Does auto insurance cover engine failure? (2025)
Your car insurance policy probably doesn’t include engine failure, but there are a few cases when it might.
UPDATED: Dec 23, 2024 Fact Checked
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UPDATED: Dec 23, 2024 Fact Checked
Does insurance cover engine failure? Engine failure is one thing no car owner ever wants to deal with. Not only does it make the vehicle completely unusable for a while, but it also comes with a significant price tag.
That’s why it’s reasonable to ask whether your car insurance covers engine failure. In some cases, you may be in luck. Read on to learn which types of coverage include engine failure and how to protect your vehicle from unexpected repair costs.
Are you wondering, “Does full coverage insurance cover engine failure?” keep reading to see what situations cover an engine. You can also enter your ZIP code above to find cheap full coverage insurance rates in your area.
Things to remember.
- Collision and comprehensive auto insurance policies generally cover engine failure if a collision or comprehensive loss caused it
- Car insurance typically does not cover mechanical issues with the engine or wear and tear
- To insure your vehicle against general engine failure, you need to purchase an extended warranty or mechanical breakdown coverage
How to Get Insurance to Cover Blown Motor
Does insurance cover engine replacement? If you have full coverage , you can file an engine seized insurance claim if it was directly caused by an accident or other situations described in your policy.
So, what insurance covers engine failure from a covered event? The basic types of coverage that may apply include:
- Collision coverage reimburses the cost of repairing or replacing your car after you’re involved in an accident.
- Comprehensive coverage applies to claims that are not a result of an accident, such as theft, vandalism, a broken windshield, weather events, and collisions with animals.
- Uninsured motorist coverage reimburses the cost of repairing your car if you were involved in an accident where an at-fault driver has no (or insufficient) insurance.
None of these coverages includes engine failure due to normal wear and tear or a mechanical problem.
Now that you know the answer to “Does insurance cover a broken engine?”, we’ll talk about how full coverage can help with your damaged engine.
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Full Coverage Insurance Covers Some Types of Engine Failure
Does full coverage cover engine damage? Even if you have full coverage, engine failure may not count as a covered loss. Instead, the problem must result from a covered incident, and you’ll need the right type of coverage.
Does car insurance cover engine failure under collision? Collision car insurance covers damages to your vehicle from a collision with another car or an inanimate object (a tree or a lamppost, for example). If an accident causes engine damage, your collision policy should cover the repair cost.
However, you might be required to prove that the engine failure was directly caused by the collision instead of a pre-existing mechanical issue.
Will insurance cover engine failure under comprehensive? Comprehensive auto insurance covers damages to a vehicle that is not a result of a driving accident, such as theft, falling objects, natural disasters, fire, or explosion. For example, if your engine was damaged by a branch falling on your car during a thunderstorm, it should be covered by comprehensive insurance.
When filing a comprehensive insurance claim for engine repair, you might need additional documentation, such as regular maintenance records or recent mechanic reports, to prove that the engine was sound before the accident.
Now that you know the answer to, “Does full coverage cover engine problems?” we’ll oveview how to protect your vehicle against engine issues.
How to Insure Your Vehicle Against Engine Damage
Looking for wear-and-tear insurance for engine failure? Even though none of the coverages we discussed will insure your car in case of engine failure that’s not the result of an accident or covered event, there are ways you can protect yourself against other engine repair costs:
- Manufacturer’s Warranty: If your vehicle is relatively new (usually no more than three to five years old or with less than 36,000 to 60,000 miles ), the car manufacturer should cover the cost to repair or replace the engine in case of failure.
- Extended Warranty: The extended warranty, which is backed by the manufacturer, is usually something you can buy from the car dealership. These extended warranties can cost from $1,000 up to $3,000 or more, depending on the type of the vehicle.
- Mechanical Breakdown Insurance (MBI): Some insurance companies offer this type of optional coverage that will provide you with a similar level of protection as a warranty.
Extended warranties and MBI are similar, but each has advantages and disadvantages.
With an extended warranty, you will be covered for minor repairs. It’s available for almost all types of cars and usually has a lower deductible. However, the cost of coverage is higher than for MBI, and you’ll have to pay it upfront. You’ll also likely be restricted to using a mechanic that the dealer or warranty company approves.
In comparison, MBI is cheaper and payable in monthly installments. You also have the freedom to choose your mechanic. However, the deductible is often higher than an extended warranty, and it won’t cover minor repairs.
In addition, MBI is usually only available for new vehicles and renewable for up to seven years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. If you’re interested in MBI, shop around since not all insurance companies offer it.
More on Insurance and Engine Failure
Will insurance cover engine replacement? Car engine failures are only covered by insurance policies in the case of covered incidents. For example, your collision and comprehensive policy will cover damages caused by a driving accident or extensive losses but won’t reimburse engine repairs due to a mechanical breakdown.
