Can Car Insurance Cover Breakdowns & Repairs?
Cars provide a lot of convenience to our everyday lives. That convenience, however, comes at a cost. In addition to purchasing the vehicle, you need to fuel it, maintain it, and insure yet. Even if you do all of those things, it may suffer from an unexpected breakdown.
After all, cars are complex machines with countless parts rapidly moving in a very hot environment. Sooner or later, something is bound to go wrong. When it does, many of us are unprepared.
For example, single people who are 34 or younger who don’t have any children have an average of $2,729 put aside in savings. A serious car repair like a blown head gasket or transmission failure can quickly eclipse this amount. This can be especially problematic if you still owe money on the vehicle.
Regardless of your age or financial standing, when costly repairs arise, it’s natural to hope that your car insurance can somehow help.
But Does It?
Unfortunately, car insurance almost never covers standard auto maintenance or malfunctions that stem from wear and failure.
If someone hits your car, and the impact breaks the radiator, then insurance should cover the repairs. Similarly, if you have collision coverage, and you hit a tree or fence with your car, and the radiator breaks, then your insurance should cover it. However, if you’re simply driving your car around, and suddenly the radiator breaks without an external impact, your insurance isn’t going to cover it.
The same is true for virtually any other piece of equipment on your car. For insurance to come into play, there almost always has to be some sort of impact or collision. Car insurance policies can also cover situations such as theft and vandalism.
What Can I Do?
Though you probably can’t adjust your insurance policy so that it covers standard repairs, you might be able to include roadside assistance. This can help you avoid costly towing services if your car does breakdown. Additionally, it can cover jumpstarts, flat tire services, locksmithing, and fuel delivery.
Depending on the age of your vehicle, certain parts of the engine may be under warranty. Additionally, parts such as tires typically come with warranties when you purchase them. Regardless, an unexpected car problem is one of the many reasons why everyone should have an emergency fund set aside. Saving money is rarely fun, especially when finances are already tight. However, you will be glad you have the extra money when those unexpected expenses arise.
One way to increase your ability to save money is by saving on your monthly insurance premiums. The best way to do that is by using an experienced insurance agent. At Link-Hellmuth Insurance, we work hard to get our customers the insurance coverage they need at the best price available. We do this by customizing their policies and shopping them around to all of the major insurance providers.
We also know ways to further save money by bundling different types of insurance together.
For affordable auto insurance and more in the Springfield, Ohio area, contact Link-Hellmuth today!