Sometimes mistakes happen, and a mechanic's negligence can cause even more damage to your vehicle or create new problems. But the big question is: if this happens, will your auto insurance cover the cost of getting your car fixed at another reputable shop? Let's explore that.
What is mechanic negligence?
Mechanic negligence happens when a repair shop or mechanic fails to fulfill their responsibility with reasonable care, which leads to more damage to your vehicle and unnecessary repairs. This can take many forms, such as:
- Failing to diagnose or misdiagnosing the problem
- Using incorrect parts or making poor-quality repairs
- Not completing necessary repairs that affect safety or how the car functions
- Leaving tools or parts loose under the hood
- Causing damage to the car during the repair
- Skipping necessary routine maintenance tasks
- Not following industry standards or manufacturer guidelines for repairs
- Ignoring safety recalls
- Failing to communicate properly with you about the repairs
Will my car insurance cover repairs?
If your auto insurance policy has collision and/or comprehensive coverage, your car insurance will typically cover the costs, including any additional repairs, up to your policy limit, as long as the damage was due to a covered peril. Just reach out to your insurance provider or broker and explain the situation. However, if your car was not fixed properly after an insurance claim, it may work a little differently.
Before contacting your insurance company, if you notice something wrong with your car right after a repair, get in touch with the mechanic or repair shop and have your car towed back to the shop. Explain what was happening before the issue started. Let them know that this isn't how your car normally drives. You'll want to be polite but firm in letting the mechanic shop know you're not satisfied with the repair and ask for them to fix it again—at no extra cost.
The mechanic or repair shop can be held responsible for damages and, thus, repair costs caused during repairs in certain situations. If they don’t use reasonable care or skill while working on your car and their negligence causes damage or harm to your vehicle or its passengers, they can be legally liable for those damages. To hold the mechanic liable, you’ll need to prove that the repair was done negligently and that this negligence directly caused the damage to your vehicle.
If it cannot be proven that the mechanic directly caused the damage due to negligence, then it's time to consider getting the car fixed somewhere else and contacting your insurance company. However, if the insurance company believes the damage is the result of mechanic negligence, it likely won't cover the repair costs.
What type of damage does my car insurance cover?
What your car insurance covers depends on what type of auto insurance you have.
If you only have a basic car insurance policy, this means your policy only includes the coverage that your province requires by law. Across Canada, it's third-party liability and accident benefits coverage. In some provinces, you may also need uninsured motorist and direct compensation-property damage coverage. So, depending on where you live, your basic policy might cover physical damage to your car, but only if you’re found not at fault for the accident.
However, if you are found at fault for an accident and your car gets damaged, your basic policy won’t cover it. You’d need to have additional coverage on top of your base policy to cover the damage to your vehicle. Depending on how the damage happened, there are different coverage options you’ll need to make sure you're protected.
Collision coverage
Collision coverage kicks in if you’re involved in a car accident with another vehicle or object. If your car’s body gets damaged in a collision, either with another vehicle or a stationary object, this coverage helps cover most of the repair costs, depending on your policy limit.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive coverage kicks in if your vehicle is damaged by something other than a collision, like fire, weather damage, falling objects, vandalism, theft, or colliding with an animal, such as a deer. Again, this coverage helps cover most of the repair costs, depending on your policy limit.
All perils coverage
All perils coverage combines both collision and comprehensive coverage, giving you full coverage for your vehicle. It also covers theft or damage if someone who lives in your home steals the vehicle covered by your policy.
Mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI)
Optional mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) helps cover repair costs for major mechanical issues that aren’t caused by an accident or normal wear and tear. It often covers major issues with your car that aren’t included in basic auto insurance. Whether it’s brake problems, transmission issues, electrical system failures, or other major malfunctions, MBI helps cover the repair costs.
When will insurance not cover additional car repairs?
If you find a mechanic to take your car in for routine service, like an oil change or paint job, and the shop damages it, your auto insurance won’t cover those repairs. This is because if the damage was caused by mechanic negligence, then the mechanic or repair shop is liable for the damage caused and should pay for it. Also, if your policy specifically excludes anything related to a mechanic or repair shop failure, it won't be covered.
Further, your policy won’t cover any damage to your car if you only have liability coverage and you’re at fault in an accident. To have your vehicle covered, no matter who’s at fault, you’ll need both collision and comprehensive coverage as part of your car insurance policy.
Contact BrokerLink today to learn more about car insurance
Reach out to BrokerLink to learn more about how having collision and comprehensive coverage can protect your vehicle and your wallet from costly repairs after being damaged by an insured peril. You can reach us by phone, email, or in person at any one of our locations throughout Canada.
No matter how you choose to get in touch, a BrokerLink insurance advisor will be happy to assist you. We also encourage you to take advantage of our free online quote tool that can provide you with a competitive quote in minutes.
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