Will Your Car Insurance Cover Non-Accident Repairs?

What’s the first thing you’d ask yourself if you found a dent in your car after it sat parked for hours? Or what about a ding in your windshield or car scratches? Did your engine blow out after you drove into a flooded area? “Does insurance cover non-accident car repairs?” may be what you’re asking. Well, the answer is yes, some types of car insurance cover non-accident perils. Also, car warranties offer coverage as well.

Car insurance covers a lot but it doesn’t cover everything! Here’s everything you need to know if something goes wrong with your car and you’re wondering if you can file an insurance claim for it or if you should look at your car warranty instead.

What type of car insurance covers non-accident repairs?

Non-accident Events Included With Car Insurance

Note that you are either covered by collision or comprehensive or mechanical breakdown coverage, if the type of peril is listed on your car insurance policy. Your liability coverage will not protect you from these perils:

• Vandalism
• Theft
• Mechanical issues
• Fire
• Falling object
• Flood
• Windstorm
• Severe Weather
• Hail
• Cracked/broken windshield (sometimes)
• Collision with an animal or object
• Pothole damage
• Car scratches

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You are either covered by collision, comprehensive or mechanical breakdown coverage, if the type of non-accident peril is listed on your car insurance policy.

Will a Car Warranty Cover a Non-accident Repair?

Depending on the warranty and its stipulations, which are based on mileage and maintenance of the vehicle, you may be covered for certain non-accident repairs. For instance, if you need a new transmission within the coverage period of the car warranty, you won’t have to pay for it.

Just as you pay more for car insurance when you drive more, a warranty is usually based on mileage and normal usage of a car. If you’ve gone over the maximum mileage, you won’t have coverage with your warranty. You will not be covered for accident-related damages either.

Who Is Liable for Non-accident Damage to a Vehicle?

Your car insurance may be liable for non-accident damage, if you have comprehensive and collision as well as mechanical breakdown insurance. (Full coverage is collision and comprehensive. It doesn’t include mechanical breakdown coverage.)

Let’s say that someone keyed your car and cracked your windshield. That would constitute vandalism, which is covered by comprehensive coverage. If you hit an object, you’d need to file a collision claim. If your transmission fails within the parameters of your policy’s requirements, mechanical breakdown insurance would cover you.

Also, the manufacturer of the car may be liable for non-accident damage to a vehicle, like the engine suddenly not working within the mileage maximum in your warranty contract. If there’s damage done to a vehicle and you do not have the right coverage or a warranty, you may have to pay for repairs yourself.

Neither car insurance nor a car warranty will cover damages caused by wear-and-tear or neglect.

Does Rental Car Insurance Cover Non-accident Repairs?

If you have rental car insurance, you will be reimbursed for renting the car while your car is being fixed due to a covered peril. However, the repairs done to your car will not be covered by rental car insurance.

The repairs may not be covered by your comprehensive or mechanical breakdown insurance if the issues were a result of poor maintenance or regular wear and tear or if the type of peril that caused the damage is not listed in your policy.

If the damages were due to an accident that was the fault of another driver, their liability insurance will cover your expenses. If you caused the accident, collision coverage alone would cover you.

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Depending on the warranty, you may be covered for certain non-accident repairs.

Car insurance covers many mishaps and losses, but it is important to have the right coverages in case you do need non-accident repairs. To find an insurance company that can offer you a suite of coverage at a bargain, compare insurance quotes. Enter your zip code below and answer a few questions. Three or four agents offering the best value will contact you with more information. You are not obligated to buy, and the service is free!