Does Progressive Car Insurance Cover Engine Failure?

You’ll need to add mechanical breakdown insurance to your Progressive policy to guarantee coverage for engine failure.
Written by Drew Waterstreet
Reviewed by Amy Bobinger
Your standard full-coverage insurance policy with Progressive will not cover engine failure unless it directly stems from an accident. However, adding
mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI)
to your policy will cover engine failure under any circumstance.
When your engine does decide to act up, mechanical breakdown insurance from Progressive can take the emotional and financial stress out of the situation. So, is it worth adding this coverage to your
car insurance
policy?
Let’s break it down—sorry, that might be poor wording given we are discussing engine failure. Maybe we should say “let’s get started” instead because that’s what you should expect from your engine when you turn the key! 

Does Progressive car insurance cover engine failure?

Maybe—it depends on your Progressive car insurance policy and the circumstances that led to your blown engine. Unfortunately, unlike what its name implies, a standard full-coverage policy will not cover engine failure or any other mechanical issues from normal wear and tear
However, you may be able to file an insurance claim if your engine failure stems from a car accident or another claimable event. Let’s look at the types of insurance included in a full-coverage policy that may cover the cost of repairs:
  • Liability coverage
    : When you’re at fault in a car accident, your liability insurance pays for the other driver’s expenses related to property damage (including the engine) and bodily injury. And vice versa if you're not at fault. But exact compensation will depend on your state’s tort laws.
  • Collision coverage
    : If you’re in a collision with another vehicle or a stationary object, this coverage will reimburse you for repairs (above compensation from liability coverage). This would include repairs to your engine if it was damaged in the accident.
  • Comprehensive coverage
    : This protects your vehicle from events that are out of your control, such as fire, flood, natural disasters, vandalism, theft, falling objects, and more. If your engine is damaged in one of these anomalies, your comprehensive insurance steps up to cover the repairs.
But if your car breaks down out of the blue, your full coverage auto insurance policy isn’t going to do you any good. To get guaranteed coverage, regardless of circumstance, you’ll need to purchase mechanical breakdown insurance.
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What is mechanical breakdown insurance?

Mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) is an optional coverage that will reimburse you for repairs to your vehicle after an unexpected mechanical failure occurs. Your coverage plan will detail exactly which repairs are included and excluded. However, it’s worth noting that MBI will not cover routine maintenance (like oil changes).
You can think of MBI as an alternative to your manufacturer's warranty once it expires. So to help you plan, here are the term lengths of a few powertrain warranties from well-known automakers:
  • Hyundai: 10-year / 100,000-mile
  • Kia: 10-year / 100,000-mile
  • Ford: 5-year / 60,000-mile
  • Chevy: 5-year / 60,000-mile
  • Toyota: 5-year / 60,000-mile
It’s much cheaper to purchase MBI than your manufacturer's extended warranty, so it’s definitely worth considering if you want continued peace of mind past the expiration date of the original warranty.

Does Progressive offer MBI?

Progressive offers
mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI)
as an add-on coverage for a variety of vehicles, including cars, trucks, SUVs, and RVs (trailers, fifth wheels, and Class A, B, and C motorhomes). Let’s take a look at the perks:
  • Financial peace of mind: MBI will reimburse you for repairs resulting from unexpected mechanical problems, such as engine failure. Oftentimes, MBI will provide better coverage than a warranty, as warranties are limited to manufacturing-related shortcomings only.
  • Service provider flexibility: Got a mechanic that you know and trust? Progressive enables you to use your MBI at your service provider of choice. 
  • Emergency travel benefits: If you’re traveling and disaster strikes, your MBI will not leave you stranded. Every day for five days, you can claim up to $100 in hotel expenses and $60 in rental reimbursement credits while your vehicle is being repaired.
  • Advantageous policy options: Progressive has customizable deductible limits from $100 to $500 for your MBI. They also allow you to pay monthly or annually, with the opportunity to lock in your rate for up to three years.
  • No required inspection: Your MBI won’t cover pre-existing mechanical problems, but an inspection isn’t required to activate your coverage.
It’s nothing major, but we should address a couple of asterisks about Progressive’s mechanical breakdown insurance:
  • Doesn’t cover towing costs: You will have to also invest in
    roadside assistance
    to get end-to-end coverage.
  • Potential out-of-pocket costs: If the repair shop says they can fix the part causing the mechanical issue, but you’d prefer them to use a new part, you’ll have to pay out of pocket for any costs that exceed the repair estimate.
But all in all, Progressive’s mechanical breakdown insurance is an affordable, flexible, and more comprehensive alternative to purchasing your vehicle’s extended warranty. And if you bought your vehicle used, it’s the only way to get protection against mechanical failures.

How to get mechanical breakdown coverage from Progressive

You can quickly get mechanical breakdown coverage from Progressive by
requesting a quote online
or calling 1-866-799-6774. After you’ve initiated your coverage, you’ll be given the contact info of all of Progressive’s preferred service providers. But, of course, you can choose whoever you’d like to perform repairs on your vehicle.
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Jerry
I was paying $280 for basic full coverage. Jerry found me a Progressive plan for $117 that includes better coverage. This was even better than previous quotes I’d received!” —Faith M.
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FAQs

Your insurance company will not cover engine damage unless it's directly related to an accident claim. Therefore, you will need to add mechanical breakdown insurance to your policy to guarantee coverage for a broader range of engine problems.
Car warranties typically include a powertrain guarantee for a designated amount of miles or years of ownership, whichever comes first.
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