Does car insurance cover battery replacement?
Car insurance usually doesn't cover car battery replacement, but there are exceptions. Read on to learn what your options are if your car's battery needs to be replaced.
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Written by
Rachel Bodine
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Reviewed by
Daniel Walker
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UPDATED: Jun 6, 2022
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- Routine inspections and maintenance for a car are not covered by auto insurance
- In special circumstances, it may be possible to get battery replacement covered by an insurance policy
- When tempted to file a claim for a battery replacement, consider the inexpensive nature of the part when compared to the policy deductible
Does car insurance cover battery replacement? It would be nice to have your major car repairs covered by insurance, but auto insurance for maintenance is not common. While most car insurance companies won’t help with buying a new battery, there are some policy options that will help with jumpstarting a dead battery. With damage and loss under covered incidents, your policy could help with battery replacement.
Table of Contents
Does car insurance cover battery replacement?
The average lifespan of a car battery is three to four years, though it could last longer or die much sooner. When it comes to car repairs, car insurance companies don’t typically extend coverage for general maintenance items like a car battery, headlight, or tire.
Vehicle owners assume the costs of preventative maintenance and any repairs or replacement for auto parts. A car battery is included with an insurance policy if it’s specifically named as a covered part or if it’s damaged during a covered incident.
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Can I purchase insurance for my car battery?
When you sign up for car insurance, you won’t find a line for car battery coverage. However, that doesn’t mean you are totally on your own if your car battery malfunctions. For example, GEICO, Progressive, or State Farm battery replacement coverage is not available, but they are some of the auto insurance companies that offer roadside assistance plans.
Each company has different benefits with a roadside assistance plan, but many of them include a free jumpstart for a dead battery or a towing service for your disabled car.
Roadside Assistance Programs
Auto insurance covers roadside assistance as an add-on to a standard policy. This means these services come at an additional cost.
Roadside assistance often takes care of things such as towing a disabled vehicle, jump-starting a dead battery, delivering fluid or fuel, or changing a flat tire. This program doesn’t address the cost of buying a new battery but the expense of getting your vehicle towed to an auto shop or sending a response technician to jump-start the battery for you.
Since this add-on is charged each policy term, compare the cost of this service to the cost of a new battery when deciding on adding roadside assistance.
Preparing for Possible Car Battery Replacement Situations
While you would want your insurance to cover as many issues as possible, you probably won’t find a policy that will assist with the daily maintenance and upkeep your vehicle requires. There is a big difference between levels of coverage, making it harder on your budget if you are looking for a more inclusive policy.
Understanding car insurance will help you compare the differences between low, medium, and high coverages and rates.
| Companies | Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates for High Coverage | Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates for Low Coverage | Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates for Medium Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $5,139.02 | $4,628.03 | $4,896.81 |
| American Family | $3,416.40 | $3,368.49 | $3,544.37 |
| Farmers | $4,494.13 | $3,922.47 | $4,166.22 |
| GEICO | $3,429.14 | $3,001.91 | $3,213.97 |
| Liberty Mutual | $6,356.04 | $5,805.75 | $6,058.57 |
| Nationwide | $3,505.37 | $3,394.83 | $3,449.80 |
| Progressive | $4,350.96 | $3,737.13 | $4,018.46 |
| State Farm | $3,454.80 | $3,055.40 | $3,269.80 |
| Travelers | $4,619.07 | $4,223.63 | $4,462.02 |
| USAA | $2,667.92 | $2,404.11 | $2,539.87 |
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If your goal is to find an insurance policy that will help you with car repairs, you might want to consider exploring options of an extended warranty. This isn’t an insurance policy, but it can be financial help with car repairs that aren’t related to collisions.
Does car insurance cover battery replacement if your battery wasn’t damaged by an accident?
By comparing the different types of auto insurance coverage, you will see how insurance companies address non-accident repairs. If you get into an accident, liability auto insurance coverage is used to repair the damage to the other vehicle or personal property, as well as pay the medical or death expenses for the individuals in the incident.
To cover your own vehicle during an incident, you may have to file a claim on the other driver’s liability insurance if you haven’t taken out additional coverage on your own policy. If a car accident damages your battery, this could be the way an insurance company pays to replace it.
However, a battery could be damaged from a non-accident incident. A driver may swerve off the road and collide head-on with a mailbox or tree. A terrible storm could cause a tree limb to fall on your car and damage the battery or other parts. In these situations, you would want to have extended coverage through a comprehensive or collision policy.
These kinds of policies allow more covered incidents. Even though it might be a covered incident, you would be responsible for paying the deductible on the policy before the benefits take effect. The average battery costs around $120, but the average deductible is $500.
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What’s the cheapest way to replace my car battery?
Your final cost for replacing a car battery depends on the vehicle’s make and model, as well as any costs to install the new battery. Adding roadside assistance to your insurance policy is a yearly expense, as well as upgrading your policy to comprehensive or collision.
If you choose to file a claim for your battery, you may also have the cost of your deductible. Paying for the replacement out of pocket could be your cheapest option for replacing a car battery.
Does car insurance cover battery replacement? A Final Word
Even if your budget can’t afford an insurance policy that includes a car battery replacement, you should invest in the best coverage your finances allow. This financial protection can give you peace of mind whether you are facing a repair after an accident or you’ve experienced damage from inclement weather.
As far as your car battery is concerned, you could use a roadside assistance add-on to get you back on the road while you figure out what option you will choose for replacing the battery.