Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a transmission failure?
A lot of people ask if car insurance covers damage caused by a transmission failure. With the right coverage, car insurance can cover transmission repair and damage to other parts of your vehicle caused by a transmission failure. Learn how to make sure your insurance covers transmission issues.
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Justin Wright
Licensed Insurance Agent
Justin Wright has been a licensed insurance broker for over 9 years. After graduating from Southeastern Seminary with a Masters in Philosophy, Justin started his career as a professor, teaching Philosophy and Ethics. Later, Justin obtained both his Property & Casualty license and his Life and Health license and began working for State Farm and Allstate. In 2020, Justin began working as an i...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Feb 13, 2024
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UPDATED: Feb 13, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Your car insurance can often help with repairs after a transmission problem
- Liability insurance doesn’t cover your transmission, but collision or comprehensive coverage might
- Mechanical breakdown insurance is the only type of insurance coverage that assists with repairs from normal wear
If you’re looking for a new policy, you may wonder whether car insurance covers damage caused by a transmission failure. Sometimes, people need to pay for transmission repairs or replacements themselves.
In others, your car insurance can cover your transmission if you have the right coverage, which may run more than the average cost of car insurance for people in the United States.
The transmission controls how much horsepower and torque reach your car’s wheels from the engine. It’s essential for a smooth, safe ride, and replacing a transmission often costs thousands of dollars. Here’s more information about car insurance types that cover transmissions and how a warranty could help.
Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a transmission failure?
Whether your car insurance coverage will pay for transmission damage or mechanical issues with your transmission depends on the policy you choose and the details of your claim.
In some cases, car insurance that doesn’t cover a mechanical transmission breakdown will pay for other damages, like body repairs, if the problem leads to an accident. Many types of car insurance coverage are available, and we’ll explore how each would relate to a transmission failure.
Does liability insurance cover transmission failure?
In many parts of the United States, drivers must have a minimum amount of liability insurance. It covers property damage and injuries to others, protecting you from needing to pay for their expenses after a crash. However, liability insurance won’t help if you have damage to parts of your vehicle, like the transmission.
Does collision insurance cover transmission failure?
Collision insurance covers damage to your transmission and many other parts of your vehicle if you have a car accident. Like many types of insurance, there’s usually a car insurance deductible, an amount stated in the policy that you must pay on your own before the insurance company pays for the rest of your claim.
If an issue with the transmission leads to an accident, your car insurance company may cover it. However, your rates could increase if the company decides that improper maintenance led to the problem. This is because collision coverage won’t address the mechanical problem that led to the accident.
Does comprehensive insurance cover transmission failure?
Comprehensive insurance is often part of the same policy as collision insurance. It can sometimes pay for your transmission if it sustains damage while you’re not driving your vehicle. Many comprehensive car insurance policies pay for damage from:
- Vandalism: Someone could damage your vehicle on purpose.
- Natural disasters: A flood could cause water damage to your transmission, and a hurricane, tornado, or severe storm could send debris toward your vehicle.
- Fires: An accidental fire inside your garage could easily spread to your car, destroying the transmission or other parts.
- Theft: Stealing a car doesn’t usually damage the transmission, but car thieves are often reckless. The person who takes your car could crash it and cause issues with the transmission.
Read more:
- Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a flood or hurricane?
- Does Car Insurance cover hurricane damage?
Not every insurance company provides comprehensive coverage for all of these hazards. So before you choose a policy, it’s a good idea to learn more about the best comprehensive coverage car insurance companies and the causes of damage they cover. Comprehensive car insurance costs $13 per month on average.
Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
Many people ask, does car insurance cover mechanical failure? You can choose mechanical breakdown insurance to get coverage for transmission failure, broken turbines, or other issues caused by normal wear.
It makes repairing your vehicle less expensive, letting you take care of transmission issues before they lead to severe accidents.
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Case Studies: Car Insurance Coverage for Transmission Failure
Case Study 1: Emily’s Costly Transmission Repair
Emily experienced a sudden transmission failure while driving her car. The malfunction caused her vehicle to lose power and come to a complete stop on the highway. She had to arrange for a tow truck to take her car to a repair shop. Unfortunately, Emily’s car insurance policy did not include coverage for mechanical breakdowns, including transmission failure.
As a result, she had to bear the full cost of the transmission repair, which amounted to several thousand dollars. Emily learned the importance of checking her insurance policy for coverage of mechanical issues like transmission failure and decided to explore options for adding comprehensive coverage to her policy in the future.
Case Study 2: Michael’s Protected Transmission
Michael’s car developed a transmission issue that caused erratic shifting and difficulty in acceleration. He had comprehensive car insurance coverage, which included protection for mechanical breakdowns. Michael promptly contacted his insurance company and filed a claim for the transmission repair.
The insurance company approved the claim and covered a significant portion of the repair costs, minus his deductible. Michael was relieved that his comprehensive coverage provided financial assistance in handling the unexpected transmission failure, saving him from bearing the full financial burden.
Case Study 3: Sarah’s Accident due to Transmission Failure
While driving on a busy road, Sarah’s car experienced a sudden transmission failure, causing her to lose control and collide with another vehicle. Both cars sustained substantial damage. Sarah had collision insurance, which covered the damages resulting from the accident. However, her policy did not include coverage for mechanical breakdowns, such as transmission failure.
As a result, she had to pay for the transmission repair out of pocket. Sarah realized the importance of understanding the coverage details of her car insurance policy and decided to consider adding comprehensive coverage to protect against mechanical failures in the future.
What You Need to Know About Car Insurance Coverage for Transmission Failure
If a transmission failure leads to an accident, collision insurance usually pays for the accident but not the transmission repair.
However, comprehensive coverage helps if your transmission is damaged when you’re not driving, and mechanical breakdown coverage pays for repairs to your transmission. You can compare car insurance using our free, convenient tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a warranty pay for transmission repairs?
A warranty can sometimes replace insurance for transmission repairs. Warranties cover damage from normal wear within a particular time frame.
They don’t pay for damages from accidents. So even if the cause of an accident was a faulty transmission, a warranty usually only pays for transmission repairs, not damage caused by transmission problems.
What types of warranties are available?
Many new vehicles come with a warranty from the manufacturer for the transmission and many other parts. You can also purchase an extended warranty for a one-time fee after you buy your car or the manufacturer’s warranty expires.
How long do warranties usually last?
Vehicle warranties usually last for at least three years or 36,000 miles.
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
Your one-stop online insurance guide. Get free quotes now!
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Justin Wright
Licensed Insurance Agent
Justin Wright has been a licensed insurance broker for over 9 years. After graduating from Southeastern Seminary with a Masters in Philosophy, Justin started his career as a professor, teaching Philosophy and Ethics. Later, Justin obtained both his Property & Casualty license and his Life and Health license and began working for State Farm and Allstate. In 2020, Justin began working as an i...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.