Can I get rental car coverage while my car is in the shop for an engine replacement?

Hey everyone, I just found out my car is on its last legs after a compression test at the shop. I’m going to need a rental car, and it might be long-term. The timing is terrible because I just got a new job offer and need to start next week. I’ve looked into Geico’s rental car reimbursement, and it seems they only help if you’re in an accident. Is there anything I can say or do to get them to cover this, or am I out of luck?

Insurance doesn’t cover rentals for mechanical repairs. It’s usually only for accidents or covered losses.

Perrin said:
Insurance doesn’t cover rentals for mechanical repairs. It’s usually only for accidents or covered losses.

Thanks for the quick reply.

Unfortunately, rental coverage usually only applies after a covered loss, like an accident.

You might want to check with a rental car company like Enterprise, which sometimes offers ‘service replacement rates.’ It’s not as cheap as insurance rates but is usually less expensive than a regular rental, especially for long-term use.

Also, ask the shop if they have any deals with rental companies, or if they offer loaners or discounted rentals themselves.

Another option is to buy a cheap car to drive for a while and sell it when you’re done. You might lose less money that way than you would on a long-term rental.

@Isan
Thanks for the suggestion.

Nova said:
@Isan
Thanks for the suggestion.

Just to add on, some insurance companies and rental places have agreements where you can get the insurance rate for a certain number of days, even without a claim.

No, mechanical repairs usually aren’t covered by insurance, so they won’t help with a rental during those repairs.

Kim said:
No, mechanical repairs usually aren’t covered by insurance, so they won’t help with a rental during those repairs.

Got it, thanks for the info.

Are you talking about Geico’s Mechanical Breakdown Insurance?

https://www.geico.com/auto-insurance/mechanical-breakdown-insurance/

Unless you have that, rental cars are only covered if your car is in an accident.

Since this isn’t accident-related, and it’s considered maintenance, insurance won’t cover a rental. There has to be a claim first for rental coverage to kick in.