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What to Know
Collision and comprehensive pay for damage to your own car, while liability pays for damage you cause to others. Any repairs outside of a covered event are not covered under a standard car insurance policy.
With a covered repair, you pay your deductible, and if the repair cost gets too close to the car's value, the insurer may total the car and pay its actual cash value instead of fixing it.
Does Car Insurance Cover Repairs After an Accident?
If you carry the right coverage, your car insurance policy covers accident repairs. Collision pays to repair your car after it hits another vehicle or object, no matter who caused the crash. Comprehensive pays for theft, vandalism, fire, hail, flooding, falling objects and animal strikes.
Liability pays for damage you cause to others, not your own car.
Each type of damage maps to a specific part of your policy. Here's which part pays:
| Coverage type | What it pays to repair | Pays for your own car? | Deductible applies? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liability | Other people's cars and property you damage | No | No |
| Collision | Your car after hitting a vehicle, pole, wall or other object | Yes | Yes |
| Comprehensive | Theft, vandalism, hail, flood, fire, falling objects, animal strikes | Yes | Yes |
| Uninsured motorist property damage (available in some states) | Your car when an uninsured driver hits it | Yes | Often, depending on your state and policy |
| Mechanical breakdown insurance (add-on) | Covered mechanical parts that fail | Yes | Usually, per repair visit |
If another driver caused the crash, their liability coverage may pay for your repairs instead. That depends on how your state assigns fault. No-fault states handle it differently.
Does Car Insurance Cover Mechanical Repairs or Breakdowns?
Standard car insurance doesn't pay for mechanical failures, breakdowns or wear and tear, because nothing sudden or external caused the damage. A failed alternator, worn brakes or a dead transmission is a maintenance or warranty issue. Mechanical breakdown insurance or an extended warranty can cover some of these repairs instead.
Does car insurance cover wear and tear or maintenance?
No standard policy pays for maintenance or for parts that wear out with use. Here is what falls outside coverage:
- Oil changes and scheduled maintenance
- Tires and brake pads worn down by normal driving
- Batteries that die of age
- Engine or transmission failure caused by age or mileage
If a covered event causes mechanical damage, the repair can fall under collision or comprehensive. A crash that cracks the radiator counts, and so does a flood that ruins the engine.
Roadside assistance is a separate add-on that many insurers offer.
When something breaks on its own, these are the realistic ways to pay for the repair:
| Option | What it covers | Who sells it | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard car insurance | Damage from crashes, theft, weather and other covered events | Auto insurers | Excludes breakdowns and wear |
| Manufacturer warranty | Factory defects in covered parts | Included with new cars | Expires by age or mileage |
| Mechanical breakdown insurance | Failure of listed mechanical parts | Some auto insurers | Often limited to newer, lower-mileage cars |
| Extended warranty (vehicle service contract) | Listed parts, depending on the contract | Dealers and third-party companies | Exclusions and claim rules vary widely by contract |
| Paying out of pocket | Any repair you choose | Not applicable | Full cost falls on you |
Before you buy anything, check whether your manufacturer's warranty is still active. If you're considering mechanical breakdown insurance, ask your insurer whether it sells MBI at all and which vehicles qualify.
'Covered' Doesn't Mean Free, or Even Fixed
Start with the deductible. That's the amount you pay on a covered claim before the insurer pays anything. Typical deductibles are $500 or $1,000, although they can be higher or lower. For a covered claim that exceeds your deductible, you pay the deductible amount and your insurer pays the rest.
A total loss is when the insurer decides a car isn't worth fixing. It pays the car's actual cash value, meaning what it was worth just before the damage, minus your deductible. Insurers make that call when the repair cost gets too close to the car's value.
Older cars reach that line faster. In 2025, repairs averaged $5,721 for cars 6 years old or newer and $3,682 for at least 7 years old, according to CCC Intelligent Solutions. Older cars cost less to repair, but they're worth even less, so the same crash is more likely to end with a check than a repair.
Repair bills are also getting more complicated. In 2025, 28.3% of repairable estimates included a calibration, up from 21.8% the year before, CCC reports. A minor fender bender, for example, may require a technician to recalibrate the cameras that power advanced safety systems such as lane-keeping and automatic braking.
Dropping collision on an old car is sometimes reasonable, but only if you can absorb the repair yourself or replace the car without an insurance payout.
How to Decide Whether to File a Claim for a Repair
- Confirm the cause. If a collision, theft or storm did the damage, a claim may apply. If the car simply broke down, check your warranty or MBI instead.
- Find your deductible on your declarations page. Collision and comprehensive often carry different amounts, so look up the one that applies.
- Get a repair estimate from a shop you choose.
- Subtract your deductible from the estimate. If what's left is small, ask your insurer or agent how a claim could affect your renewal before you file.
- If the numbers favor filing, file promptly. Most policies require timely notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does auto insurance cover repairs if the accident was my fault?
Yes, if you carry collision coverage. It pays to repair your car regardless of who caused the crash, once you've paid your deductible. Liability-only policies pay nothing toward your own car, fault or not.
If my car breaks down, will insurance cover it?
No. A standard car insurance policy excludes mechanical failure, so a dead alternator or a seized engine isn't covered.
Does car insurance cover maintenance like oil changes or new tires?
No. Routine maintenance and parts that wear out through normal use, such as tires, brake pads, and batteries, are the owner's responsibility.
Does car insurance cover non-accident repairs, like hail damage or a break-in?
Yes, under comprehensive coverage, as long as you carry it.
What happens if the insurer decides my car isn't worth repairing?
The insurer declares the car a total loss when the repair cost gets too close to the car's value. It then pays the car's actual cash value, meaning what it was worth just before the damage, minus your deductible. Older cars reach that point faster because they're worth less.
