Does Comprehensive Insurance Cover Mechanical Breakdowns or Wear and Tear?

Risks covered under comprehensive insurance do not include natural wear and tear of the vehicle. Situations include faded paint, worn-out tyres, clutch plates, discs and brake pads. Additionally, it also does not cover issues with timing belts, engine oil, and wiper blades. 

With time, car interiors can wear out. As your vehicle ages, wear gradually affects fabricated seats, door panels, headliner, and dashboards. For example, if a stain damages your seats, the insurer will not cover the cost of replacing them under a comprehensive insurance plan.

Electrical or mechanical breakdowns can be stressful for vehicle owners due to the inconvenience and high costs of repairs. For instance, your car may experience a faulty or dead battery, engine issues, damaged tyres, broken clutch wire or brake pad faults like steering wheel shimmy. In this case, comprehensive vehicle insurance will not cover the repair costs.

Nature of Damage is Predictable

Insurers do not design comprehensive car insurance policies to cover costs that arise from predictable or gradual issues. They do not treat mechanical breakdowns and wear and tear as sudden costs. Instead, they are part of the routine vehicle ageing process. 

Parts such as brake pads, tyres, and batteries naturally deteriorate with use. It is the vehicle owner's responsibility to maintain and replace these components as needed. Insurance providers expect regular maintenance as part of ownership duties.

If insurers covered all mechanical failures, the number of claims would skyrocket. In FY 2022–2023, over 10.46 lakh car insurance claims were filed, totalling ₹80,455 crores. Including wear-and-tear claims would further strain insurers and inflate premiums for all policyholders.