Does auto insurance cover transmission repair? (2025)

Does auto insurance cover transmission repair? Auto insurance policies vary by company, but it generally covers transmission repair if it got damaged by a covered event, such as an accident or bad weather. However, it won’t cover wear and tear.

Your transmission controls how quickly the energy from your car’s engine reaches your wheels and driveshaft. As a result, keeping it in good condition is essential for driving safely.

In this article, you’ll learn the basics of transmission coverage, which types of insurance assist with transmission repairs, and additional issues to discuss with your insurance company. Keep reading to learn the answer to, “Does insurance cover a transmission?” Then, enter your ZIP code into our free quote tool above to instantly compare cheap transmission insurance costs from top providers.

How Transmission Insurance Coverage Works

Does insurance cover transmission failure? If you get in an accident and your transmission needs repair, your auto insurance policy will likely cover the damages. Collision coverage applies whenever your vehicle collides with another car or an object such as a building or fence. Regardless of fault, you can use collision insurance to repair your transmission and other damaged parts.

Your transmission could also break when you’re not driving the car, which means that collision coverage doesn’t apply. A comprehensive insurance policy would assist with transmission repairs in the following circumstances:

• Natural Disasters: Will car insurance pay for transmission repair afteter bad weather? Yes, a flood, hurricane, or tornado could send debris into your car’s mechanical parts, such as your transmission, which car insurance covers.
• Vandalism: Someone could intentionally damage your car.
• Theft: Does my car insurance cover transmission repair resulting from theft? Yes, if someone breaks your transmission while attempting you steal your car or its components, car insurance covers it.
• Fires: Your garage could catch on fire, and the flames or smoke damage could spread to your vehicle.

Every insurance company handles comprehensive coverage differently, so it’s worth checking if your policy includes transmissions before filing a comprehensive claim. Check out the table below to see how much you could pay for comprehensive coverage by state:

Comprehensive Auto Insurance Monthly Rates by State

Does insurance cover transmission issues at the top providers? Yes, most major insurance companies, including Geico, Liberty Mutual, Progressive, offer comprehensive and collision insurance options, which covers transmission issues resulting from a comprehensive or collision event.

Collision insurance is for, well, collisions. Comprehensive is an optional coverage for the other stuff, like fire, theft, or flood. pic.twitter.com/SaQI9Sfohg

— Liberty Mutual (@LibertyMutual) January 14, 2019

Now that you know the answer to, “Does auto insurance cover transmission failure?” keep reading to learn situations when transmission repair isn’t covered.

When Auto Insurance Won’t Cover Transmission Repair

Although you can often use auto insurance to pay for transmission repairs, there are some cases when it doesn’t apply. If you didn’t cause an accident, the other party’s liability insurance covers your transmission. If they don’t have insurance, your uninsured motorist coverage should step in.

Standard auto insurance also does not cover a transmission that breaks down because of regular use. Depending on the manufacturer and how well you maintain your car, your transmission will likely last 100,000 to 300,000 miles. After that, you’ll have to pay for a new transmission out-of-pocket. Under a normal policy, any maintenance issues that come up in the meantime are your responsibility.

So when does car insurance cover transmission failure? Full coverage auto insurance covers transmission damage resulting from an accident, bad weather, or vandalism.

How to Get Your Insurance to Cover a Transmission

So, what insurance covers transmission damage from wear and tear? If you’re looking for ways to get help repairing your transmission, you can take out a mechanical breakdown insurance policy. This type of insurance assists with repairs resulting from everyday wear and tear. Most insurance companies recommend investing in a policy after your transmission’s warranty expires.

Once you have mechanical breakdown insurance, you can file a claim to have your transmission repaired when the brake bands, turbines, or impellers break. Keep in mind that the more claims you file, the more likely your insurance company is to raise your rates. Take the cost of your deductible plus your monthly rates into account before filing a mechanical breakdown insurance claim.

Can car insurance cover transmission repairs? If an accident or bad weather damaged your transmission, auto insurance should pay for repairs.

Using Gap Insurance to Cover a Transmissing

Does gap insurance cover transmission failure? Contrary to common belief, gap insurance does not simply cover issues that aren’t part of other car insurance policies. Instead, this type of insurance helps if your car gets totaled or severely damaged. Once your insurance company has paid its portion of repairs, gap insurance covers the rest of what you still owe on your loan.

If you can think of a sketchy situation😨, there’s probably an insurance policy for that. If you’re upside down🙃 on your car loan — you guessed it — there’s a policy! It’s GAP insurance. https://t.co/27f1xf1ARb has all the details. Check it out here👉: https://t.co/jULPbU9eDV pic.twitter.com/cDALyNHv5O

— AutoInsurance.org (@AutoInsurance) March 8, 2024

If only your transmission is broken, your car is probably not damaged enough to warrant a claim on your gap insurance coverage. On the other hand, if your transmission is just one of many broken parts, your gap insurance policy may be helpful. You can use a totaled car value calculator to see whether gap insurance is worth it.

If gap doesn’t help, can car insurance cover transmission repairs? If your transmission damage resulted from a covered claim, your car insurance may pay for damages.

How a Warranty Can Help With Transmission Repairs

Does a warranty cover transmission repair? Warranties work similarly to insurance policies in that they help cover some of the financial responsibility for different car parts. However, your transmission’s manufacturer provides a warranty, not a private insurance company. You may pay a one-time fee to get a warranty on your transmission, but you shouldn’t pay monthly rates as you do for insurance.

A car warranty usually covers things like the engine and transmission, but not brake pads or batteries. Be sure to read the fine print! https://t.co/Pb0MSZ54eM #LifeLanes140

— Progressive (@progressive) March 10, 2018

Your warranty covers normal breakages within a particular time frame. For example, if your warranty lasts a year and your brake band snaps after six months, your warranty should pay for repairs or a replacement. Most warranties don’t cover damages that occur during an accident or natural disaster, which is why having collision and comprehensive insurance is so important. Furthermore, warranties generally expire after a few months to a year, so you need mechanical breakdown insurance if you don’t want to handle transmission costs on your own.

So, will car insurance cover transmission damage? Car insurance will pay for tramission issues if they were caused by a covered event.

What You Need to Know About Auto Insurance and Transmission Repair

Many readers are asking, “If my transmission goes out, will insurance cover it?”If you caused an accident and your transmission needs repair, you can expect your auto insurance to cover the bill. If a natural disaster or another incident damages your transmission when you aren’t driving, comprehensive insurance can help. Generally, your liability insurance or comprehensive coverage policies won’t cover transmission repairs that happen because of everyday use.

Ready to find cheap transmission insurance coverage? If you’re wondering how to pay for transmission repair through insurance, enter your ZIP code into our free quote tool below to shop for comprehensive coverage from the top providers near you.