Insurance Claims Guide
What Insurance Does Not Cover After a Breakdown
Simple answers about the costs insurance usually does not pay after a mechanical breakdown, and when roadside or accident-related coverage may work differently.
Important
Towing & Roadside Assistance Not Automatically Included
One of the most confusing coverages in auto insurance is this: towing and roadside assistance are automatically part of comprehensive and collision coverage.
Comprehensive and collision coverage may help with damage to your vehicle in certain covered situations, including some accident-related events. But roadside services like towing after a breakdown, jump starts, flat tire changes, and lockout help usually require a separate roadside assistance or towing-related coverage to be listed on the policy.
That means having comprehensive or collision coverage does not automatically mean your insurer will pay to tow your car after it breaks down.
A vehicle breakdown can be frustrating, expensive, and confusing. Many drivers assume insurance automatically helps with everything after a car stops working. In most cases, that is not how it works.
Insurance is built around the coverages listed on the policy. That means some breakdown-related costs may be covered only if roadside assistance was added, while other mechanical or maintenance-related expenses are usually your responsibility.
Quick Summary:
Insurance usually does not cover normal mechanical breakdowns, wear and tear, routine repairs, towing after a breakdown without roadside assistance, or reimbursement for services that were never listed on the policy.
Some accident-related towing may be different, and roadside services may apply only when roadside assistance was added before the problem happened.
Common Breakdown Costs Insurance Usually Does Not Cover
These services are typically only available when roadside assistance is actually listed on the policy.
PRO TIP: Your Vehicle Warranty likely covers towing or reimbursement for breadkown.
🪝Towing After a Breakdown Without Roadside Assistance
If roadside assistance or towing coverage is not listed on the policy, insurance does not pay to tow your vehicle after a mechanical breakdown. You can still arrange the tow, but the cost is your responsibility.
PRO TIP: Your Vehicle Warranty likely covers towing or reimbursement for breadkown.
🔧Mechanical Repairs Like engine failure or transmission problems
Standard insurance policies generally do not pay for engine failure, transmission problems, overheating, dead batteries, worn-out parts, or other mechanical repair costs caused by breakdown or maintenance issues.
PRO TIP: Your Vehicle Warranty likely covers towing or reimbursement for breadkown.
🛞Routine Maintenance Like oil changes or tire rotations
Insurance does not cover oil changes, tune-ups, brake wear, tire replacement due to normal use, battery replacement from age, or routine service that helps keep the vehicle running properly.
🧾Reimbursement for services you did not have coverage for
If roadside assistance or towing coverage was not already on the policy, paying for a tow or roadside service yourself and submitting the receipt later usually does not result in reimbursement.
📅Prior Breakdowns that happened before you added coverage
Adding roadside assistance after the vehicle already broke down does not make that earlier event covered. Coverage changes apply going forward, not backward.
🛟Help Without Coverage for things like jump starts, lockouts, and flat tires
These services are usually part of roadside assistance. Without that coverage on the policy, insurance generally does not pay for them.
🚗Rental Car costs following a breakdown
A rental car after a mechanical breakdown is usually not covered under a standard auto policy. Rental reimbursement typically applies only in certain covered claim situations, not routine breakdowns.
⌛Other Costs attributed to delays, lost time, or inconvenience costs
Standard insurance policies generally do not pay for missed work, lost appointments, inconvenience, or other indirect expenses caused by a breakdown.
When Coverage May Work Differently
If you are not sure whether your policy includes roadside assistance, a Famously Friendly Human at RIGHTSURE can review the policy language with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually not. Standard auto insurance generally does not cover mechanical failure caused by wear, tear, age, or maintenance issues.
Usually not for replacement. A jump start may be covered only if roadside assistance is listed on the policy.
Only if roadside assistance or towing coverage is included on the policy. Without that coverage, towing costs are generally your responsibility.
Only if the policy already included coverage that applies. If towing or roadside assistance was not on the policy, reimbursement usually does not apply.