The battery in your car is one of its most important components. A bad car battery can be an inconvenience at best and leave you stranded at worst. Does car insurance cover a battery replacement? Here’s what you need to know, and some tips to extend your car battery’s life.
What does the car battery do?
In internal combustion engine vehicles, a car battery’s primary function is to power the starter motor and electrical systems. Once the engine is running, the alternator charges the battery and keeps it charged as the engine runs.
How are batteries handled with auto insurance?
Most insurance companies consider a battery to be a consumable item. Consumable items are things that wear down with regular use of your car and need to be replaced periodically. Other examples of consumable items are motor oil, windshield wipers and light bulbs.
Car batteries wear out over time. On average, a standard car battery will last three to five years before it needs to be replaced. Since insurance companies typically consider batteries to be a consumable item, they will not cover the value of a battery unless it was damaged or stolen as part of a covered loss.
Situations insurance will cover a battery replacement
Car insurance can pay for the value of a battery in a covered loss, but only if you carry Collision or Comprehensive coverage. These are optional coverages that help pay for damage to your vehicle in a covered loss.
Collision coverage pays for damage to your car if it hits another vehicle or stationary object or is hit by another vehicle. Comprehensive coverage pays for damages not related to a collision, like fire damage, theft or damage caused by natural disasters.
| Collision coverage may cover: | Comprehensive coverage may cover: |
| Hitting another vehicle | Natural disasters and storms |
| Damage caused by another vehicle | Vandalism |
| Hitting a stationary object | Damage caused by animals |
These coverages are not typically required for insurance policies. However, if you owe money on your car you may need to carry them as a term of your loan or lease. Check in with your insurance company or agent to see if you have these coverages on your vehicle.
While Collision and Comprehensive coverage can cover the value of a damaged or stolen battery, you will need to pay your deductible before your car insurance will start paying. A deductible is your share of the cost for a claim. A deductible is not the same as your premium, which is what you pay to maintain your policy.
For example, say someone steals your $200 battery and your Comprehensive deductible is $500. Your insurance will not cover the cost of the battery because it doesn’t meet the deductible.
A typical car battery costs between $100 to $200, though some vehicles have advanced batteries that may cost significantly more. Depending on the cost to replace the battery, it may not be worth filing a claim if only your battery is damaged or stolen.
EVs and hybrid vehicles
Battery electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles have larger, high voltage batteries that power the electric motors. Batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles are larger and cost significantly more to replace compared to batteries on gasoline vehicles. Some hybrid vehicles may also have an auxiliary car battery in addition to the high voltage battery.
Collision or Comprehensive insurance may cover the cost of an electric or hybrid vehicle battery if it’s damaged in a covered loss. Check with your insurance company for the details of your specific policy.
How to handle battery issues without insurance coverage
In many cases, it is not worth filing a car insurance claim for a battery unless the value of your car battery is greater than your deductible. However, there are a few ways to deal with a dead battery without using insurance.
Roadside assistance
With roadside assistance coverage, a quick call will bring you towing assistance, flat tire assistance, locked-out service, emergency fluid delivery and battery service. Keep in mind that roadside assistance typically only pays for the assistance service and not for the battery itself.
Warranties
Conventional car batteries typically come with a warranty from the manufacturer or automaker. Full EV and hybrid vehicle batteries will typically come with a warranty from the automaker for a certain number of years or miles. Warranties typically do not cover battery damage from an accident, but your car insurance may.
Conclusion: Does car insurance cover battery replacement?
Your car insurance may cover the value of your battery if it is stolen or damaged in an accident and you carry Collision or Comprehensive coverage. However, it may not be worth filing a claim if the value of your battery does not meet your deductible.
Now let’s talk about you
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FAQ
A car battery will last about three to five years on average, depending on conditions. Signs of an aging battery include slow engine cranking and visible corrosion on battery terminals.
Electrical systems like lighting or infotainment can quickly drain the battery when the engine isn’t running. Be sure these are off when you leave the car, and that all doors and hatches are closed to keep courtesy lights off.
There will always be some power draw from the battery, even when the car is off. This minimal power draw keeps the security system and computer memory active. Because power is always being drawn, a car that sits for a while may run down its battery.
Various environmental conditions can negatively affect a car battery’s life. Extremely high or low temperatures can shorten battery life over time. Taking frequent, short trips can also reduce battery life because the alternator doesn’t have enough time to fully recharge the battery. Car batteries are not designed to be fully discharged, so running the battery down frequently can quickly lower its capacity. The best way to keep your car battery healthy is to keep it fully charged.
