Does a broken car battery count as vehicle damage insurance?
2 Answers
If the car battery is damaged during a collision with another vehicle, it counts as vehicle damage insurance, and you should promptly report to the police. If it is damaged due to other reasons, it does not count as vehicle damage insurance. Definition of vehicle damage insurance: Vehicle damage insurance refers to a type of commercial auto insurance where the insurance company compensates within a reasonable range when the insured or their permitted driver causes damage to the insured vehicle during an insurance-covered accident while using the vehicle. Precautions for vehicle damage insurance: If the vehicle is driven into deep water and the engine stalls, and the driver forcibly attempts to restart it causing damage, this is considered improper operation and is not covered by the insurance; insurance companies typically stipulate that partial theft or damage to vehicle components or accessories, rather than the entire vehicle, is excluded from coverage.
Vehicle damage insurance typically covers sudden accidental losses, such as vehicle damage caused by collisions or natural disasters. However, a car battery failure is mostly the result of natural aging or daily wear and tear, which falls under the category of normal wear and is not within the scope of vehicle damage insurance. The policy terms clearly state that routine maintenance costs, such as battery replacement and tire wear, are not covered. Think about it—a battery's lifespan is only about 3 years, and it can easily fail due to long periods of parking or infrequent charging. As a seasoned driver with years of experience, I recommend regularly checking the battery's condition, keeping the terminals clean, and avoiding complete discharge. This not only saves money and hassle but is also more reliable than relying on insurance. If a problem does arise, promptly replace the battery at your own expense—it only costs a few hundred yuan. Otherwise, if the battery fails, it’s too late to think about insurance.
