Auto Repair Insurance Cost: A Guide to Your Options

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Auto repair insurance cost can be a significant expense for car owners. The average annual cost of auto repair insurance varies depending on the type of coverage and the provider, but it can range from $500 to $2,000 per year.

If you're looking for a more affordable option, consider a basic plan that covers only the most essential repairs. This type of plan can cost as little as $200 per year, but it may not provide comprehensive coverage.

Some insurance providers offer discounts for bundling auto repair insurance with other policies, such as home or life insurance. This can be a great way to save money on your overall insurance costs.

To get the best deal on auto repair insurance, shop around and compare rates from different providers. This can help you find a policy that fits your budget and meets your needs.

Types of Costs

Business insurance costs for auto repair shops can vary widely, depending on factors like shop size, location, number of employees, payroll, sales, and experience.

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Auto repair shop insurance quotes can include liability, property, garagekeepers, and workers' comp for mechanics.

The costs will also depend on how much coverage your shop needs.

CarShield plans, on the other hand, offer various levels of coverage and cost. There are eight different plans available, including diamond, platinum, gold, gold select, silver, aluminum, motorcycle & ATV, and electric vehicle coverage.

Here are some key factors that affect CarShield prices:

Business Costs

Business costs can be a significant expense for auto repair shops. Insurance costs can range widely depending on the size and location of your shop, number of employees, payroll, sales, and experience.

Protecting yourself from risks of doing business will naturally cost you some money. Business insurance costs can depend on how much coverage your shop needs, such as liability, property, garagekeepers, and workers' comp for mechanics.

You can get a lower price on general liability and property insurance by getting a business owner's policy. This can cost around $50/month for an auto repair shop, or around $600 per year.

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Physical jobs like auto repair always come with risk, so workers' comp is a must-have. Workers' comp rates vary by state, type of work, and number of employees, but they're generally pretty inexpensive.

Here are some sample workers' comp rates for auto repair shops in different states:

To calculate the cost of your workers' comp policy, you multiply the classification rate by the "payroll per $100" and your experience mod. For example, if your payroll is $50,000, your "payroll per $100" would be $500, and if your classification rate is $2.22, your experience mod is 1, and your payroll is $50,000, your rate would be $1,110.

Property Costs

Property costs can be a significant expense for auto repair shops, especially when it comes to equipment and tools.

The price of some property insurance for an auto repair shop can cost around $1000 per year.

Equipment and tools aren't cheap - they're an investment that can be damaged or stolen, affecting your paycheck.

Property insurance provides protection for damaged, stolen, or vandalized items, as well as damages from disasters like storms and fire.

Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value

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Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value is a crucial consideration when it comes to property insurance. You can choose to be reimbursed for your losses based on the actual cash value of an item or its replacement cost.

The actual cash value option lets you replace the item with something new, minus depreciation. This means you'll get a smaller payout.

You can expect to pay around $2 per $100 worth of property you want to insure. This works out to $200 for $10,000 worth of equipment.

The replacement cost option costs more than actual cash value, but it ensures you can replace or repair an item based on its current worth.

How Much Cost?

Business owners can save money on general liability and property insurance by getting a business owner's policy, which can cost around $50/month or $600/year for an auto repair shop.

A business owner's policy typically costs less than buying general liability and property insurance separately.

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The cost of a business owner's policy varies depending on the state, insurance company, and size of the business.

The cost of a business owner's policy can also vary based on what the business involves.

For example, a business owner's policy for an auto repair shop may cost less than one for a business that involves hazardous activities.

Here are some average costs for vehicle service contracts (extended warranties):

Toco Warranty costs around $36 to $80 per month, or $432 to $960 per year, depending on the state, driver, vehicle, and plan.

CarShield costs around $99 per month and up, or $1,188 and up per year, depending on the state, driver, vehicle, and plan.

Mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) typically costs around $50 to $100 a year, but the cost depends on the policy and insurance company.

The cost of car repair insurance varies based on the model and age of the car, the insurer, the specific policy and its benefits, and other factors.

A typical range for car repair insurance is $30 to $100 or more a year.

Cost Comparison and Options

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Auto repair insurance costs can vary widely, depending on the size and location of your shop, number of employees, payroll, sales, and experience. Business insurance costs can range from around $600 for a small operation to much more expensive policies.

To give you a better idea of what to expect, let's take a look at some sample price estimates. General liability insurance policies for auto repair shops can start around $600 for the year. However, policies can become much more expensive.

If you're looking for an affordable option, Toco Warranty costs around $36 to $80 per month, depending on the plan and your location. You can choose from four different vehicle service plans, which offer benefits such as no down payment and rental car coverage.

Here's a quick comparison of some of the best mechanical breakdown insurance companies:

  • Allstate: Offers the cheapest option and covers the most components.
  • Mercury: Covers the most vehicle components at the lowest prices.
  • Geico: Offers a good balance of price and coverage.

Keep in mind that prices can vary depending on your location and specific needs, so it's always a good idea to shop around and compare rates.

Business Policy Costs

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Business Policy Costs can be a significant expense for auto repair shops. A business owner's policy can provide a lower price on general liability and property insurance.

General liability insurance costs for auto repair shops can start around $600 for the year for a small operation. However, policies can become much more expensive.

Property insurance costs can range from around $1000 per year, depending on location, coverage, and property value. It's essential to consider these factors when determining your business's insurance needs.

A business owner's policy can be a cost-effective option, with prices starting from around $50/month for an auto repair shop. However, rates vary depending on state, insurance company, and business size.

Pros and Cons

Let's break down the pros and cons of various cost comparison options.