Comprehensive coverage can protect your vehicle against #waterdamage caused by:
Flooding
☔️ Heavy rains
Hail
Blown-down tree branches See the full rundown here #InsuranceQuestions #PGRAnswers
— Progressive (@progressive) November 30, 2021
You will need to turn to alternatives such as an extended warranty or mechanical breakdown insurance. E nter your ZIP code into our free quote tool below to instantly compare mechancial breakdown insurance rates from top companies.
Does Car Insurance Cover Engine Failure?
No, most standard car insurance policies do not cover engine failure or repairs unless they result directly from an accident or other circumstances covered by the insurance. it’s possible your manufacturer will pay for repairs if your vehicle is relatively new, or you purchased an extended warranty. Some insurance providers could offer vehicle protection plans or mechanical breakdown insurance to provide coverage for mechanical failure. This will be quite similar to a warranty.
When Will Car Insurance Cover Engine Repairs?
Drivers with comprehensive coverage and collision coverage are typically covered for engine repairs as long as the component was damaged in an accident or another event that was out of their control.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage could also pay for engine repairs if you happen to be hit by another driver with little or no insurance. If your engine fails or breaks down due to normal wear and tear over time, most policies will not cover the cost to repair nor replace it.
Some insurance providers could offer a vehicle protection plan and mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI). This will cover most engine repairs that are not included in your warranty. Of course, availability of these coverages will vary based on location.
Will Full Coverage Car Insurance Cover Engine Failure?
“Full coverage” car insurance simply isn’t a thing, as no insurance policy can account for anything and everything that can happen to a vehicle. Some drivers may use the term “full coverage” in order to refer to a policy featuring comprehensive and collision coverage.
If you have comprehensive and collision coverage, your vehicle may be covered if the engine gets damaged in an accident or other event out of your control. Comprehensive or collision do not typically cover a faulty engine due to mechanical failure or wear and tear.
Can You Make A Claim On Car Insurance For Engine Failure?
If your engine was faulty or failing prior to an accident, making a claim to repair this issue could qualify as car insurance fraud. Drivers should only file claims for damaged that resulted from an accident. Always be transparent with your insurance provider to avoid any issues.
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Does car insurance cover engine failure?
Mary Van Keuren has written for insurance domains such as Bankrate, Coverage.com, and The Simple Dollar for the past five years, specializing in home and auto insurance. She has also written extensively for consumer websites including Reviews.com and Slumber Yard. Prior to that, she worked as a writer in academia for several decades.
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Table of contents
- How does insurance deal with engine failure?
- Will gap insurance cover engine failure?
- Is there any coverage that does cover engine failure?
- Frequently asked questions
If you’ve ever experienced engine failure, you may wonder if you can find any financial assistance to pay for it. Does minimum or full coverage insurance cover engine failure? Unfortunately, unless the engine failure is related to an accident or other vehicle mishap, it’s unlikely that your policy will help you get back on the road. Although a car can be totaled due to mechanical failure, when damage is extensive enough that repair costs exceed its value, your insurance will not pay if the cause is wear and tear or a mechanical issue. You may, however, have coverage if you have an extended warranty on your car or a type of optional coverage called mechanical breakdown insurance. In this guide, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team explains what you need to know about insurance and engine failure.
How does insurance deal with engine failure?
To know how your insurance policy handles engine failure, it can help to be aware of the types of coverage you have. If you only have your state’s minimum liability coverage, for example, then your policy will only pay for damage and injuries to the other party in an at-fault accident — your own vehicle isn’t covered.
On the other hand, if you have full coverage, your policy covers damages to your own car in a variety of circumstances, through two specific types of coverage:
- Collision: As the name suggests, collision coverage pays for damages to your vehicle if you are in an at-fault accident.
- Comprehensive: Sometimes called “other than collision” coverage, this type of insurance helps pay to repair or replace your car if it is stolen, vandalized or damaged in a fire or other mishap like a severe weather event. It also covers damage from hitting an animal.
If your engine failure is due to an accident or other event covered by these two types of insurance, the damage is likely to be covered, once you pay your deductible. The catch, however, is that it generally won’t cover an engine that fails due to mechanical problems or normal wear and tear.
Will gap insurance cover engine failure?
No, gap insurance generally will not cover engine failure. This coverage option pays the difference between your car’s book value after it is totaled and the amount you owe on your car loan. It’s intended to help cover your costs after an accident or other vehicle mishap, not to cover engine failure that results from mechanical issues or wear and tear. If you are looking at how to get insurance to cover a blown motor, gap insurance will probably not help you.
