Does Car Insurance Cover Engine Damage?
One of the most expensive parts of your car to repair is your engine. If it is not properly maintained and regularly checked, it may break down sooner than expected. Finding the right car insurance policy is not always easy and it can take a long time if you don’t know what you are looking for.
If you are worried about mechanical or electrical components failing in your car then extended warranty insurance is a great option as it extends your vehicle’s cover on its mechanical and electrical components, after your manufacturer or dealer warranty has expired.
Does Car Insurance Cover Engine Damage?
What are The Different Types of Car Insurance?
When you are looking for an insurance policy, it’s important to decide how valuable your car is to you.
Third party property damage insurance is generally the cheapest type of insurance. This covers you for the damage caused by your car to other people’s property. This is commonly recommended for used cars that aren’t very valuable.
Third party fire and theft insurance will cover the damage to your car resulting from a fire of theft and will provide coverage for damages caused to other people’s property.
Comprehensive car insurance on the other hand can cover all of the costs associated with repairing or replacing your vehicle that is damaged in an accident, stolen, vandalised or flooded. It also covers damages to other people’s car and property that have resulted from a collision involving your car.
When is Engine Damage Covered by Car Insurance?
Engine damage is usually covered by car insurance under the following circumstances:
- A collision that breaks something inside the engine
- Water damage that causes the engine to stop working
- The engine catching fire
- Vandalism of the engine
It is important to note that engine damage will only be covered under the applicable coverage that you have taken out.
When is Engine Damage Not Covered by Car Insurance?
If you mistreat your vehicle and cause damage to the engine that could have otherwise been prevented, you will not be covered from your insurance policy. This includes:
- The engine breaking from driving with no oil
- The time-belt snapping causing damages to the engine
- Mechanical parts of the engine failing
- Wear and tear on the engine
In the unfortunate circumstance that your engine is not covered under your insurance policy, you can consider getting a used engine which is usually a fraction of the cost of a new engine. Be careful though and always get proof of quality from your mechanic when purchasing one. Although this has some risk involved, it can be a better alternative to a new engine, especially if your car isn’t very valuable.
Tips
The best thing to do to maintain your engine is to check the oil regularly, get your car serviced every 10, 000 kilometres and make sure that the timing belt in your car is not worn out. Ensure that you don’t have to incur excessive costs of getting a new engine by taking care of it.
If you are worried about high costs of repairs and replacement parts for your vehicle, consider extended warranty insurance coverage which offers considerable discounts on repairs and replacement parts.
Make sure that you are well informed about different car insurance products for peace of mind.