One of the benefits of auto repair insurance is that it's usually offered as a rider or add-on policy for your existing car insurance, making it convenient to deal with just one company.

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You'll need to consider the restrictions on mileage or age of the vehicle, which can make higher mileage cars more expensive to insure. Many repair insurance providers don't offer coverage for older vehicles, so you'll only have this option when your vehicle is newer and less likely to need repairs.

Here's a summary of the key points to keep in mind:

  • Auto repair insurance is often offered as a rider or add-on policy for your existing car insurance.
  • It may have restrictions on mileage or age of the vehicle.
  • Many repair insurance providers don't offer coverage for older vehicles.

Alternatives

If you're looking for alternatives to mechanical breakdown insurance, there are a few options to consider.

Allstate's Vehicle Service Contract is the cheapest option and covers the most components, making it a great alternative to traditional insurance.

You can also choose to purchase a car that's known for its reliability. Websites like Consumer Reports and TrueDelta can help you compare different models' reliability records.

Keeping up with the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule is also essential to avoid major breakdowns. Make sure to stick to the recommended schedule to save yourself from costly repairs.

Finding a trusted mechanic is crucial, especially if you're not familiar with car repairs. Ask friends for recommendations or check online reviews to find someone reliable.

If you still want to consider extended warranties, shop around and remember that the cost is negotiable.

Insurance Policy and Coverage

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Car repair insurance is an optional coverage that can provide financial protection against unexpected repair costs. It's essential to understand what's covered under your policy before signing up.

Most car repair insurance plans cover some combination of major vehicle systems, including brakes, exhaust, steering, drivetrain, heating and cooling, and engine parts like the water pump. Typically, components within the engine, transmission, and drivetrain are covered.

Here's a breakdown of what's usually covered and not covered under car repair insurance:

Keep in mind that coverage can vary from insurer to insurer, so it's always best to check your policy before filing a claim.

Garagekeepers

Garagekeepers can be a significant expense for auto repair shops, with costs starting around $800 per year.

The exact price of garagekeepers insurance is hard to determine, as it depends on your business and the coverage you need.

Figuring out the cost can be a challenge, but it's essential to consider the number of vehicles your shop typically attends to in a day.

For bigger shops, garagekeepers costs can easily surpass $2500 per year.

What Is Not Covered

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Car repair insurance is a type of coverage that can provide financial protection against unexpected mechanical failures. However, there are certain things that are not covered under this type of insurance.

Routine maintenance expenses, such as oil changes, tire rotations, and brake pad replacements, are generally not covered. Additionally, wear and tear on parts, such as belts, hoses, and brakes, are excluded from coverage.

If you're wondering what's not covered under mechanical breakdown insurance, the answer is routine maintenance expenses, wear and tear, and towing or damage resulting from accidents, collisions, or environmental factors.

Here's a breakdown of what's typically not covered under car repair insurance:

  • Routine maintenance expenses (oil changes, tire rotations, etc.)
  • Wear and tear on parts (belts, hoses, brakes, etc.)
  • Towing or damage resulting from accidents, collisions, or environmental factors
  • New filters, spark plugs, and brake pads
  • Adding fluids (coolant, oil, wiper fluid, etc.)
  • Normal transmission maintenance or damage caused by ordinary wear and tear

It's essential to review your policy to understand what's covered and what's not before filing a claim.

Warranty and Protection

An extended warranty, also known as a vehicle service contract, is a protection plan you can buy from an automaker or dealership to cover mechanical breakdowns. These contracts are available through third-party companies like CARCHEX, who specialize in service contracts.

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Third-party extended warranties are great for almost any vehicle, especially older or high-mileage vehicles, because they offer many levels of protection. They're available anytime, in a variety of coverage options, allowing you to protect an older car or one with higher miles.

The average cost of a third-party extended warranty varies depending on your car's age and mileage. Costs can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, with most plans having a deductible between $50 and $100.

Here are some popular vehicle service contract providers with average costs per year of coverage:

Keep in mind that your cost will vary based on your car's make, model, mileage, and age, as well as the deductible and coverage level you choose.

Extended warranties can be purchased at any time before the new-car warranty expires, and coverage can usually be transferred to another owner when the car is sold.

Understanding and Choosing

Car repair insurance works similarly to an extended warranty, but with a few limitations. Coverage for certain parts of your vehicle will be specified by your provider and the plan you choose.

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To be eligible for car repair insurance coverage, your car must be relatively new, and many of the repairs on a new car will already be covered under a manufacturer's warranty.

Car repair insurance is sold as a separate policy from your regular auto insurance, so you'll have to purchase it separately.

You might also have fewer coverage options than you would with an extended warranty company, and car insurance companies may require you to visit specific locations for repair.

The cost of car repair insurance will depend on the level of coverage you choose, with more comprehensive plans costing more.

Here are some key factors to consider when choosing a car repair insurance plan:

  • Reliability ratings on your new car can help determine if it's likely to need repairs in the first few years of use.
  • Check the specifications of the plan you choose to ensure it covers the parts of your vehicle that are most prone to breakdown.
  • Consider whether the cost of the plan will be worth the potential savings on repairs.

Mechanical breakdown insurance from a car insurance company is often a cheaper alternative to a third-party vehicle service plan or extended warranty.

Rosalie O'Reilly

Writer

Rosalie O'Reilly is a skilled writer with a passion for crafting informative and engaging content. She has honed her expertise in a range of article categories, including Financial Performance Metrics, where she has established herself as a knowledgeable and reliable source. Rosalie's writing style is characterized by clarity, precision, and a deep understanding of complex topics.

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