Mechanical Breakdown Insurance

The best mechanical breakdown insurance is from Allstate, Mercury, and Liberty Mutual. These companies cover the most vehicle components at the lowest prices, and their mechanical breakdown insurance policies apply to cars for much longer than plans from competitors.

Best Mechanical Breakdown Insurance Companies

• Allstate
• Mercury
• Liberty Mutual
• AAA
• American Family
• Geico

In general, Allstate's Extended Vehicle Care plan is the cheapest option and covers the most components, while Mercury's Mechanical Protection lasts the longest. Liberty Mutual, on the other hand, offers two different policy options that customers can choose between.

Mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) is a type of coverage that pays to repair your car when it suffers from a major mechanical failure. Because it is a specialty add-on, MBI is not offered by all major insurance companies.

Some insurance companies market their mechanical breakdown coverage as a vehicle service plan or extended warranty, which may offer broader coverage than traditional MBI. Most insurers specify an age and mileage limit for their MBI policies and service plans, too, so it's possible that your car may not qualify for coverage.

The specific cost of mechanical coverage will vary based on factors such as your vehicle's make, model, age, and mileage. Most insurance companies allow you to pay monthly, though AAA and Mercury both require a lump-sum payment for up to four and seven years of coverage, respectively.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to mechanical breakdown insurance.

An extended car warranty costs $1,500 on average. The cost of an extended car warranty can be anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 depending on several factors, including the condition of the car, the car's mileage, and the amount of coverage included in the warranty.

Factors That Affect Extended Car Warranty Cost

An extended car warranty pays for repairs to a car's major systems if they malfunction. If you drive an older car or a car with higher mileage, your warranty will be more expensive because your car is more likely to experience mechanical problems. Similarly, the more coverage that you include in your warranty, the more you're going to pay.

How to Shop for an Extended Car Warranty

If you want to purchase an extended warranty for your car, you should get quotes from multiple sources in order to find the best price. You can purchase an extended warranty from your car's manufacturer or a third-party company, and the pricing is generally the same between the two. However, customer satisfaction tends to be higher for warranties from the manufacturer.

Many insurance companies also offer an alternative to extended warranties called mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI). MBI provides similar coverage and only costs about $100 per year.

Yes, Geico offers mechanical breakdown insurance for cars that are less than 15 months old with less than 15,000 miles. Geico mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) is a policy add-on that insures a vehicle against mechanical problems, such as transmission or engine failure, which are not covered by standard car insurance.

What Geico Mechanical Breakdown Insurance Covers

• Engine
• Drivetrain
• Cooling system
• Suspension
• Electrical system
• Steering

However, mechanical breakdown insurance will not pay for routine maintenance, wear and tear, or damage caused by an accident. Other exclusions to Geico mechanical breakdown coverage include tune-ups, wheel balancing, and suspension balancing, among others.

Geico Mechanical Breakdown Insurance Cost

The cost of Geico mechanical breakdown insurance varies depending on the car, but the average MBI policy costs around $100 a year. Customers will also need to pay a deductible of $250 before Geico MBI goes into effect.

Mechanical breakdown insurance from Geico is a good alternative to an extended warranty from the vehicle manufacturer, which might provide the same type of coverage but will usually cost around $1,500 total. For more information on whether Geico MBI is worth it, check out WalletHub's complete guide to mechanical breakdown insurance.

No, traditional car insurance does not cover ordinary repairs or maintenance to your car. If your car is covered by comprehensive insurance, your insurance company will cover mechanical repairs caused by a car accident, natural disasters, or other unforeseeable events.

Insurance companies do offer a type of coverage that policy holders can use for repairs. This coverage is called mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI), or repair insurance. MBI is offered by some insurance companies and comes with a deductible. MBI deductibles tend to be low, and in the event your car needs major mechanical repairs, this type of coverage could save you thousands of dollars. It usually covers repairs to your vehicle's engine, drivetrain, transmission, brakes, exhaust and power system.

With many policies, MBI coverage cannot be used for car maintenance, or for tire replacement, coolant replacement or other minor repairs. It's also important to keep in mind that some insurance companies that offer MBI only do so for newer models and vehicles under a certain mileage.

If you're considering purchasing MBI coverage, it's a good idea to carefully read the provider's policy in order to understand required qualifications for and limitations of the offered coverage.

No, Progressive does not offer mechanical breakdown insurance. Mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) is a specialty type of car insurance coverage that is only available from some insurers, and it pays for repairs that are not related to routine maintenance, wear and tear, or an accident. For instance, MBI often pays for transmission failure or engine problems.

