Does Car Insurance Cover Repairs?

Vehicle repairs, like a new alternator or a fuel system repair, can be major expenses. While your typical car insurance won’t cover these repairs, there are some policies that help to cover mechanical repairs.

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Does Car Insurance Cover Mechanical Problems?

Most car insurance covers repairs resulting from events like car accidents or severe weather. The exact type of repairs that will be covered will depend on your policy, so make sure that you understand your coverage.

Collision coverage will cover repairs or vehicle replacement if your car is involved in a collision, including with another vehicle or an object, like a fence. Comprehensive insurance protects your car against damage sustained by non-collision events, such as damaging hail or a tree limb that falls on it.

Traditional car insurance won’t cover mechanical repairs to your car that happen simply because you’re putting wear and tear on the vehicle.

Does Car Insurance Cover Mechanical Repairs?

Some insurance companies offer coverage called “mechanical breakdown coverage.” This policy is similar to an extended car warranty, but it’s sold by insurance companies, rather than vehicle manufacturers. It’s sometimes called car repair insurance. Mechanical breakdown coverage helps cover repairs not caused by normal wear and tear or an accident. It also won’t cover any damage that’s caused by a natural disaster. Instead, this insurance covers non-routine maintenance, such as:

Engine failure
Transmission failure
Alternator repairs
Air conditioning repairs
Steering issues
Fuel system issues
Internal components and engine parts

While mechanical breakdown coverage can help to cover some of these unexpected repairs, your insurance won’t cover anything considered regular maintenance. Systems in vehicles, like your oil and brake systems, are expected to gradually wear out due to usage, so you’ll be responsible for the full cost of maintaining these systems on your own. Your mechanical breakdown coverage won’t include issues like:

Brake pad replacement
New tires or tire rotations
Windshield and wiper blade replacements
Oil changes and oil filter replacements

If you don’t maintain your vehicle correctly and your car sustains damage as a result, your insurance company won’t pay to repair that damage.

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Alternatives to Maintenance Car Insurance

In place of maintenance car insurance, you may get an extended warranty on your vehicle from the manufacturer or a third-party provider. Your extended warranty may cover more routine maintenance, such as brake pads, annual oil changes, and wiper blade replacement. In addition, your coverage may include tire replacement, air filter replacement, towing, and even partial coverage for repairs

How to Get the Best Deal on Maintenance Car Insurance

If you’re thinking of buying mechanical breakdown coverage, it’s important to understand how the policy works. Most of these policies will carry a deductible. You’ll be responsible for paying that deductible before your insurance will contribute to a repair. Plus, your policy limits may only cover part of the repair.

To get the best deal on maintenance car insurance, get a free, personalized quote today to compare your options.

Paige Cerulli Paige Cerulli is a freelance content writer and journalist who specializes in personal finance topics. She graduated from Westfield State University and brings more than a decade of professional writing experience to the ConsumerCoverage team. Paige’s work has appeared in outlets including USA Today, Business Insider, and more.