Every car owner dreads the day they will have to deal with a major repair. Unexpected breakdowns can be stressful and a big drain on your bank account. This is especially true as your vehicle gets older and more susceptible to serious issues. That is why having an auto protection plan or extended warranty in place is such a good idea, whether you have an older, high-mileage vehicle or even a newer car that you want to keep in good working order.
When you buy a new car, it will most likely come with a factory warranty provided by the manufacturer. This factory car warranty will help protect you from repairs due to issues with the car’s design or problems during the production process. The manufacturer’s warranty is usually valid for anywhere between three years or 36,000 miles and five years or 60,000 miles, and once it is over, you will be responsible for anything that needs to be repaired.
For California drivers, mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) is an extended warranty alternative and a great way to get the help you need when repairs have to happen. Knowing everything you can about MBI and whether or not you can take your car to any mechanic when you have it will help you decide if it is the right choice for you and your vehicle.
How Does Mechanical Breakdown Insurance Work?
While you are almost certainly familiar with traditional car insurance, mechanical breakdown insurance is a very different type of insurance coverage. Traditional auto insurance protects you from issues that arise due to accidents and incidents that happen to your vehicle due to other cars or weather events. MBI is there to protect you from unexpected mechanical failures and vehicle issues that happen due to age, normal deterioration, or malfunctions. With MBI, you can get help paying for your car repair costs, and you won’t be stuck with a massive bill from the shop once the work is done.
Having MBI coverage or car repair insurance is essential for vehicle owners. You may be good about staying on top of your vehicle’s routine maintenance, but even the most well-maintained cars need repairs now and then. Having coverage for these repairs means you won’t have to dip into your savings or emergency fund just to keep your car running smoothly.
Can You Use Any Mechanic for MBI Repairs?
With your vehicle’s factory warranty, you are usually limited to taking your car to the dealership when a repair is needed. This may or may not be a convenient option for you, depending on where the dealership is located. With MBI, though, you can usually go to the licensed repair shop of your choice, which opens up all kinds of options when it comes to the kind of service you can get for your used car.
No matter where you take your vehicle for repairs, you want to be sure that the shop is experienced, equipped to handle the kinds of repairs you need, and dedicated to customer service. While it can be difficult to find the right shop, it will be well worth it in the long run. Even with mechanical breakdown insurance, you do not want to make repeated trips to the mechanic to fix the same issue over and over again.
What Are the Benefits of Using Certified Repair Shops?
If you are having trouble finding the right repair facility for your vehicle, it is a good idea to narrow down your search to ASE-certified shops. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)is a certification body that makes sure mechanics can deliver the best possible results for your vehicle’s repairs. ASE-certified facilities have gone through a rigorous process that includes customer reviews, facility inspections, and continued education.
By choosing a certified repair facility, you can be certain that you are always getting the best care for your vehicle. Picking a shop can be difficult, especially if you aren’t sure what to look for, and ASE certification can give you the peace of mind you need. Not only do these shops have to have the best possible knowledge and experience if they want to keep their certification, but they also have to provide top-notch customer service. Knowing that a shop has gotten certified can give you the confidence you need when an auto repair comes up.
How Does the Repair Approval Process Work with MBI?
When taking your car to the mechanic for repairs covered by your MBI, you want to do everything you can to streamline the approval process. As soon as an issue with your car arises, be sure to contact your MBI coverage provider and let them know. Then, you can let the shop know that the covered repair will be taken care of by your mechanical breakdown insurance provider, and they will diagnose the issue and provide all the necessary information to the provider, who will get the shop’s estimate and authorize the repair. This is incredibly important if you want the repair to be covered and want the claims process to go as smoothly as possible.
Once your repair is authorized, you will then pay whatever out-of-pocket deductible your plan has and the shop will move forward with fixing your vehicle. Be sure to hang on to any documentation related to the repair, including receipts, emails, and other communication with both the provider and the shop. This will ensure that every step is documented just in case there is an issue throughout the mechanical breakdown insurance claim process.
How Endurance MBI Policies Offer Repair Flexibility
When it comes to a mechanical breakdown insurance policy, you have a few different options for providers. Endurance, though, is one of the leading providers of vehicle protection plans in the country and has a reputation for excellent customer service and a dedication to quality. With MBI from Endurance, the claims process is incredibly streamlined and designed to be as easy as possible. All you have to do is go to the certified shop of your choice, present your Endurance policy to the service manager, and everything will be taken care of for you. This eliminates all the back-and-forth and guesswork that is usually involved with making a claim and helps eliminate some of the stress involved with getting your vehicle repaired.
With Endurance’s mechanical breakdown insurance, you also get access to the RepairPal network of certified shops. RepairPal does independent research and vetting for thousands of shops in California and around the United States, and the network includes the best of the best for your vehicle’s service needs. With an Endurance plan, you can be sure that you are getting the best possible repairs and the best possible care when an issue arises with your vehicle.
Get the Best Auto Protection in California
If you are ready to get top-tier, comprehensive coverage for your car, mechanical breakdown insurance is your best option. With three different types of coverage available from Endurance, including Standard, Premium, and Elite Plus, you can choose the right plan for your specific needs. There are also additional options that you can add, such as Emissions Coverage, a Business Use Option, and Lift Kit coverage. No matter what kind of vehicle you have, you can find the right protection plan and rest easy behind the wheel.
In addition to top-of-the-line protection, Endurance MBI plans also come with a suite of standard benefits. This includes things like towing and roadside assistance reimbursement, rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption coverage. With this kind of protection, you don’t have to worry about being stuck on the side of the road when a mechanical problem occurs.
For the best coverage on the market, contact our award-winning customer service team at (800) 253-8203 to request a FREE quote. You can also visit the online store to get an instant price preview and find the best plan for your vehicle.
Be sure to check out the Endurance Warranty blog for more automotive expert resources. There, you will find frequently asked questions, DIY tips and tricks, provider comparisons, and much more.