Comprehensive and collision coverage pay for repairs for collision and non-collision related events. Other repair coverages, such as uninsured motorist coverage can be added for extra protection.

Written by Kianna Walpole

Edited by Sarah Gray

Updated on Mar 22, 2024

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Does car insurance cover repairs?
Repairs covered by your car insurance policy (and ones that aren’t)
Mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) vs. extended warranty
Avoid unexpected car repair bills with routine maintenance
FAQ
Meet our experts

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A standard full-coverage

car insurance

policy covers vehicle repairs associated with an accident, natural disaster, theft, or vandalism. If your car breaks down on its own, the repairs typically won’t be covered by your insurance provider.

Does car insurance cover repairs?

Car insurance can cover damages caused by unforeseen and accidental losses, such as a car accident, theft, or severe weather. However, it won’t cover routine maintenance or repairs for issues caused by normal wear and tear.

Insuring against all repairs would make car insurance prohibitively expensive. That’s why auto insurance

coverage types

, like

comprehensive

and

collision insurance

, focus on the risks that are most out of drivers’ control, such as crashes, environmental hazards, and theft.

Learn more:

How car insurance companies set the cost of your policy

Repairs covered by your car insurance policy (and ones that aren’t)

When it comes to car insurance, what is considered a covered incident depends on the type of coverage you have on your policy. While there are a number of policies available, there are three main insurance coverages that will protect your vehicle:

Infographic comparison table explaining what car insurance covers. Comprehensive coverage will cover theft/vandalism, animal crashes, and severe weather. Collision coverage will cover personal crash damages, hit-and-runs, and engine failure after a crash. Uninsured motorist property damage will cover damages after a crash with an uninsured motorist, including hit-and-runs, and engine failure.

Uninsured motorist property damage

(UMPD) is not available in most states.

While comprehensive and collision coverage (and UMPD if it’s available) can be purchased separately, they work best as part of a full coverage insurance policy. Full coverage includes not only the coverages you need to pay for your own vehicle repairs, but also the liability coverage your state requires.

Liability coverage pays for damages and medical expenses for others following an accident you cause—but it will never provide coverage to pay for your vehicle repairs. That’s why a full coverage policy is always your best bet when it comes to ensuring your repairs could be handled as part of a covered claim.

In addition to the basic liability and physical damage coverages provided by a full coverage policy, you’ll also have the option to add perks like

roadside assistance

full glass coverage

and custom parts and equipment coverage—to pay for unexpected expenses.

To help get you started, Jerry’s experts analyzed policyholder data to determine the average cost of a full coverage policy with additional car repair coverages across providers. Here’s what we found:

Insurance provider	Full coverage	Full coverage + UMPD	Full coverage + full glass
Allstate	$198	$209	$226
Clearcover	$130	$178	$151
Mercury Auto	$146	$186	$231
Nationwide	$155	$201	$185
Plymouth Rock	$227	$277	$250
Progressive	$178	$198	$159
Safeco	$165	$166	$178
State Auto	$162	$190	$198

Learn more:

Does my car insurance cover me if I hit a pole or a tree?

Mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) vs. extended warranty

While most car insurance policies won’t insure against repairs caused by regular wear and tear, some companies offer a product called

mechanical breakdown insurance, or MBI

Mechanical breakdown insurance is a full coverage add-on that plays a similar role to an extended warranty or vehicle service contract: it covers mechanical failures not covered by either your original manufacturer’s warranty or insurance. MBI coverage is typically a cheaper alternative to an extended warranty—but it comes with more limits.

New cars only: MBI coverage is typically only available for new cars.

Progressive’s Vehicle Protection

can only be added to a policy for a car two years old or newer;

GEICO

restricts coverage to vehicles less than 15 months old with under 15k miles.

Cheap add-on: On average, MBI adds about $100 per year to the cost of your insurance, though you’ll typically pay a deductible to use it. An extended car warranty is generally included in your financing price—however, prices may vary based on your vehicle type and model year.

Maintenance isn’t included: MBI coverage won’t cover routine maintenance, such as oil changes, brake pads, or tune-ups. Extended warranties, however, will cover most mechanical problems (including wear and tear, mechanical defects, and vehicle recalls) for an agreed upon time period and mileage count.

The main difference between MBI coverage and an extended warranty is cost. Extended warranties can cost 10 times as much as MBI, and the added investment doesn’t typically pay off.

A study by Consumer Reports

in 2013 found that of drivers who purchased an extended warranty, only 45% ended up using that coverage—and they typically paid more than they got back in coverage, for an average net loss of $357.

