Is a car considered totaled if the engine blows?

Engine Troubles: Understanding the Scope of Auto Insurance Coverage

The anticipation of a smooth ride can be abruptly interrupted when faced with engine troubles. As a car owner, understanding how auto insurance deals with engine failure is crucial for navigating the unexpected. Let’s explore the intricacies of auto insurance coverage regarding engine troubles, addressing common questions and shedding light on potential solutions.

How Does Insurance Deal with Engine Failure?

Auto insurance primarily covers damage caused by accidents, theft, or natural disasters. Unfortunately, standard auto insurance policies typically do not cover mechani cal failures, including engine failures, due to wear and tear, lack of maintenance, or other non-collision-related issues.

If your engine fails due to these non-covered factors, you may find yourself responsible for the repair or replacement costs. This is where understanding the limitations of your auto insurance policy becomes essential.

Will Gap Insurance Cover Engine Failure?

Gap insurance, or Guaranteed Asset Protection insurance, serves a different purpose. It is designed to cover the “gap” between the actual cash value of your vehicle and the amount you owe on your auto loan or lease in the event of a total loss, such as due to an accident or theft.

While gap insurance doesn’t typically cover engine failures, it may become relevant if your engine failure results in a total loss and your primary insurance declares your vehicle as such. In such cases, gap insurance could help bridge the financial gap between what you owe and the car’s depreciated value.

Is There Any Coverage That Does Cover Engine Failure?

If you’re concerned about engine failure and want coverage for mechanical breakdowns, you may need to explore specialized insurance products known as extended warranty or mechanical breakdown insurance.

Extended Warranty:
Extended warranty, often offered by the vehicle manufacturer or third-party providers, covers specific repairs and replacements after the manufacturer’s warranty expires. It’s important to carefully review the terms and conditions of extended warranties to understand the extent of coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Q: Does regular auto insurance cover engine repairs?
   A: Generally, regular auto insurance does not cover engine repairs unless they result from a covered event, such as an accident or other covered perils.

Get a Comprehensive Review of Your Auto Insurance with Us

For a comprehensive review of your auto insurance coverage and to explore options for additional protection against engine failures, consult Kneller Insurance Agency. Our experienced team is dedicated to helping you understand your insurance needs and providing tailored solutions. Don’t let engine troubles catch you off guard—secure the right coverage by contacting us today. Call us at 518-392-9311 for further assistance.

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We will personalize your auto insurance policy according to your possible risk exposures and specific requirements, ensuring that you are covered at every turn.

Is a car considered totaled if the engine blows?

Typically, car insurance does not cover engine failure, even if you have full coverage. The exception is if the mechanical problem or blown engine can be directly linked to a covered claim.

Is your car totaled if the engine is blown?

A blown engine that’s the result of a mechanical failure or wear and tear won’t be covered by comprehensive or collision coverage.

What happens if the engine blows on a financed car?

“If your engine blows up on a financed car, you’re still on the hook for the payment. Unfortunately, your car insurance won’t pay for the damages either, as even full-coverage policies won’t cover this.

Is my engine totaled?

A car is considered to be a total loss when the overall cost of damages approaches or exceeds the value of the car. Most insurance companies determine a car to be totaled when the vehicle’s cost for repairs plus its salvage value equates to more than the actual cash value of the vehicle.

What are signs that a car is totaled?

Here are some common signs your car may be totaled:

• The car is not driveable.
• The frame is bent or other parts of the vehicle are bent.
• You own an older vehicle.
• It is leaking an ample amount of fluids.
• The car needs significant repairs.

How To Tell If Your Engine Is Blown

18 related questions found

Is engine covered in insurance?

Hence, you can claim for engine repair on insurance if the damage is caused by an accident or comprehensive loss covered by the insurance. However, any engine damage caused by wear and tear or mechanical failure will not be covered as part of an insurance claim.

Does insurance cover if your engine blows?

