Does auto insurance cover a clutch? (2025)

Auto insurance companies will cover the cost if your clutch gets damaged in an accident. All you need to do is file an auto insurance claim, and your insurance pays for clutch repair.

Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as clutch insurance. As a result, your insurance probably won’t pay for repairs if normal wear and tear or incorrect usage damage your clutch.

Read More: Best Auto Insurance for Regular Maintenance

Continue reading to learn how to save money on auto insurance for clutch repairs and when car insurance for clutch repairs is available.

How Auto Insurance Covers Clutch Repair

Suppose you get into a significant accident and damage your clutch and transmission. Depending on who’s at fault, your collision coverage or the other party’s property damage liability would provide coverage.

However, auto insurance companies only pay out up to your coverage limits. If the total damages are $50,000, and you only have $30,000 worth of coverage, you must pay the remaining $20,000 out of pocket.

Auto insurance companies recommend going above and beyond on liability levels. Adding $10,000 or more above the state requirement would only hike your rates by a few extra dollars per month.

If the clutch gets damaged but it wasn’t from an accident, one of the only other ways insurance would cover it is if water from a flood damages the clutch. For insurance to accept the claim, you need to make a comprehensive claim for auto insurance to help pay for non-driving incidents.

Knowing What Coverages You Need for Clutch Insurance

The minimum auto insurance requirements in each state is different. This requirement includes bodily injury and property damage liability.

The state will identify the levels you must carry, and quotes provided by auto insurance companies will include those coverage levels.

Other required coverage types — either by the state or lienholder — include:

• Personal injury protection (PIP) auto insurance
• Medical payments coverage
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist
• Collision and comprehensive auto insurance

Though you can customize your policy to fit your needs and budget, you must maintain minimum state requirements.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners monitors the cost of basic coverage rates each year. Let’s look at the national average of basic auto insurance coverage rates for comparison.

Kemper Direct Auto Insurance Monthly Rates by Coverage Type

The average clutch replacement cost is between $1,200 to $1,400. The national average for full coverage is $1,029 per year, so it’s cheaper to have full coverage. In addition, full coverage pays for the damages if an accident damages your clutch.

However, liability-only auto insurance coverage will not cover the cost of a damaged clutch since it only pays for the other party’s bodily injuries and property damages.

You may also consider mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI). MBI helps pay for repairs when certain parts on your car fail, although it doesn’t cover wear and tear or negligence.

When you have a damaged clutch, see what the various insurance types cover and which ones you have on your policy.

Common Causes of Clutch Damage

There are plenty of ways for a clutch to give out, and it’s prevalent in manual cars, especially when someone slips the clutch frequently.

The most common ways for the clutch to get damaged include:

• Wear and tear
• Oil on the clutch
• Water in the clutch
• Clutch overheating

Insurance companies won’t cover an overheating clutch or normal wear and tear and, in most instances, won’t cover oil on the clutch. Insurers also won’t pay for repairs unrelated to a covered claim.

You are responsible for maintaining your car. Therefore, your car insurance policy won’t cover anything that fails due to you not maintaining your car.

However, if your car or parts are still under warranty, you may be able to have your clutch repaired.

Deciding Whether to File a Car Insurance Claim on Your Clutch

Filing a claim can increase auto insurance rates. The increase varies from company to company, but it’s worth it if you’re trying to get your vehicle back on the road.

Even if it’s minor clutch damage, it’s best to file a claim if you think auto insurance will cover it. As with filing any auto insurance claim, there are certain steps to make the process easy.

First, determine the damage and file your claim quickly. Many insurance companies only allow you to file a claim within a specific time. Next, follow your insurer’s claims process, such as submitting a police report or getting an estimate. Your insurance company may require an adjuster to determine if the damage is covered.

Finally, get your car repaired. While some insurance companies only work with their specified repair shops, others may allow you to use the facility of your choice.

You don’t have to worry about filing a claim when damage results from wear and tear. For example, you don’t report each time you get an oil change, and the same is true of clutch repairs because it’s necessary to take care of your car.

More About Car Insurance and Clutch Damage

Often, the clutch isn’t covered by car insurance, and repairing it could be expensive, depending on how the damage occurred and the type of auto insurance coverage you have. When in doubt, contact the auto insurance company and talk to them about the damages to see if they’ll pay for a repair or replacement.

Unfortunately, car insurance doesn’t cover your vehicle’s everyday wear and tear. So unless an accident or act of nature, like a flood, damaged your clutch, you’d have to pay for repairs yourself.