Will Insurance Cover a Broken Transmission?

[NaomiFitz]

If a car's transmission fails due to its own defects, the insurance company will not cover the repair costs. In such cases, you can apply for after-sales compensation from the car seller or manufacturer. However, if the transmission is visibly damaged in an accident where the vehicle is severely impacted, you can file a claim with the insurance company. Additional Information: Car Transmission: A car's transmission is divided into two types: manual and automatic. A manual transmission mainly consists of gears and shafts, achieving speed and torque changes through different gear combinations. An automatic transmission (AT) is composed of a torque converter, planetary gears, a hydraulic torque variation system, and a hydraulic control system, achieving speed and torque changes through hydraulic power transmission and gear combinations.

[Jameson]

I actually experienced this last year! My car suddenly started jerking violently while driving, and the inspection revealed the transmission was done for. I immediately contacted the insurance company, but they said this wasn't covered under the vehicle damage insurance. Unless it's clearly caused by a direct accident damaging the transmission, like a rear-end collision cracking the transmission housing. Wear and tear issues like normal aging or part fatigue are considered regular vehicle maintenance, just like changing tires or brake pads, and insurance won't cover a penny. I recommend fellow drivers to regularly change transmission fluid, especially in city driving with frequent traffic jams, which is really harsh on the transmission. If it's truly caused by an accident, make sure to gather evidence on the spot and have the traffic police clearly document it in the accident report.

[EvangelineLee]

Whether insurance covers transmission damage depends on two key factors: First, whether the damage was caused by a vehicle accident. For example, if you were rear-ended and the significant impact directly affected the transmission area, and there's a police accident report detailing the collision circumstances and affected parts, then the auto damage insurance will generally cover it. Second, it depends on the specific cause of the damage. If the transmission suddenly fails during normal use, or if a repair shop diagnoses issues like internal valve body or gear wear, the insurance company will definitely classify it as a mechanical failure, which falls under the non-covered category. My neighbor once spent 13,000 on a major transmission repair and didn't get a penny from insurance. That's why it's crucial to pay attention to regular maintenance for older cars—don't skimp on a few hundred bucks for oil changes, because the repair costs can be astronomical if something goes wrong.

[LeClara]

Just handled a similar inquiry. Simply put, if the transmission is damaged due to a collision accident, it can be claimed under the vehicle damage insurance. But if it breaks down for no reason? Sorry, no compensation. The insurance terms are clear: natural wear and tear, aging, and mechanical failures are all considered exclusions. The transmission is a typical wear-and-tear component, falling under maintenance. Last time, a friend's DSG had severe shaking and the repair cost over 8,000, but the insurance directly rejected the claim. It's recommended that older cars purchase extended transmission warranty, especially for dual-clutch models. Also, note that if the vehicle continues to drive after being flooded, causing water damage, even with water-related insurance, the claim might be rejected as it's considered improper operation that exacerbates the loss.