Does car insurance cover dead batteries?

Many drivers will, unfortunately, discover that their car will not start at some point, and one of the more common causes for this type of situation is a dead car battery. A simple solution to this issue may be to find another motorist who is willing to assist you with jumping the battery.

However, if you need special assistance with your vehicle or if you need to replace the battery, you may be wondering if your car insurance policy can pay for some or all of these expenses. Make sure to compare rates with our free quote tool above today!

What is included in your car insurance coverage?

A basic car insurance policy does not generally pay for the replacement of a dead battery, but there are some instances when you may be able to use your car insurance to help you out of this type of situation. As a first step, you should examine your existing coverage to learn more about what is included in your policy.

Most basic car insurance policies only include liability coverage, and this type of insurance pays other parties for the damages you cause while driving your vehicle. You may also have other types of coverage that could potentially be used to deal with a dead battery situation in different ways. These optional coverage types include roadside assistance, collision insurance, and comprehensive insurance.

Do you have roadside assistance benefits?

To obtain roadside assistance benefits, you typically need to request this service at the time you purchase your policy as an optional coverage. When you request assistance through this benefit, a skilled automotive professional will travel to any location where you may be stranded to provide you with a battery jump.

A brand new battery is typically not included with these benefits.

However, each insurer may offer slightly different roadside assistance benefits, and you can inquire about what your benefits include.

Can you ever file a claim for a dead car battery?

There may also be instances when you can file a claim for a dead car battery under your collision or comprehensive insurance policies.

Keep in mind that collision insurance provides you with benefits related to a car accident, and comprehensive insurance may cover events like a collision, a fire, weather damage, and more. If your battery was damaged because of a significant event such as these, the battery may be replaced as part of your larger claim.

How do you know if you should file a claim?

Any time you file a claim against your insurance policy, you will need to pay your insurance deductible, and this may range between $250 to $1,000. A dead car battery may only cost between $100 to $200 to replace, and many motorists are able to install the new battery on their own.

Because of this, if the dead battery is your only concern after an accident or another similar type of event, it is best to replace the battery out of pocket without filing a claim.

Many car accidents and other types of events that may damage your battery may also cause other types of damage to your vehicle.

You can easily request a quote from an automotive specialist to learn more about the full cost of repairs that you are facing, and this can help you to determine if filing a claim against your insurance coverage is a wise idea. Keep in mind that filing a claim could result in your premium increasing at your next renewal date.

Should you update your coverage?

You can only use roadside assistance benefits or other insurance benefits to address your current dead battery issue if you have existing coverage in place at the time the issue develops. However, this situation may be a great reminder for you to update your coverage. By doing so, you can set up more beneficial coverage for your future needs, and you may even benefit by lowering your premium in the process.

How much insurance should you buy?

Determining how much coverage you need to buy can seem complicated. A good starting point is to review your state’s legal requirements that motorists must comply with and to determine if you have any lender requirements related to your car’s loan or lease. These requirements are the minimum amount of coverage that you need buy, and many drivers opt for additional coverage.

There are instances when you may want to increase your limits or buy optional coverage as well to reduce your potential out-of-pocket expenses. Some of the more common types of optional coverages that you can purchase include:

• Roadside assistance
• Rental car reimbursement
• Towing assistance
• Personal property coverage

A knowledgeable insurance representative can help you to determine how much coverage you reasonably need to protect you against financial losses.

How can you get more affordable coverage

Shopping for lower rates with several different providers is a great way to determine which auto insurance company has the best deal on the coverage you need. However, there are other steps that you can take to reduce your auto insurance premium even further.

One idea is to request quotes for a higher deductible amount. The deductible amount that you select is typically at your discretion, but it should also be reasonable. Remember that this is your out-of-pocket expense each time you need to file a claim.

Another idea is to maximize the use of insurance discounts. Some of the more common discounts that you may find through many insurers include:

• A bundled policies discount
• A multiple driver or multiple vehicle discount
• A safe driver discount
• A student or senior citizen discount
• A discount for low mileage

While it can be inconvenient to deal with a dead battery situation, this is a relatively common event that you may find yourself dealing with numerous times over the years.

Your insurance policy may benefit you in some dead battery situations, but most drivers will have to pay for a replacement battery out of their own funds. You can, however, take this opportunity to update your car insurance policy so that it is fully beneficial to you. Compare rates with the comparison tool below!