Claiming on insurance for engine damage?

Claiming on insurance for engine damage?

Author
Discussion

sixspeed

Original Poster:

2,060 posts

272 months

Monday 31st December 2007
quotequote all
Quick question...

Is it possible to put a claim in on your car insurance for damage caused to an engine by a freak accident (sheared bolt which damaged the cambelt and caused engine/valve/camshaft damage)?

My thoughts are no, because you weren't involved in a road traffic accident as such. But then I saw a thread on here elsewhere about filling a diesel with petrol, and one poster said insurance companies will cover to replace the fuel system if required in this case... which got me thinking.

Any ideas?

GavinPearson

5,715 posts

251 months

Monday 31st December 2007
quotequote all
Insurance doesn't cover this sort of damage.

I would have the vehicle towed to an extremely dangerous spot and pray that a 38 ton truck runs into it.

carl_w

9,181 posts

258 months

Monday 31st December 2007
quotequote all
I heard (I think it was on here) somebody successfully claiming for engine damage. IIRC he'd overrevved the engine and blown it up. The insurance company initially refused to pay because it was his fault, but I think he took them to court using the argument that if he'd driven it into a wall it would also be his fault but covered.

wrinx

680 posts

240 months

Monday 31st December 2007
quotequote all
sixspeed said:
Is it possible to put a claim in on your car insurance for damage caused to an engine by a freak accident (sheared bolt which damaged the cambelt and caused engine/valve/camshaft damage)?
Wouldn't have thought so. I've read of a couple of flood damage cases where engine replacement has been paid for by the insurers, but the case you describe is simple mechanical failure, not accidental damage and no-one to "blame".

You need a warranty for this type of insurance.

But I'm not an expert...just my 2p.

wrinx

Edited by wrinx on Monday 31st December 23:35

King Herald

23,501 posts

216 months

Tuesday 1st January 2008
quotequote all
wrinx said:
sixspeed said:
Is it possible to put a claim in on your car insurance for damage caused to an engine by a freak accident (sheared bolt which damaged the cambelt and caused engine/valve/camshaft damage)?
Wouldn't have thought so. I've read of a couple of flood damage cases where engine replacement has been paid for by the insurers, but the case you describe is simple mechanical failure, not accidental damage and no-one to "blame".

You need a warranty for this type of insurance.

But I'm not an expert...just my 2p.

wrinx

Edited by wrinx on Monday 31st December 23:35
So if your handbrake cable snapped when your car was parked up for the night, and your car rolled off your drive and into a bus, you wouldn't be covered? Mechanical failure, resulting in damage to the car.

scratchchin

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

246 months

Tuesday 1st January 2008
quotequote all
Read your policy! It will say something like,

"If your car is damaged, we will pay ......" (Direct Line)

In plain English this means your car must be damaged by some external factor. You are not covered for situations where you car becomes damaged of its own accord.

In the example of handbrake cable failure it is the subsequent collision event which gives rise to a valid insurance claim, not the cable failure itself.

Noger

7,117 posts

249 months

Tuesday 1st January 2008
quotequote all
Accidental Damage cover is what it says. Indemnification of a specific vehicle against losses arising from the peril of "accident". Thus mehcanical failure is specifically excluded. So if you engine seizes, it isn't covered. But it your engine seizes, which causes you to hit a tree, the tree damage is covered but not the engine.

Santa Claws

420 posts

200 months

Tuesday 1st January 2008
quotequote all
On the warranty note...

Some manufacturers warranty will only cover the vehicle if it is parked in gear as well as having the handbrake applied.

I think it was VW who said this.

Santa Claws

420 posts

200 months

Tuesday 1st January 2008
quotequote all
On the warranty note...

Some manufacturers warranty will only cover the vehicle if it is parked in gear as well as having the handbrake applied.

I think it was VW who said this.

King Herald

23,501 posts

216 months

Tuesday 1st January 2008
quotequote all
Ozzie Osmond said:
Read your policy! It will say something like,

"If your car is damaged, we will pay ......" (Direct Line)

In plain English this means your car must be damaged by some external factor. You are not covered for situations where you car becomes damaged of its own accord.

In the example of handbrake cable failure it is the subsequent collision event which gives rise to a valid insurance claim, not the cable failure itself.
So, if something in your car breaks (cam belt) and it damages itself you don't get paid, but if something breaks, ie the handbrake cable and your car damages itself on something else then you do get paid?

I'd like to see the exact small print in plain English that details those parameters.

Rags

3,642 posts

236 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2008
quotequote all
Rubbish.

A chap on the Z3MCoupe forum claimed on his insurance for a knackered engine, so it can be done..........

SimonV8ster

12,597 posts

228 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2008
quotequote all
Rags said:
Rubbish.

A chap on the Z3MCoupe forum claimed on his insurance for a knackered engine, so it can be done..........
Chap at work blew his gearbox up as he shoved it into 2nd when he should have gone from 5th to 4th on the motorway.

Initially his insurance company told him to stick it but he persisted and got something out of them, not sure if they paid out the full amount but got the majority of the money.

