Does Your Auto Insurance Cover Engine Failures?

By Harry Sit

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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Posted on March 9, 2007 under Insurance. Keywords: .

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Comments

6 Comments on Does Your Auto Insurance Cover Engine Failures?

  1. Trent on March 9, 2007
     

    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
     

    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
     

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

  4. Ray on January 1, 2009
     

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

    Insurance appears to have overed this guy’s problem.

  5. bryan on May 5, 2011
     

    I had a blown engine with 39 000 miles and ISUZU would not honor the 75000 mile warranty or the 100000 mile. (PEOPLE NEVER BUY AND ISUZU, NEVER NEVER NEVER!!!!!!!) GIECO NOT ONLY REPLACED THE ENGINE AND ALL LABOR BUT ONLY COST ME $250 OUT OF MY POCKETT AND I HAD BASIC FULL COVERAGE WITH $500 DEDUCTABLE FOR COLLISION. I had jumped car insurances a couple of times price shopping but since that day, I AM A GIECO MEMBER FOR LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  6. Greg Andrews on January 7, 2013
     

    They will help with catastrophic failures. I have Geico and will never change EVER!!!

    I drive an Audi A6 Quattro that just blew its heater core. As everyone knows that one hell of a repair!! 12-16 hundred. I pay the 250 deductable plus half the repair. Can’t beat that deal anywhere. I know this vehicle is on it’s last leg. But if it does go. I will be reinbursed 3/4 of the value. I suggest everyone call and ask your insurance company. I was surprised as hell!! I have been with Geico for over a decade and like I said I’ll never change insurance ever. Always buy the premium package I can barely afford it but with just this one repair has paid for the rest of the year. Get informed know your shit and get your ducks in a row.

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