Does car insurance cover non-accident repairs?

Did you know car insurance covers non-accident repairs? There are some situations where auto insurance companies can provide coverage to your vehicle if you weren’t in an accident.

But does insurance cover all non-accident damage? Our guide explains everything you need to know about what car insurance companies cover when it comes to non-accident types of repairs.

Also, we’ll show you how to compare car insurance at multiple companies to secure the best deal.

After you’ve learned more about car insurance coverage for non-accident repairs, enter your ZIP code in the free online quote tool above to compare multiple companies.

Does car insurance cover non-accident repairs?

The short answer is yes. Auto insurance companies cover specific non-accident repairs under comprehensive car insurance. See the best comprehensive coverage car insurance companies for more details.

But how does comprehensive coverage work? Comprehensive auto insurance pays for non-accident repairs that don’t involve a collision.

Here’s a list of non-accident events that comprehensive car insurance covers:

• Damage from animals
• Fire damage
• Vehicle theft damage
• Natural disasters (storms, hail, and flooding)
• Vandalism
• Falling objects

These events are all examples of non-accidents. Theft and vandalism are intentional, while natural disasters are random occurrences that no one can control.

If your car needs to be repaired because of one or more of these situations, your auto insurance company will cover it.

However, your car insurance company won’t repair vehicle damage from normal wear and tear or sudden mechanical failure.

Read more:

• Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a falling object?
• Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a construction zone accident?
• What happens if I don’t agree with the amount the insurance company is offering me for the repairs to my vehicle?
• Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a tornado or other windstorm?
• What is no-fault in Car Insurance?

Does car insurance cover non-accident damage?

It depends on how the damage occurred. If you have comprehensive insurance, your auto insurance company will pay for damage related to accidents that don’t involve a collision.

Car insurance companies won’t cover damage from bad repairs, faulty maintenance, or normal wear and tear.

Read More: What Happens if I don’t Agree with the Amount the Insurance Company is Offering me for the Repairs to my Vehicle?

What does car insurance cover?

Auto insurance coverage depends on your insurance policy. You’ll only need liability car insurance if you want the bare minimum coverage option. Consider shopping SafeAuto auto insurance review to find affordable coverage. 

Liability auto insurance covers other drivers’ bodily injury and property damage expenses when you’re at fault in an accident. (For more information, read our “Does my Car Insurance cover other drivers of my car?“).

Meanwhile, collision auto insurance pays for your property damage expenses regardless of fault.

When you add comprehensive insurance and collision insurance to your auto policy, you’ll have something known as full coverage auto insurance.

However, full-coverage auto insurance is more expensive than liability-only coverage.

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the average cost of full coverage car insurance is $90 a month.

Sometimes full coverage comes with additional perks, such as roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement.

What does car insurance not cover?

Auto insurance companies won’t cover specific situations. Check out the list below to see events that car insurance companies won’t cover.

• Mechanical failures
• Faulty repairs
• Maintenance service or errors
• Damage from rust

Car insurance won’t cover negligence from drivers, mechanics, or auto repair shops, but you can get help with vehicle expenses if you have a car warranty or mechanical breakdown insurance. Therefore, it’s crucial to ask yourself, “does my car insurance cover damage caused by my own negligence?” to make informed decisions about your coverage.

Continue reading to learn more.

Can a car warranty cover non-accident repairs?

Does car insurance cover non-accident repairs? It depends on your situation. Vehicle warranties cover sudden mechanical breakdowns. If your vehicle needs to be repaired, check on your car’s warranty.

New cars have a warranty that lasts up to three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Extended warranties give you more time and more mileage limits (usually the same amount as a standard car warranty).

But what about mechanical breakdown insurance? Read on to learn how mechanical breakdown insurance covers non-accident repairs.

Does mechanical breakdown insurance cover non-accident repairs?

Mechanical breakdown insurance (also known as car repair insurance) provides coverage for repairs that aren’t related to accidents.

Here’s a list of things that car repair insurance covers.

• Air conditioning
• Cooling systems
• Electrical systems
• Engine
• Exhaust
• Fuel systems
• Steering components
• Transmission

Read more: Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a transmission failure?

But, mechanical breakdown insurance won’t cover repairs or damage related to a car accident.

GEICO’s mechanical breakdown insurance program is often mistaken as a GEICO extended warranty.

Although extended warranties are similar to car repair insurance, they differ in mileage limits.

Case Studies: Does car insurance cover non-accident repairs?

Case Study 1: Emily’s Comprehensive Coverage for Hail Damage

Emily parked her car outside during a severe hailstorm, which resulted in significant damage to her vehicle. She had comprehensive coverage on her car insurance policy, which covered non-accident repairs caused by natural disasters like hail.

Emily filed a claim with her insurance company, and they approved the repairs, paying for the necessary fixes. Thanks to her comprehensive coverage, Emily didn’t have to bear the financial burden of repairing the hail damage on her own.

Case Study 2: Michael’s Exclusion of Bad Repair Damages

Michael took his car to an auto repair shop to fix a minor issue, but the shop performed the repairs poorly, causing additional damage to his vehicle. Unfortunately, Michael’s car insurance didn’t cover damages from bad repairs. However, he contacted the auto repair shop and explained the situation.

The shop acknowledged their mistake and agreed to rectify the damages at no additional cost to Michael. While his car insurance didn’t provide coverage in this case, the resolution with the repair shop saved him from additional expenses.

Case Study 3: Sarah’s Mechanical Breakdown Insurance

Sarah’s car experienced sudden mechanical failure while she was driving. She had purchased mechanical breakdown insurance as an optional coverage on her car insurance policy. Sarah contacted her insurance company and filed a claim for the repairs needed due to the mechanical failure.

Thanks to her mechanical breakdown insurance, the insurance company covered the cost of the repairs, ensuring that Sarah didn’t have to bear the financial burden of the mechanical failure.

Car Insurance Coverage for Non-Accident Repairs: The Bottom Line

Auto insurance companies cover non-accident repairs through comprehensive coverage.

If the vehicle is damaged in an accident that doesn’t involve a collision, your car insurance company will cut a check for the repair cost.

Non-accident damage from bad repairs, poor maintenance, and normal wear and tear isn’t covered by auto insurance.

Now that you know how car insurance covers non-accident repairs, enter your ZIP code into our free online quote tool to compare multiple companies in your area.