Yes, car insurance covers engine blowing up, but only if it was caused by a covered scenario like an accident or vandalism. For instance, if a crash leads to engine blowing up, the policyholder’s collision insurance will cover repairs, but not if the damage was caused by poor maintenance, negligence or wear and tear.

How much is my car worth with a blown engine?

How Much Is My Car Worth With A Blown Engine? Without a functioning engine, you can expect to get at least $3,000 less for your car as a sales price than you would get for a functioning vehicle. So if your vehicle is worth $10,000 in good condition, you should expect to get something closer to $4,000 to $7,000 for it.

Can you trade in a car with a blown engine?

Can I Trade In A Car With A Blown Engine? If you have a non-running car, you are probably wondering, “Can you trade in a car with a bad engine?” The simple answer is yes, you can. While a used car dealership will allow you to trade in your broken vehicle, you won’t be taking home a large check at all.

How much does an engine replacement cost?

New engines start at around $4,000 for a 4-cylinder, around $5,500 for a V6 and $7,000 for a V8. Prices increase from these figures based on complexity of the engine and the brand of car.

Can a blown engine be fixed?

If you do have a blown engine, whether or not it can be fixed depends upon the extensiveness of the damage. If the damage is minimal, and a few parts can be replaced, the problem can be fixed. However, if the damage is great and impossible to repair, you may need a complete engine replacement.

Does State Farm cover a blown engine?

Does State Farm cover blown engines? Yes, if you have State Farm Comprehensive Coverage. Comprehensive coverage covers a vehicle that’s stolen or damaged by something other than collision or rolling over – like a blown engine.

Is it cheaper to rebuild or buy a new engine?

Rebuilding to repair is usually cheaper than buying a new engine, too. You may save up to half of the cost of a new engine by rebuilding. However, sometimes rebuilding is not a good option. In cases where rebuilding will cost as much as a new engine, your mechanic should be upfront about those costs.

Will CarMax buy a car with a blown engine?

The short answer to this question is yes, they do. CarMax buys cars in all types of shape. They buy cars with transmission trouble, engine trouble, blown head gaskets, bad clutches and more. CarMax will buy almost any vehicle.

What do I do with a car with a blown engine?

While a car with a blown engine might now be worth much to you – or anybody else for that matter – most car dealerships will accept it in a trade. With this, you can trade in your car to help pay for a new one. The car dealership will then take your car and either sell it or use it for pieces.

Is it worth putting a new engine in a car?

New engines offer a long-term, reliable solution to your car troubles. On the other hand, used vehicles may come with their own set of engine problems. If your used vehicle replacement encounters engine issues, you could end up paying twice as much in the long run.

Does replacing engine affect value car?

Replacing the engine usually increases the car’s overall value.

What causes a blown engine?

Piston problems are one of the most common reasons for a blown engine. In most cases, it isn’t the piston itself that has failed but rather, the piston rings that have failed. These metal rings seal the piston against the cylinder wall and keep engine oil in the crankcase, out of the combustion chamber.

Does full coverage car insurance cover a blown head gasket?

Yes, insurance will cover a blown head gasket if the mechanical failure was caused by vandalism, flooding or other outside forces. However, insurance will not cover a blown head gasket if the mechanical failure was caused by simple wear and tear, or due to lack of maintenance.

What is not covered in car insurance?

Any damage related to the engine as well as gearbox of the insured’s car is not covered under the policy. The policyholder will get compensation in case of theft of the insured’s car. The policy does not cover damages incurred exclusively to the tyres and tubes of the insured’s car.

Does extended warranty cover engine replacement?

Exactly what an extended warranty covers depends on the type of warranty that you choose. But in general, extended warranties cover the critical mechanical parts of your vehicle, including the engine, transmission, axles, and gaskets.

What is engine cover for?

It keeps them organized and away from any hot engine components that would melt or deteriorate them. Keeping fluids below the cover. In a car with 150k+ miles, I usually see more oil splatter and coolant being thrown around, up on the hood, etc.

