engine broke down under normal circumstances, comprehensive coverage wouldn’t cut it.
The vehicle warranty might cover engine repairs
There are many types of standard vehicle warranty coverage that might cover engine repairs or breakdowns.
Bumper-to-bumper or powertrain warranty plans typically cover the cost of repairs or replacement of the engine or the engine components. An extended warranty policy will often cover the cost of engine repairs as well.
Some situations don’t apply here. For example, if the breakdown was a result of poor maintenance practices, alteration of the vehicle, the use of low-quality or inappropriate fuel or lubricants, an accident, or any kind of misuse.
The takeaway
To understand more about the specific scenarios where engine repairs coverage on engine repairs applies, it’s always a good idea to consult the insurance package’s details or the warranty in question just to be sure.
A policy upgrade or adjustment might just go a long way to providing some peace of mind, and there is no reason that drivers have to sacrifice coverage just to land cheap auto insurance rates
. 
Saved $725 annually
4.7
.webp&w=384&q=75)
