Does Your Auto Insurance Cover Engine Failures?

March 9, 2007 by TFB

If your car's engine died, does your auto insurance cover the cost of replacing it? That's the question in this post on The Simple Dollar:

How The Simple Dollar Just Saved Someone $2,850 (And A Personal Finance Tip To Boot)

Trent, the blogger who wrote it, claimed that he was able to save someone $2,850 by pointing out that the "comprehensive" part of that person's auto insurance covered engine failures, not caused by a collision, but just during the normal course of driving. Baloney. I left comments for Trent but he doesn't want to admit he was wrong, saying "it varies from insurance policy to insurance policy." I'll assert that no auto insurance policy in the United States covers normal engine wear and tear. Manufacturer's warranty or extended warranty maybe, but not auto insurance. If you don't believe me, please check your policy or ask your insurance company/agent. If your policy covers engine wear and tear (I'm not holding my breath), I'd love to switch to that company.

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Comments

4 Comments on Does Your Auto Insurance Cover Engine Failures?

  1. Trent on March 9, 2007 | permalink
     

    You're calling my post "baloney," but agreeing with what I said? The only advice I gave in that post was "Check your policy."

  2. TFB on March 9, 2007 | permalink
     

    Sorry if you missed this sentence in my post: "I'll assert that no auto insurance policy in the United States covers normal engine wear and tear."

    Why don't you practice what you advised like this:

    1. Check your own policy. Call up the company and ask them. See if your policy covers it. Ask around and see whose policy covers it.

    2. Get back to the person who asked you the original question. Ask him/her which insurance company it was. Call up that company and ask them if they cover it.

    My challenge still stands. I bet you will not find any auto policy that covers engine failures like you wrote. That's why I called your post "baloney." If you say there is a policy that covers engine failures, prove it and I'll be happy to apologize and retract.

  3. thc on March 11, 2007 | permalink
     

    I happen to know a little about insurance and I'm with you on this one, tfb.

  4. Ray on January 1, 2009 | permalink
     

    http://dodgeownerforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=4286.0

    Insurance appears to have overed this guy's problem.

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