Engine failure is one of the most costly issues any driver can face, often resulting in bills higher than the value of the car itself. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, you may be wondering if your car insurance will cover the bill, we explain all in this blog.

Does Car Insurance Cover Engine Failure?

If the engine failure is due to age, mileage or poor servicing, your car insurance will not cover the repair costs, this is regardless of the level of cover you have. 

The only instance your insurance might pay to repair a blown engine is if it was the result of a crash, fire or attempted theft.

Will Third Party Insurance Cover Engine Failure?

Regardless of cause, third party insurance will not cover engine failure, that’s because it only covers the other party’s vehicle, but not your own.

Will Third Party Fire and Theft Cover Engine Failure?

TPFT includes cover for your own vehicle in cases of theft or fire damage, so in theory should cover engine failure from either of these events, for a definitive answer contact your insurer.

As theft attempts usually amount to a broken window or damaged ignition barrel, rather than engine failure, many insurers would need strong evidence before they’d pay to replace an engine on this basis. 

Will Comprehensive Insurance Cover Engine Failure?

As comprehensive cover includes damage to your own car, if the engine failure is caused by an accident, the insurer should foot the bill to repair or reimburse you for the costs.

If caused by any other eventuality, it’s unlikely to be covered, read on for more details.

When Insurance Will Cover Engine Failure

If the engine failure is the result of an accident, and you have comprehensive cover, the insurer is likely to cover the repair or replacement of your car. 

However, unless your car is particularly valuable, most engine replacements bills will deem the car “uneconomical to repair” meaning the car will be declared a write off instead of receiving a new engine.

When Insurance Will Not Cover Engine Failure

Due to High Mileage or Age

Even with the correct maintenance schedule and servicing, an engine can still fail, unfortunately insurance policies don’t cover for mechanical failure due to wear and tear. 

Manufacturers or after sales warranties are typically used to cover these kinds of damages

From Poor Maintenance

Modern engines are finely tuned devices, with many moving parts. They need lubrication via the correct oil, changed at the right intervals, and effective cooling via their cooling system. 

If either of these are ignored, forgotten or overlooked, the engine may well suffer and fail prematurely.

Ultimately, insurance does not cover against lack of maintenance, even warranty companies will need to see evidence of manufacturer-recommended servicing before paying out for such a failure. 

How to Prevent Engine Failure

Many cars are scrapped due to faults other than engine failure, such as rust, bodywork damage or simply old age. Even so, helping to prevent your engine from falling prematurely is relatively simple.

Service On-time

Manufacturers set service intervals for a reason, oils break down under normal conditions, and lose their lubricating properties. Most cars require an oil change at least every 15,000 miles, some even less. 

Check your service intervals in your manual, and ensure they are not extended. Unless you do mega mileage, I would recommend servicing your car once per year, this way it’s easy to remember and budget for.

Use the Correct Oil and Parts

As well as changing your oil on time, using the right type of oil is vital. There are many different types of engine oil, and the manufacturer will generally put this in the service manual, too. 

Alongside the correct oil, the oil filter should be of OEM quality, ensuring the oil is not transporting debris and contaminants around the engine. 

Don’t Lose Your Cool

Engines typically operate at around 100 degrees celsius, any cooler and they won’t be operating efficiently, hotter and you run the risk of warping parts or otherwise damaging the engine permanently.

Most cars come with a temperature gauge, check that the needle rises steadily from zero to the mid position after 5-15 minutes of driving, and doesn’t falter up or down during normal driving. If it does, have a mechanic check the cooling system urgently.

How to Claim For Engine Failure on Insurance

Insurers are famously good at negotiating out of paying for car repairs, so an expensive engine repair bill needs to be accompanied with good evidence in order to make a successful claim. 

• Present your servicing records, if the insurer sees you have neglected to service the engine, or you cannot prove that you have, they will pin the failure onto this instead.
• Document closely the damage at the scene of the crash, ideally before any cars are moved, this could help show the engine was damaged in the accident.
• Seek independent legal advice on insurance claims, in order to be prepared for the insurer's questions.

Use Bumper for your Engine Replacement or Repair

If your engine has failed due to old age or a manufacturing issue, but the car still has life left in it, Bumper can help with 0% finance. Offering zero-interest finance, a costly engine replacement can be split into manageable chunks. To get started, find your nearest approved partner.