Does Car Insurance Cover Battery Replacement?
Car Insurance Cover Battery Replacement
Hello everybody! After searching for my jumper wires for fifteen minutes this morning, I discovered my neighbor had them. Let’s examine the specifics if you’re wondering if insurance would just take care of this.
Replacing a dead battery is not covered by auto insurance. However, depending on your policy and the circumstances, insurance may cover the cost of stolen or accidentally damaged batteries.
Batteries are regarded as “consumable” products in auto insurance, regardless of whether you drive an electric vehicle (EV), hybrid, sports car, or vintage truck. Your car will need frequent oil changes, use gas, and wear down its tires and windshield wipers. Over time, it will also deplete your battery. Insurance typically does not cover these consumable auto parts.
Regarding your car battery, auto insurance may be relevant in many circumstances. The knowledgeable staff at Einsurance.com is available now to go over them. However, dead batteries are typically not covered by auto insurance.
After An Accident, Will Insurance Cover Battery Replacement?
Maybe. Below, we’ll look at some scenarios that might occur.
Your damaged battery should be covered if someone else causes an accident, and they are insured.
For incidents like this, the majority of states mandate that drivers have a minimum level of liability insurance. On your way to work, picture yourself driving through an intersection. You have the right-of-way and a green light. A driver strikes the front of your car after running a red light. The battery is leaking, and your front end is severely damaged.
The other driver’s liability insurance will cover the following in this case:
- Auto body repairs
- An alternative battery
- The cost of your injuries’ medical care
- Additionally, some of your passengers’ medical expenses
In such situations, taking care of your health before exchanging insurance details with the other motorist is crucial. Additionally, law enforcement should be notified immediately. Take immediate pictures of the damage and the other driver’s license plates, assuming you are unharmed.
Next, get your car to a preferred auto technician by calling a tow company (or let your insurance company recommend one). Since someone else caused these repairs, you won’t be required to pay a deductible.
Your liability insurance will cover other people’s damages if you cause an accident.
Let’s now pretend that you are the negligent driver. You unintentionally run a red light on your morning drive and collide with another car. Both cars are damaged, but no one is harmed.
Your liability insurance will cover the other driver’s car repairs and broken battery in this scenario.
Remember that liability coverage will only cover the maximum amount allowed under the policy. Therefore, any repairs that exceed your $15,000 property damage coverage will be your responsibility. You might be responsible for paying the remaining amount out of pocket if the other car is a Tesla with a $20,000 battery (unless the other driver has uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage).
Full Coverage Insurance Will Replace Your Battery If You Collide with a Wall
Now, picture yourself on an icy highway, losing control of your car. You collide with a concrete wall, but nobody is wounde,d and no other vehicles are engaged. The battery is leaking, and your car is seriously harmed.
A comprehensive coverage auto insurance policy will fix your car and replace your damaged battery in this case.
You will be responsible for covering repairs on your own, though, if your state merely requires the bare minimum of liability coverage.
Does Insurance Cover Stolen Car Batteries?
This is yet another complex subject. Theoretically, full-coverage auto insurance covers the majority of theft types. This comprises:
- The entire vehicle was stolen.
- Theft of your possessions while in a car (the most frequently stolen things include laptops, cell phones, clothes, and purses).
- Theft of certain auto components, such as batteries, wheels, and catalytic converters
- After a deductible is paid, full coverage auto insurance will assist you in covering the loss if your vehicle, portions of it, or personal possessions are stolen.
But a basic liability policy never covers battery theft. The sole purpose of those policies is to shield other people from harm that you may inflict.
Remember that before your full coverage policy will assist with losses like theft, you must pay a deductible. This implies that you will have some financial accountability.
Your deductible may be greater or lower than the $250 to $1,000 range found on the majority of contemporary auto insurance. For a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE), a replacement battery could cost between $50 and $250. Insurance won’t help if a replacement battery costs less than your deductible, which is most likely the situation for a conventional gas or diesel engine.
Additionally, it would be wiser to handle this expense on your own rather than attempting to save $19, even if the fees are comparable. For example, a replacement battery costs $269, and your deductible is $250. This is because insurance firms may raise your rates based on their careful review of your claims history.
Does Insurance Cover Hybrid Battery Replacement?
Unfortunately, taking hybrid batteries is not too difficult if you are physically strong and have some mechanical knowledge. Additionally, they are quickly sold online; according to our investigation, one can be purchased on Craigslist for roughly $1,000.
Theft of your hybrid battery and any associated damage will be covered if your policy is fully covered. Once more, liability-only coverage won’t apply. Insurance, however, will not replace a used-out battery since, like tires, batteries are consumables.
The cost of a new hybrid battery can range from $2,000 to $8,000, according to Hondauniverse.com. With regular maintenance, you should anticipate replacing them every 100,000 to 150,000 miles.
A battery warranty is typically included with new hybrid vehicles. Eight years or 100,000 miles is the industry norm. Review your warranty documentation if you own a new hybrid to determine if you are eligible for a replacement.
Dealers selling higher-quality secondhand hybrids under labels like “certified pre-owned” could also provide a battery guarantee that isn’t very long. Therefore, before shelling out hundreds of dollars for a battery, investigate that.
Does Auto Battery Replacement Get Covered By Roadside Assistance?
You should speak with your insurance agent or your third-party roadside service provider about this.
Our insurance brokers have anecdotally heard tales of roadside assistance services or tow trucks delivering fresh batteries to clients in need after a “jump start” fails. You must carefully study your contract to find out what is and is not covered.
When you add a roadside assistance endorsement to your auto policy, it often covers things like:
- Lockouts
- Starts jumping
- Towing locally
- Flat tires
- Tire blowouts as well as other potential emergencies
Your roadside assistance company may transport your conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle to a nearby garage or department store parking lot so that a replacement battery may be purchased and installed if your car battery fully dies. They can tow you to a business specializing in hybrid or electric automobiles if you drive one. However, you will be responsible for the hefty price of replacing an EV or hybrid battery.
Conclusion
FAQ
Depending on the circumstances, an automobile battery can live anywhere from three to five years on average. Slow engine cranking and apparent corrosion on the battery terminals are indicators of an aged battery.
Electrical systems such as infotainment or lighting can rapidly deplete the battery when the engine is not running. To keep courtesy lights off, ensure all doors and hatches are closed and that these are off when you exit the vehicle.
The battery constantly draws some electricity even when the car is not running. Due to this low power consumption, the computer memory and security system remain operational. A car’s battery may drain if it sits for a long time since power is constantly being pulled.
A car battery’s lifespan can be adversely affected by several environmental factors. Over time, extremely high or low temperatures might reduce battery life. Because the alternator doesn’t have enough time to recharge the battery, frequent, short journeys properly can also shorten battery life. Because car batteries are not meant to be completely depleted, frequent draining can rapidly reduce battery capacity. Keeping your automobile batteries fully charged is the best method to maintain its health.
