Eric Stauffer

Licensed Insurance Agent

Eric Stauffer is an insurance agent and banker-turned-consumer advocate. His priority is educating individuals and families about the different types of insurance coverage. He is passionate about helping consumers find the best coverage for their budgets and personal needs. Eric is the CEO of C Street Media, a full-service marketing firm and the co-founder of ProperCents.com, a financial educat...

Licensed Insurance Agent

Tonya Sisler

Content Team Lead

Tonya Sisler has been a technical insurance writer for over five years. She uses her extensive insurance and finance knowledge to write informative articles that answer readers' top questions. Her mission is to provide readers with timely, accurate information that allows them to determine their insurance needs and choose the best coverage.  Tonya currently leads a team of 10 insurance copywri...

Content Team Lead

UPDATED: Jun 27, 2023

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UPDATED: Jun 27, 2023Fact Checked

Car insurance companies determine what damages to cover based on the cause of that damage. This means that specific perils are insured against, not damage types. In the case of engine damage, it’s certainly possible that the insurance company will pay for repairs or replacement of the engine if the damage was caused as a result of a covered peril.

Engine Damages Covered by Insurance:

— A front-end impact breaks something inside the engine
— The engine catches fire
— Someone vandalizes the vehicle by tampering with gas or otherwise destroying the car mechanically
— The vehicle is submerged in water and the engine stops working

Any time the damage to the engine is caused by a covered peril like a collision, vandalism, fire or flood, the damage will be covered by the applicable coverage on the policy. If the driver does not have the coverage that applies to this type of loss, the damages will not be covered.

Engine Damages Not Covered by Insurance:

— Driving with low oil causing the engine to break
— A worn-out belt snaps and damages the engine
— Any mechanical parts of the engine fail
— Damage from a manufacturer’s recall

Essentially, any engine damages caused by wear and tear or general mechanical failure will not be covered as part of an insurance claim no matter what coverages you carry on your policy.

In cases where an engine malfunction or other mechanical failure causes an auto accident, the accident itself will be covered by the insurance but the malfunction will not be. For example, if your engine suddenly dies while you’re on the highway and you lose control of the vehicle, the resulting collision would be covered by insurance. The replacement of the engine would not be covered, however, only the damages caused by the collision itself.

The preexisting engine or mechanical damages would be subtracted from the value of the vehicle prior to the settlement. This means that the cost of repairing or replacing the engine will be subtracted from the overall repair cost of returning the vehicle to its original state. If replacing the engine alone would cost more than the vehicle is worth, the insurance company would generally not continue pursuing the claim.

You would instead be issued a denial letter explaining that the vehicle was already a total loss due to mechanical failure before the damages occurred, and you would need to cover the replacement of your vehicle yourself. This is one reason why it is so important to provide maintenance for your vehicles to avoid this type of mechanical failure.

Filing a Claim for Engine Damage

Sometimes, it’s not immediately clear what caused damages to a vehicle or why the engine suddenly failed. Other times, the engine or other mechanical parts of the vehicle may fail while a person is driving, thus causing a collision. Because the interplay of various factors is so complex, you may need to bring the vehicle to the repair shop to complete an inspection before deciding whether to file a claim for your damages.

Once the shop looks at your vehicle, they will determine the approximate cause of the damages. If the damage appears to be caused by a covered peril, you can contact your insurance company to file the claim. The insurance company will send out an adjuster to inspect the damage and confer with the body shop; if that adjuster agrees that the damage was caused by a covered peril, the claims process will continue. Otherwise, if the damage is determined to be caused by mechanical malfunction or wear and tear, the claim will be denied.

If the claim is accepted, the adjuster will determine if the vehicle is repairable. Engine damage can be extremely expensive to repair, and most vehicles with severely damaged engines will be deemed total losses. When this occurs, the adjuster will determine the value of the vehicle and provide you with a settlement based on that figure less any deductibles that you owe.

If your vehicle is still very new or valuable, it may still be worth more than the cost of a new engine. In this case, the adjuster will write an estimate for the amount of repairs and provide a settlement based on that figure rather than the replacement cost of the vehicle.

Engine damage and other mechanical issues can be tricky, and each claim is different, so you will always want to discuss your specific situation with an adjuster to ensure that your damages are handled and there are no questions about your coverages and how they’ll apply to your loss.

Case Studies: Car Insurance and Engine Damage

Case Study 1: Front-End Impact

John was driving his car when he collided with another vehicle, resulting in a front-end impact. As a result of the collision, something inside the engine was broken, leading to engine damage. In this case, the engine damage would likely be covered by John’s car insurance since the damage was caused by a covered peril, which is a collision.

Case Study 2: Vandalism

Emily parked her car in a public parking lot, and someone vandalized her vehicle by tampering with the gas and damaging the engine. The insurance company would likely cover the engine damage in this case since it resulted from an act of vandalism, which is a covered peril.

Case Study 3: Mechanical Failure

Mark was driving his car when the engine suddenly failed, causing him to lose control of the vehicle and get into an accident. While the accident itself would be covered by insurance, the mechanical failure of the engine would not be covered. Therefore, the insurance company would not cover the cost of repairing or replacing the engine itself.

Case Study 4: Manufacturer’s Recall

Sarah’s car experienced engine damage due to a manufacturer’s recall. Unfortunately, car insurance typically does not cover damages resulting from a manufacturer’s recall. Sarah would need to address the issue with the manufacturer or seek compensation through other means.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Car Insurance Cover Engine Damage?

It depends on the cause of the engine damage. Comprehensive and collision coverage can cover engine damage caused by accidents, while mechanical failure is typically not covered unless you have specific mechanical breakdown insurance.

What types of engine damage are covered by car insurance?

Car insurance will cover engine damage caused by covered perils, such as front-end impact, fire, vandalism, or water damage.

What types of engine damage are not covered by car insurance?

Car insurance will not cover engine damage caused by wear and tear, mechanical failure, low oil, or manufacturer recalls.

Will insurance cover an accident caused by engine malfunction?

Yes, insurance will cover an accident caused by an engine malfunction, but it will not cover the malfunction itself.

What happens if the cost of replacing the engine is more than the vehicle is worth?

If the cost of replacing the engine is more than the vehicle is worth, the insurance company may not continue pursuing the claim, and you may need to cover the replacement of the vehicle yourself.

How do I file a claim for engine damage?

Bring your vehicle to a repair shop to complete an inspection, and if the damage is caused by a covered peril, contact your insurance company to file a claim. The adjuster will inspect the damage and determine if the vehicle is repairable or a total loss.

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Eric Stauffer

Licensed Insurance Agent

Eric Stauffer is an insurance agent and banker-turned-consumer advocate. His priority is educating individuals and families about the different types of insurance coverage. He is passionate about helping consumers find the best coverage for their budgets and personal needs. Eric is the CEO of C Street Media, a full-service marketing firm and the co-founder of ProperCents.com, a financial educat...

Licensed Insurance Agent

Tonya Sisler

Content Team Lead

Tonya Sisler has been a technical insurance writer for over five years. She uses her extensive insurance and finance knowledge to write informative articles that answer readers' top questions. Her mission is to provide readers with timely, accurate information that allows them to determine their insurance needs and choose the best coverage.  Tonya currently leads a team of 10 insurance copywri...

Content Team Lead

Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about car insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything car insurance-related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by car insurance experts.