Unlike extended car warranty and breakdown cover, car insurance is a legal requirement that all drivers and vehicles must have. Car insurance policies not only protect you if you are involved in an accident, but protects other road users from natural or man-made accidents. However, there are instances where car insurance doesn’t come into play, but other optional policies might…
Our guide will cover some common questions asked by drivers about their car insurance, including what might be covered, and what isn’t.
Flooding can cause serious, irreversible damage to your car, including fluid contamination, corrosion of the braking system, exhaust failure and ECU damage. Hydrolock is one the more serious consequences of flooding, which is caused by starting the engine in flood water.
Whether or not your car insurance covers flood damage mainly depends on the type of car insurance you’ve got; comprehensive car insurance policies are the only coverage options that will cover flooding, whereas third-party and third-party, fire and theft will not.
Sometimes, even comprehensive car insurance providers won’t pay out if your car has been affected by flood damage. Instances include:
Avoidable damage, such as driving through a flooded area intentionally or ignoring warning signs. If your car was parked away from home or at home, even if you live in a flood-risk area, your car insurer should still pay out.
Starting a flooded engine – do not attempt to start your car if it is submerged in floodwater, as this can void your claim.
Not taking reasonable precautions, such as leaving your windows down or failing to close the sunroof.
If your flood damage isn’t covered by your car insurance, breakdown assistance may be able to help, especially if you have home start cover and your vehicle hasn’t been declared a total loss.
You can find out more about whether car insurance covers flood damage in our previous guide.
It is possible to claim for repairs on your car insurance, but it can depend on your level of cover and how exactly the damage occurred. Comprehensive car insurance will usually cover repairs caused by an accident, fire, flooding, theft or vandalism. Third-party, the most basic liability cover, will not pay for repairs.
If your vehicle needs repairs due to wear and tear or mechanical failure, car insurance will not cover this; if you have a warranty policy in place, this will cover mechanical or electrical faults. If wear and tear causes failure when on the road, breakdown cover could be your lifeline. Car insurance policies also don’t cover routine maintenance, pre-existing damage or driver neglect.
If you’re looking for a policy that will cover repairs for a mechanical or electrical fault, standard extended car warranty covers elements such as, but not limited to:
Electrics
Steering and suspension
Engine
Brakes
Drive system
Breakdown policies will help you out with issues such as:
Flat batteries
Tyre punctures
Lack of fuel/wrong fuel used
Damage that causes the vehicle to become immobile
You can find out more about whether car insurance covers repairs in our previous guide here.
Most of the time, your comprehensive car insurance policy will cover you if your vehicle is damaged by the weather, also known as an “act of God” or “insured peril.” If you willingly drive into a flooded area or ignore warning signs, however, you may not be covered. Storm damage is classed as an “at-fault” claim since there are no other parties involved, so it may affect your no-claims discount and future premiums.
Car insurance companies typically accept the following incidents:
To protect your vehicle during stormy weather, try parking in a garage if this is possible. Don’t park close to trees or scaffolding, and ensure all windows and sunroofs are closed. If the accident is classed as avoidable, you may not be able to claim.
Other policies, such as GAP insurance and breakdown cover can help you if your car is damaged by a storm or you are stranded. GAP insurance, however, won’t pay out if your car insurance doesn’t either.
You can find out more about car insurance coverage during stormy weather in our previous guide here.
There are several factors that affect whether or not car engines are covered in car insurance policies. Engines fail for a number of reasons, such as:
Wear and tear
Overheating
Fuel problems
Ignoring the “check engine” light
Car engines can also be damaged in road traffic collisions, which is when your car insurance will pay for any repairs or replacements. Your comprehensive car insurance will cover engine damage in the event of an insured accident or theft. Third-party, fire and theft will only cover the engine if it is damaged in a fire or the vehicle is stolen, but third-party insurance will not cover engine damage.
Policies such as extended car warranty and breakdown cover will help you repair your engine in the event of a mechanical fault, no matter whether the issue occurred in an accident or not.
To look after your car engine, make sure you check fluid levels frequently, keep up with servicing, warm the engine before driving in winter and replace your engine air filters.
If your car insurance won’t pay out for a fault, extended car warranty and breakdown cover might be your lifeline. Extended car warranty policies are there to lend a helping hand if your car suffers an unexpected mechanical or electrical fault, and breakdown cover can help you get back on the road if you suffer from an engine failure whilst driving.
Our policies at ALA are competitively priced and present different coverage levels, with optional extras you can add to your policy for extra peace of mind. You can start building your bespoke quote here.
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