This coverage is very specific and only activates if your car is totaled in a covered claim and you owe more than what the car is worth. It does not provide coverage for engine failure, normal wear and tear or other mechanical problems with your vehicle.
Is there any coverage that does cover engine failure?
In certain instances, you can get coverage to protect your finances if your car has an engine failure or another mechanical problem requiring repair. Most often, things like engine failure will be covered by a warranty, if you have purchased one. However, you also may want to consider purchasing mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI), if your car insurance company offers it.
Warranty
You may have purchased a warranty with your new or late-model used car. A warranty is a contract that covers repairs or replacement needed either for your whole car or for specific systems in your car. It may cover repairs that your insurance wouldn’t cover, but generally will not pay for normal wear and tear, neglect or maintenance issues. There are two common types of warranty:
- Bumper-to-bumper warranty: As the name suggests, this type of warranty covers most of a vehicle’s parts and systems, and generally lasts three to five years. It may cover parts and labor for defects that are discovered, and could provide financial assistance after an engine failure, depending on the cause. If a part or system is not covered by this type of warranty, it is generally mentioned in the warranty documents.
- Powertrain warranty: This type of warranty is more limited, and generally covers repairs or replacement of the car’s powertrain — that is, the engine, transmission, driveshaft and all other components that help the car to move. Only the parts and systems mentioned in the warranty documents are covered, anything else is excluded.
Warranties are usually in effect for a certain period of time or number of miles. For example, you might have one that is valid for three years or 30,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Mechanical breakdown insurance
Mechanical breakdown coverage (MBI), also called car repair insurance, is similar to a warranty in that both cover the costs of select repairs to essential components in your vehicle. MBI can be purchased as an endorsement to an existing car insurance policy or as a standalone policy, and unlike warranties, it usually includes a deductible. In most cases, it would cover engine failure.
MBI may be a good option for you if you have a higher-value car, such as a luxury vehicle, which would be costly to repair. It can also be worth considering if you have a new car, don’t have a warranty and want to avoid being saddled with expensive repairs in the event of a breakdown or engine failure.
Some, but not all, insurance companies offer this type of insurance. The average cost of a policy with MBI will vary from carrier to carrier, so you may want to ask for quotes from several insurers to see who offers you the best rate.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest car insurance company?
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No single company will offer the cheapest coverage for every driver, all the time. Your rate is based on a range of factors that are unique to you, including your age, driving history and location, as well as your car’s age, make and model. So the company that writes your neighbor a low-cost policy may not be able to do the same for you. Finding the cheapest car insurance company for your needs becomes easier when you look at your priorities. For example, if you have a teenager in your family, you may want a company that offers discounts for young drivers. If you have a few marks on your motor vehicle record, on the other hand, a better bet could be a company offering high-risk insurance. If you are retired or work from home, you may get the best rate from an insurer with low-mileage coverage. Determining what’s most important for you can help you find the insurer with coverage that is geared for your needs.
Can I file a claim with my car insurance if my engine blows up?
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If your engine blows up, you may be able to file a claim with your car insurance company. The reason for the engine failure and the types of coverage included in your policy will determine whether this type of claim will be approved. If you are involved in an accident that causes the blown engine, you could have coverage under your own policy or another party’s policy if they are responsible for the accident. Unless you have optional mechanical breakdown insurance on your policy, you will likely not have coverage if your engine blows up due to mechanical failure.
How can I tell if my engine is blown?
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There are a few signs your car will give you if there is an engine problem or mechanical failure. If you notice a large amount of exhaust smoke, metal shavings in the oil, a lack of power or smoke coming from under the hood, it may be a sign of engine trouble. To prevent further damage, you should not drive the car and have it looked at by a mechanic if you notice any of these signs.
What should you do if your engine fails?
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If your engine fails and you lose power, it may be smart to shift into neutral, put on your emergency flashers and find a safe place to pull over. It can get gradually harder to steer and you may lose brake power boost, so you’ll want to proceed with caution if your engine starts to act up while you are driving. Once you are safely out of the driving lanes, call for help. If you have optional roadside assistance coverage as part of your car insurance policy, you can typically call the emergency road service number to get help.
Is engine failure fixable?
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As you might imagine, the answer is “it depends.” If your engine fails for a minor reason — for example, you have a broken timing belt — the fix should be fairly simple and easily handled by your local mechanic. If the failure is due to a larger systemic reason, for example, the radiator or transmission is damaged, it may be fixable, but is likely to cost considerably more. Significant damage may result in an engine rebuild, or you may need to replace the entire engine. The best course of action is to have your vehicle brought to a reputable repair facility, which will have the diagnostic tools and personnel who can assess the damage and help you decide the right course of action.
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