What is engine secure in car insurance?

An engine protection cover in car insurance keeps you financially protected against any repair cost in case of a damaged engine and/or its parts. A comprehensive car insurance policy does not cover the damages incurred on car’s engine or its parts like crankshaft, piston, pins, cylinder, gearbox, etc.

How many miles will a rebuilt engine last?

A typical warranty on a rebuilt engine is for at least one year or 12,000 miles.

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Will Insurance Cover Me if My Engine Blows Out?

Preston Micalizio writes insurance content for SmartFinancial. He brings three years of professional experience writing .

Dan Marticio

Dan Marticio is the content manager at SmartFinancial and has written 150+ articles across multiple insurance verticals.

Updated July 3, 2024

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In general, auto insurance will not cover an engine if it blows out due to lack of maintenance. However, if you buy certain types of coverage, then there are specific cases in which a blown engine might be covered, such as if it was damaged in a recent collision or if it suddenly breaks down because of a reason other than poor upkeep.

Keep reading to learn what car insurance policies cover engine failure, what situations they don’t cover and what to do if you experience engine issues.

Key Takeaways

• If your auto policy includes full coverage, then your blown engine may be covered if the reason for the blowout is due to a recent collision.
• You can buy mechanical breakdown insurance to insure your engine against sudden breakdowns that are not due to lack of maintenance.
• While it is not a car insurance add-on, buying an extended warranty can cover the engine if it breaks down due to a manufacturer defect or if it wears down ahead of schedule.
• If your engine blows out while driving, you can arrange for a roadside assistance provider to tow your car to the nearest repair facility.

On This Page

• Does Car Insurance Cover Engine Failure?
• When Won’t an Insurance Company Cover a Car Engine?
• Which Policy Add-Ons Should I Consider To Cover My Car Engine?
• What Should I Do if My Engine Fails?
• How To File a Claim for a Blown Engine
• FAQs

Does Car Insurance Cover Engine Failure?

Your car insurance policy can cover engine failure but only in very specific circumstances. For example, if you buy full coverage, then you may be covered if your engine failed due to being physically damaged in a car accident, a tree falling on your car, vandalism or some other covered event. In addition, if you buy mechanical breakdown insurance, then it is also possible to insure your car engine against sudden failures unrelated to poor upkeep.

When Won’t an Insurance Company Cover a Car Engine?

Engine failure due to wear and tear or poor maintenance, such as overheating due to low fluid levels, won’t be covered. Maintenance is considered the owner’s responsibility by most insurers, so if an engine fails prematurely because of the lack of it, the repair and replacement costs are left squarely on the driver.

Sometimes, your engine may fail due to a manufacturer defect, which would become the manufacturer’s responsibility to fix under their warranty and not your insurance.

Which Policy Add-Ons Should I Consider To Cover My Car Engine?

Below are a few examples of the types of perils that may cause engine failure and the types of coverage you need to buy to get the engine repair or replacement costs covered, which can sometimes range in cost from $2,000 to over $10,000. [1]

Coverage for Engine Failures Due to External Causes

Collision, comprehensive and uninsured motorist insurance may cover your engine’s repair or replacement costs if the failure can be traced to your car being physically damaged. Below, we list what types of events each coverage type will cover:

• Collision insurance: Collision with another vehicle, tree, fence or other physical object
• Comprehensive insurance: Hail, fallen tree, vandalism, fire, windstorm, earthquake
• Uninsured motorist insurance: Collision with another driver who was at fault but flees the scene

Coverage for Engine Failures Due to Internal Causes

Mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) is the only type of car insurance coverage that will insure your engine against sudden breakdowns outside of your car being physically struck. This optional coverage expands your protection to sudden mechanical and electrical issues that can’t be traced back to poor maintenance or regular wear and tear.