The cost of mechanical breakdown insurance varies depending on the car, but the average MBI policy costs about $100 per year. Consequently, mechanical breakdown insurance is a good alternative to an extended car warranty, which typically costs around $1,500 total.

Although Progressive does not sell mechanical breakdown coverage, drivers can purchase MBI from companies such as Geico. For more information, check out WalletHub's complete guide to mechanical breakdown insurance.

No, State Farm does not offer mechanical breakdown insurance. Mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) is a specialty type of car insurance coverage that is only available from some insurers, and it pays for repairs that are not related to routine maintenance, wear and tear, or an accident. For instance, MBI often pays for transmission failure or engine problems.

The cost of mechanical breakdown insurance varies depending on the car, but the average MBI policy costs about $100 per year. Consequently, mechanical breakdown insurance is a good alternative to an extended car warranty, which typically costs around $1,500 total.

Although State Farm does not sell mechanical breakdown coverage, drivers can purchase MBI from companies such as Geico. For more information, check out WalletHub's complete guide to mechanical breakdown insurance.

Mechanical repair coverage is an extended car warranty package that pays for repairs after a vehicle experiences mechanical failure. Mechanical repair coverage specifically applies to the basic systems of the car, including the engine, transmission, brakes, and steering. It does not cover normal wear and tear or general upkeep, such as oil changes or battery replacement.

Mechanical repair coverage plans are similar to mechanical breakdown insurance, except drivers buy mechanical repair coverage from an independent provider, like a credit union, instead of an insurance company. When you purchase a mechanical repair coverage plan, you will pay a premium just like you would for a regular car insurance policy. Then, if your car has a mechanical failure and needs to be repaired down the line, you will only have to pay your deductible, which is usually no more than $250.

The cost of mechanical repair coverage depends on what kind of car you drive, what state you're in, and how much coverage you purchase. Most vendors offer different levels of coverage, with more expensive options providing broader protection. For example, a high-end plan might include safety and security systems in its coverage.

No, car insurance does not cover mechanical problems unless you carry mechanical breakdown insurance. Mechanical breakdown insurance is a policy add-on that covers the failure of major vehicle systems such as the engine or transmission.

Standard car insurance policies do not provide this coverage, so if you don't purchase mechanical breakdown insurance, you will have to pay for the repairs yourself. Several major insurance companies, including Geico and Allstate, offer mechanical breakdown insurance, which only costs about $100 annually.

It should also be noted that while mechanical breakdown insurance pays for system failures, it does not pay for major repairs related to normal maintenance or wear and tear.

No, USAA does not offer mechanical breakdown insurance. Mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) is a specialty type of car insurance coverage that is only available from some insurers, and it pays for repairs that are not related to routine maintenance, wear and tear, or an accident. For instance, MBI often pays for transmission failure or engine problems.

The cost of mechanical breakdown insurance varies depending on the car, but the average MBI policy costs about $100 per year. Consequently, mechanical breakdown insurance is a good alternative to an extended car warranty, which typically costs around $1,500 total.

Although USAA  does not sell mechanical breakdown coverage, drivers can purchase MBI from companies such as Geico. For more information, check out WalletHub's complete guide to mechanical breakdown insurance.

The General does offer “full coverage” car insurance. Full coverage is not an official insurance term, but it's generally used to mean that a policy has more than just the liability coverage required by most states. The General has liability-only policies, which pay for damages to other people and property caused by a policyholder in an accident. They can also add collision and comprehensive insurance to build a reasonably priced full coverage policy for the high-risk drivers who are its target market.

Collision and comprehensive insurance protect your own car. The General's collision insurance covers damage to your vehicle if it flips over or collides with something. Comprehensive covers other kinds of damage, including losses caused by fire, theft, vandalism, weather events or contact with an animal.

Although both types of insurance are optional if you own your vehicle outright, The General requires drivers in most states to purchase them together. If your car is leased or financed, the lender will usually require collision and comprehensive coverage to protect their own financial interest in the car.

Despite having the basic policy options needed for full coverage, The General's menu is relatively limited compared to other major car insurance companies. For example, they don't offer guaranteed auto protection (GAP) insurance or mechanical breakdown coverage. For the full story, check out WalletHub's 2019 review of The General.

To get a quote for full coverage insurance from The General, call (844) 328-0306 or visit The General's website.