Comprehensive Coverage and Engine Failure: What You Need to Know
Engine failure is an issue that many car owners faced before, and it can be a costly repair. You may have several questions about the comprehensive car insurance coverage and what it covers. Perhaps you are asking yourself if comprehensive car insurance covers the engine failure, if that so you're in the right page to know the answer to this question. Continue reading to know more about this.
What is an Engine Failure?
Engine failure means your vehicle’s engine stops working, that can occur for many reasons why.
These are some causes why an engine failure is cuased by:
• Overheating
• Lack of oil
• Mechanical wear and tear
• Manufacturing defects
When an engine fails, you must prepair a big amount of money to fix it up. That failure costs a small fortune to repair or replace. Depending on the cause of the engine failure may be included in your comprehensive car insurance policy.
Does Comprehensive Car Insurance Cover Engine Failure?
In general terms, comprehensive car insurance also covers engine failure, but it also depends on the declaration page of your policy and what caused that engine failure.
You should look at your policy carefully to verify what is covered and what is not. If engine failure doesn't appear on your policy's declaration page, that may mean your comprehensive car insurance policy doesn't cover it.
In general, if the engine failure is covered in several sorts of scenarios, such as an act of God -hail, theft, or fire within others- it may be covered by your comprehensive car insurance policy. However, if the engine failure is caused by a mechanical problem or just the lack of your vehicle’s maintenance for your part, such as lack of oil, then it won't probably be covered.
What to Do if Your Engine Fails
If your engine fails, you must stop the engine to ensure the damage of the engine extends to other parts of your vehicle. You must also follow these steops:
Call your insurance company and start to file a claim: take pictures or videos of the area where your vehicle's engine broke down. It'd be a great idea if you find some witnesses that can validate your version.
As you have comprehensive coverage, you will also have roadside assistance, which means you may ask your car insurance company to tow your car to the nearest repair shop to start checking the causes of your vehicle’s engine failure. Request them the stimate repair costs, that will help you to negotiate the settlement in the future.
Your car insurance will send an adjuster who will ask you several questions about what happened to your vehicle. You must answer that person’s questions, but be aware that s/he’s working by your car insurer, which means s/he’s not a friend. That person will also request you to give some pictures or videos about the engine failure.
Keep all repair shop quotations and any documentation related to the engine malfunction, keep in mind that your car insurer may request it again, or you may want to dispute your car insurer’s final claim decision about the repair or replacement of your engine.
Your auto insurer will investigate the claim, and they will determine if your policy covers the engine failure or not.
Your car insurer will run an investigation about what happened to your vehicle's engine after all the investigaion finish (they verify all the pictures, videos, talkng to the possible witnesses), they may decide to give you a settlement or deny your claim.
If they determine your claim is legit, your insurance company will reimburse you the repair or replacement of your vehicle's engine costs.
How much does engine failure cost to be fixed in the US?
Engine failure is a costly and dangerous issue for car owners and manufacturers alike. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), engine failure is one of the most common reasons for car accidents, accounting for 8% of all crashes in the US. The average cost of repairs for engine failure incidents varies greatly depending on the make and model of the vehicle, with estimates ranging from $2,000 to $10,000.
2022 AAA's report found that the average repair cost for engine failure was $3,842, and that the cost of repairs has been steadily increasing in recent years. The report also noted that engine failure is more common in older vehicles, with cars over 10 years old accounting for 44% of all engine failures.
In addition to the direct cost of repairs, engine failure incidents can also result in significant indirect costs, such as lost productivity, missed appointments, and increased insurance premiums. According to a study by the American Automobile Association (AAA), the total cost of a single engine failure incident can be as high as $6,000.
Pros and Cons of Comprehensive coverage
While comprehensive coverage provides extensive protection for drivers, there are some situations where a different type of car insurance may be more suitable. For instance, liability insurance covers damages to other people or property when you're at fault in an accident, whereas collision insurance provides coverage for damage to your vehicle from a collision.
Comprehensive coverage may not be necessary for everyone. It can be more expensive than other types of car insurance, and it may not be necessary for drivers who have older or less valuable vehicles. Additionally, it does not cover damages caused by a collision or medical expenses for injuries sustained in an accident, which is where liability and collision insurance can be the best option for you.
If you have an older car with low value, collision coverage may not be cost-effective. But if you drive a brand new car or a Bentley, collision insurance may be essential to protect your investment.
Important note:
Some insurance providers offer unique features and benefits with their comprehensive coverage policies, such as add-ons for glass repair, rental car coverage, and roadside assistance. For example, some providers may offer discounts for those who bundle their home and car insurance or who have a clean driving record.
Factors That Influence The Coverage
Several factors can influence whether your comprehensive car insurance policy covers engine failure. These factors include:
The reason why the engine failed
How old are your vehicle and its make/model
Your driving history
Your insurance policy coverage and limits
You must understand these factors. What does your comprehensive policy cover? What is your car make and model and how good is your driving history?
For example: If you live in Nevada, you were driving under the influence, you vehicle ended up inside Angel Park Golf Club's sand tra, and trying to take your car out that sand trap steped the accelerator too much and ended inside the pond then as your comprehensive doesn't cover floods, your policy won't cover that engine failure repair costs.
FAQs
Q: What may define an engine failure?
A: A: Engine failure is the way to explain your vehicle’s engine breakdown, there are many reasons why your vehicle’s engine breaks such as: overheating, lack of oil, mechanical wear, tear, or manufacturing defects.
Q: Will my comprehensive car insurance policy cover any engine failure?
A: Whether engine failure covers by comprehensive car insurance depends on the terms of your policy and the cause of the engine failure. Review your policy's declaration page carefully and contact to your insurance company so you will be sure what your policy covers and what not.
Q: What can I do when my engine fails?
A: If your engine fails, you should call your insurance company to report the claim, take your vehicle to a repair shop to assess the damage, provide your insurance company with a detailed explanation of what happened, and keep all receipts and documentation related to the repair or replacement.
Q: What factors influence coverage for engine failure?
A: The factors that can influence coverage for engine failure include the cause of the engine failure, the age and make of your vehicle, your driving history, and your insurance policy coverage and limits.
Q: Can I get a reimbursement for the repairing or replacing costs of my vehicle's engine?
A: It depends, if your comprehensive policy covers engine failure, your insurer may consider your filed a legit claim after investigation finish, then you have many chances your car insurer gives you a settlement for the repairing or replacings costs of your vehicle’s engine.
Conclusion:
Engine failure costs a lot to be fully repaired, and you must understand what is covered and what your comprehensive car insurance is not. If you want to know what your comprehensive car insurance coverage covers, review your policy and talk to your insurance provider. If you have the right comprehensive coverage, you will drive protected on the road.
Other readers were also interested in the following posts:
How does comprehensive coverage differ from liability coverage or collision coverage?
Does My Comprehensive Car Insurance Cover Me to Drive Another Car?
Comprehensive Insurance vs Collision: Which One is Right for You?
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