Citizens Advice Bureau ??


liner33

10,690 posts

202 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2008
quotequote all
My old boss drove through some water in his XR 4x4 and ruined the engine , it sucked some water up and hydrauliced , he made a succesful claim but they gave him a percentage of the repair cost as they felt they shouldnt pay 100% of a new engine as his engine had already done 50,000 miles

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

246 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2008
quotequote all
King Herald said:
I'd like to see the exact small print in plain English that details those parameters.
That is the exact wording in plain English! Direct Line policy wording is short, complete and covers the necessary ground. What it doesn't say and doesn't imply is "If your car breaks down we will pay to fix it."

crofty1984

15,859 posts

204 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2008
quotequote all
how old is the car? warranty?

or if you don't like it much, I guess that when you hit the tree, the bolt sheared, damaging the cambelt.

Jeffmaniac

524 posts

199 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2008
quotequote all
Got to say that car insurance does not cover "mechanical faults" i.e. a snapped cambelt that damages the engine.

If you had accidentally caused the damage such as the above post for putting the car into 2nd instead of 5th then you would be covered.

All I am implying is that your insurance company will send an engineer to look at the damage and they will instantly see a mechanical fault and give your car back.

Mr Robbo

1,209 posts

245 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2008
quotequote all
Specifically excluded Im afraid as classed as wear & tear. As for the scenario of running through a flood & ingesting water into the cylinders (hydrolock ?), that is covered as its an Insured peril, ie accidental damage caused by driving through water.

As advised though, Insurers will make a deduction on any replacement engine costs to take into account the mileage covered by the car itself, so the higher the mileage, the higher the contribution you woulod have to pay.

Great fun Insurance isnt it ?

Slinky

15,704 posts

249 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2008
quotequote all
I'll print off some policy documents shortly and have a nose through for any specific exclusions..

slinky
(works for an insurance software house..)

Slinky

15,704 posts

249 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2008
quotequote all
ERS Policy Booklet said:
This section of your insurance does not cover the following.
■ The amount of any excess shown in the schedule.
■ An amount as compensation for you not being able to use your vehicle (including
the cost of hiring another vehicle).
■ Wear and tear.
■ Failures, breakdowns or breakages of mechanical, electrical, electronic or computer
equipment.
■ The vehicle’s value reducing, including loss of value as a result of damage, whether
repaired or not.
■ Repairs or replacements which improve the condition of the vehicle.
■ Damage to tyres, unless caused by an accident to your vehicle.
■ Damage due to liquid freezing in the cooling system, unless you have taken
reasonable precautions as laid down by the vehicle manufacturer’s instructions.
■ Any amount over the last known list price of any part or accessory, plus the
reasonable cost of fitting the part or accessory, if the vehicle manufacturer or its
agent cannot supply it from stock held in the United Kingdom.
■ Loss of or damage to the vehicle by someone who got it by fraud or deception.
■ Loss resulting from repossessing the vehicle and returning it to its rightful owner.
■ Loss of or damage to your vehicle or its contents by theft or attempted theft or an
unauthorised person taking and driving it if:
■ it has been left unlocked;
■ it has been left with the keys in it;
■ it has been left with the windows, roof panel or the roof of a convertible vehicle
open; or
■ reasonable precautions have not been taken to protect it.
Can be found on page 17 of the ERS policy booklet here --> Right click, save as

mmm-five

11,242 posts

284 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2008
quotequote all
Slinky said:
ERS Policy Booklet said:
This section of your insurance does not cover the following.
• The amount of any excess shown in the schedule.
• An amount as compensation for you not being able to use your vehicle (including the cost of hiring another vehicle).
• Wear and tear.
• Failures, breakdowns or breakages of mechanical, electrical, electronic or computer equipment.
• The vehicle’s value reducing, including loss of value as a result of damage, whether repaired or not.
• Repairs or replacements which improve the condition of the vehicle.
• Damage to tyres, unless caused by an accident to your vehicle.
• Damage due to liquid freezing in the cooling system, unless you have taken reasonable precautions as laid down by the vehicle manufacturer’s instructions.
• Any amount over the last known list price of any part or accessory, plus the reasonable cost of fitting the part or accessory, if the vehicle manufacturer or its agent cannot supply it from stock held in the United Kingdom.
• Loss of or damage to the vehicle by someone who got it by fraud or deception.
• Loss resulting from repossessing the vehicle and returning it to its rightful owner.
• Loss of or damage to your vehicle or its contents by theft or attempted theft or an unauthorised person taking and driving it if:
- it has been left unlocked;
- it has been left with the keys in it;
- it has been left with the windows, roof panel or the roof of a convertible vehicle open; or
- reasonable precautions have not been taken to protect it.
Can be found on page 17 of the ERS policy booklet here --> Right click, save as
So this clause implies if your handbrake cable breaks, or your throttle sticks, or your brakes fail, and you crash then you are not covered.

Edited by mmm-five on Wednesday 2nd January 14:39