However, not all insurers offer mechanical breakdown insurance and there may be vehicle age requirements. For example, GEICO only offers mechanical breakdown insurance for cars less than 15 months old with 15,000 miles or less, with renewal of the policy being allowed for up to seven years or the first 100,000 miles. [2]

While it is not an add-on to your auto insurance policy, you might want to consider buying an extended warranty for your car, which can cover engine failure caused by manufacturer defects or if it wears out ahead of schedule. Car engines can last quite some time if taken care of, with most modern cars expected to last between 200,000 and 300,000 miles or between 11 and 12 years. If your engine wears out earlier, then you can make a case for it to be covered under the extended warranty. [3]

While the base warranty coverage is included with purchasing a new car, they typically only cover the first three years or 36,000 miles driven, whichever comes first. [4] Depending on your car and the provider, you can purchase an extended warranty for $1,000 per year on average, although you may see costs as high as $2,800. [5]

What Should I Do if My Engine Fails?

There are a few signs you should be on the lookout for a while on the road that indicates a blown engine. The most prominent indicator is your “check engine” light, which should prompt you to make a trip to a mechanic as soon as possible.

If you hear a loud noise from your car or see smoke rising from the hood, that’s an immediate sign that something’s wrong with your engine or another component and you should pull over.

If you believe your engine may have blown while driving, don’t second guess yourself and perform the following actions:

1. Stay calm.
2. Keep your eyes on the road and look for a place to pull over.
3. Turn on hazard lights.
4. Shift to neutral and attempt to restart your engine.
5. Do not brake, as you’ll need the continued momentum.
6. Take your foot off the gas and slow to a stop at the side of the road.

Once you’ve safely pulled to the side of the road, turn off the ignition and contact assistance, which may include the following:

AAA

If you are already an American Automobile Association (AAA) member, you have roadside assistance you can contact for support when traveling across the U.S. and Canada. Depending on your plan, they can drive to your location, diagnose your engine issues and tow you to your destination or a nearby mechanic. You may want to consider purchasing this membership for this support, which can start at $51.50 a year in some states. [6]

Roadside Assistance

Some insurance companies may offer roadside assistance, usually as an insurance rider or a standalone policy. The exact service offered by insurers’ roadside assistance policies may vary, but most will be able to tow your car to a nearby mechanic and provide you with limited transportation.

Ask for Help

When all else fails, contact help to transport you somewhere safe. If you’re local, try friends or relatives who can give you a lift. If you’re currently out of town, try contacting local police or highway patrol, who may be able to assist you. If you have internet service, you may also be able to contact a nearby mechanic or towing service who can transport your car.

How To File a Claim for a Blown Engine

You can file a claim after an accident as you normally would, which can usually be done by mobile app or calling an agent and the fact that your engine is blown will be cited after the car is inspected. If you were involved in a car accident, don’t tell the insurance adjuster that the accident caused the engine failure if the problem existed before the accident. Lying to get reimbursement from an insurance provider is considered insurance fraud, which is not taken lightly and could potentially result in legal consequences.

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FAQs

Do warranties cover engines?

Your car warranty will typically only cover the engine if it’s found to be defective within the warranty period. However, it wouldn’t cover your engine if damaged in an accident or due to neglect and it won’t cover general maintenance like an oil change.

What should I keep in my car in case my engine fails?

It’s recommended to keep reflective triangles in your vehicle to help alert other drivers that you’re stopped on the road shoulder or to flag down emergency services and tow trucks at night. A fully charged cell phone and backup battery is also critical if you need to call for help.

Does gap insurance cover blown engines?

No, gap insurance will not cover blown engines. Instead, you will generally need either full coverage or mechanical breakdown insurance depending on what caused the engine failure.

Does “full coverage” insurance cover an engine failure?

Full coverage can cover engine failure if it was caused by a collision with another vehicle or physical object or by some other physical peril, like hail, vandalism or a fallen tree. If it suddenly breaks down to some electrical or mechanical issue, you will instead need mechanical breakdown insurance.

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