Learn more:

The pros and cons of extended warranties

Other coverages to add to your policy

There is no single policy that will cover all types of repairs on your vehicle—but there are several coverage options and alternative solutions that can help you curb overall repair costs, such as:

Gap insurance

: This coverage add-on will pay for the difference between your vehicle’s actual cash value (ACV) and the amount remaining on your loan at the time of the accident. It’s worth consideration if you’re leasing or financing a vehicle.

Rideshare insurance

: Rideshare apps do not supply full coverage car insurance for every moment you’re clocked in. If you’re a rideshare driver, this type of insurance is critical, as it will cover the personal use of your vehicle, and gap times in between customers.

Rental reimbursement

: Rental reimbursement will pay for alternative transportation (such as rental car) after a covered loss, saving you the extra cost while your vehicle is in the shop.

Avoid unexpected car repair bills with routine maintenance

Although insurance options such as comprehensive and collision coverage and MBI can help to avoid steep out-of-pocket bills from your repair shop, the best way to lower the risk of surprise breakdowns is by

practicing routine maintenance

With the cost of

vehicle repairs rising sharply in 2024

, staying on top of maintenance is more important than ever for car owners—and

Jerry

can help.

Keep up with maintenance and repairs with GarageGuard™

Find a shop near you

4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars

4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers

FAQ

Does car insurance cover repairs?

Car insurance only covers repairs from collision and non-collision related events, such as theft or severe weather. It does not cover regular wear and tear, or engine failure due to lack of maintenance. To be well protected, drivers should invest in

collision

and/or

comprehensive insurance

uninsured motorist property damage

roadside assistance

, and other types of car repair insurance.

What does MBI cover?

Mechanical breakdown insurance will cover damages and mechanical failures that are not covered under your extended warranty. It’s only typically offered for new vehicles, and does not cover routine maintenance, such as mechanical defects and vehicle recalls.

Will insurance help for non-accident repairs?

Comprehensive coverage

will protect against non-collision related events, including theft, vandalism, animal crashes, and severe weather damage. Other coverages, such as

roadside assistance

and

full glass insurance

will cover windshield repairs, towing services, tire replacements, lockout services, and battery replacements.

Will my auto insurance cover a bad repair job?

Car insurance will not cover bad mechanical repair jobs if it was for wear and tear, oil changes, or other routine services. However, if your repair was for collision damage or severe weather damages, you may be able to have additional repair expenses covered. Contact your provider for further information.

Is damage from hitting a pothole covered by car insurance?

Vehicle damage from a pothole is covered under

collision insurance

. This type of coverage not only protects your vehicle from collisions with other cars, but also from rollover accidents, pothole accidents, mailbox crashes, and more.

Are windshield replacements covered by car insurance?

Windshield replacements generally are only covered by

full glass coverage

, which is an optional insurance add-on. It typically does not need an out-of-pocket deductible and often costs less than $50 to add to your existing auto insurance policy.

What is covered by comprehensive insurance?

Comprehensive insurance

covers theft, vandalism, severe weather damages, and damages from animal run-ins. Together with

collision coverage

, drivers are well protected from an array of vehicle damages.

What does car repair insurance cover?

There is no such thing as ‘car repair insurance.’ However, there are add-on coverages, such as

collision insurance

comprehensive insurance

uninsured motorist coverage

, and

full glass insurance

that will pay for mechanical issues on your vehicle after collision and non-collision related events.

Meet our experts

Kianna Walpole

Expert Insurance Writer & Editor

Kianna Walpole is an insurance writer and editor with a comprehensive background in consumer behavior and online publishing. With experience in car insurance, maintenance, and repair, she is dedicated to building informative content that helps customers reduce costs while achieving the best service. Prior to joining the Jerry editorial team, Kianna worked as a junior editor in the content marketing industry, using consumer data and key insights to create and edit content for an array of large-scale clients in the real estate, cybersecurity, and healthcare industries.

Sarah Gray

Licensed Insurance Agent — Expert Insurance Writer and Editor

Sarah Gray is an insurance writer with nearly a decade of experience in publishing and writing. Sarah specializes in writing articles that educate car owners and buyers on the full scope of car ownership—from shopping for and buying a new car to scrapping one that’s breathed its last and everything in between. Sarah has authored over 1,500 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from first-time buyer programs to how to get a salvage title for a totaled car.

Prior to joining Jerry, Sarah was a full-time professor of English literature and composition with multiple academic writing publications.