GEICO Mechanical Breakdown Insurance (MBI) can help pay to repair most original mechanical parts and systems when an eligible vehicle has a covered mechanical failure. It is designed for unexpected breakdowns that are not covered by the vehicle’s manufacturer warranty. GEICO currently applies a $250 deductible to covered MBI claims.
MBI is different from ordinary auto insurance coverage for crashes, theft, hail, or other accidental damage. It also does not pay for routine maintenance or normal wear and tear. If you’re trying to determine whether this coverage is available for your vehicle, see our guide to GEICO Mechanical Breakdown Insurance.
GEICO Mechanical Breakdown Insurance at a Glance
| Feature | Current GEICO MBI Terms |
| What it covers | Covered repairs to most original mechanical parts and systems |
| Deductible | $250 per covered loss |
| Routine maintenance | Not covered |
| Normal wear and tear | Not covered |
| General new-vehicle eligibility | Less than 15 months old and fewer than 15,000 miles; some states use different thresholds |
| How long coverage may continue | Generally renewable for up to 7 years or 100,000 miles; some states allow up to 10 years |
| Repair shop | You may choose the repair facility |
Availability, eligibility, terms, and exclusions vary by state and policy. Your GEICO policy contract controls if it differs from a general description online.
Key Takeaways
- GEICO MBI is intended to cover unexpected mechanical failures involving most original mechanical parts and systems, subject to the terms and exclusions in your policy.
- Routine maintenance and normal wear and tear are excluded, and GEICO says MBI only applies to covered repairs that are not paid by the manufacturer’s warranty.
- The current GEICO MBI deductible is $250, which the policyholder generally pays directly to the repair facility for an approved covered repair.
- Do not authorize repairs before GEICO approves an MBI claim. GEICO specifically warns that beginning repairs before it has an opportunity to investigate could jeopardize coverage.
What Does GEICO Mechanical Breakdown Insurance Cover?
According to GEICO’s current Mechanical Breakdown Insurance information, MBI helps pay for covered repairs to most original mechanical parts of an eligible vehicle after the deductible. GEICO’s claims guidance describes the coverage even more broadly as applying to repairs to mechanical parts of the vehicle, except for maintenance and wear and tear.
That means MBI is not limited to only one or two major components such as the engine or transmission. Depending on the cause of the failure and the terms of your policy, covered repairs can involve major vehicle systems such as:
- Engine components
- Transmission and drivetrain components
- Electrical systems
- Steering and suspension systems
- Cooling-system components
- Air-conditioning and other mechanical systems
These are examples rather than a promise that every failure involving one of these systems will be paid. The cause of the breakdown, warranty coverage, exclusions, vehicle eligibility, prior repairs, and the specific terms of your policy can all affect whether a claim is covered.
What Does GEICO MBI Not Cover?
Mechanical breakdown insurance is not the same as a maintenance plan. GEICO specifically excludes maintenance and wear-and-tear repairs from its general description of MBI coverage.
Expenses that generally fall outside the purpose of MBI include:
- Routine maintenance: Services such as oil changes and other scheduled maintenance are not what MBI is designed to pay for.
- Normal wear and tear: Components that simply wear out through ordinary use are excluded under GEICO’s current MBI claims guidance.
- Repairs paid by the manufacturer warranty: GEICO states that MBI applies to covered repairs that are not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
- Accident-related damage: Damage from a collision or another covered event is generally handled under the applicable collision, comprehensive, or other auto insurance coverage rather than MBI.
There may be additional exclusions or conditions in your policy. Before assuming an expensive repair is covered, review your policy documents or contact GEICO for a coverage determination.
Which Vehicles Are Eligible for GEICO MBI?
GEICO limits MBI to relatively new vehicles. Under its current general eligibility rules, a vehicle must usually:
- Be less than 15 months old when MBI is added.
- Have fewer than 15,000 miles.
- Meet GEICO’s ownership requirements, which generally include being the first owner of the vehicle, although that requirement does not apply in every state.
GEICO notes an important state variation: in some states, a vehicle may qualify if it is less than 36 months old and has fewer than 36,000 miles. MBI is also not available in every state or every situation.
If you are considering MBI for a new vehicle, check eligibility early. Waiting until a vehicle is several years old or has accumulated substantial mileage may make it too late to add the coverage.
How Long Can GEICO MBI Last?
Once eligible MBI coverage has been purchased, GEICO says it can generally be renewed for up to seven years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. In some states, the age limit can extend to 10 years.
This is one of the reasons MBI may be useful even when a new car is still protected by a manufacturer warranty: qualifying drivers can purchase MBI while the vehicle is new and potentially retain the coverage after the original warranty expires, subject to continued eligibility and the policy terms.
How Does GEICO’s $250 MBI Deductible Work?
GEICO currently applies a $250 deductible to covered MBI losses. The deductible is the portion of an approved repair that you are responsible for paying.
For example, suppose an eligible vehicle develops a covered mechanical problem and GEICO approves $2,400 in repair costs. With a $250 deductible, you would generally pay $250 and GEICO would pay the remaining $2,150 in approved covered costs. This is only a hypothetical example; an actual claim depends on the repair, policy terms, and GEICO’s coverage determination.
How to File a GEICO Mechanical Breakdown Claim
GEICO has a specific process for MBI claims, and following it is important. Most notably, do not tell the repair shop to begin repairs before GEICO authorizes the work.
GEICO’s current mechanical breakdown claims instructions outline the following process:
- Report the mechanical breakdown. GEICO currently directs MBI customers to call 800-443-7411 to report the claim.
- Choose a repair facility. GEICO says you may take the vehicle to the repair facility of your choice.
- Give the shop your GEICO policy information. Tell the repair facility you have GEICO MBI.
- Have the shop diagnose the problem and contact GEICO. The repair facility should provide GEICO with the diagnosis and repair estimate before beginning repairs.
- Wait for authorization. GEICO may inspect the vehicle before deciding whether the repair is covered.
- Pay your deductible. For an approved covered claim, GEICO says it pays the repair facility directly and you pay the $250 deductible to the shop.
GEICO also states that if the repair facility cannot diagnose a mechanical failure, GEICO will not pay the diagnostic fee.
Why You Should Get Approval Before Repairs Begin
This is one of the most important details in the claims process. GEICO specifically warns customers not to allow repairs to begin before the company has had an opportunity to investigate the mechanical breakdown.
If a shop disassembles or repairs the vehicle before GEICO can evaluate the failure, it may become more difficult for the insurer to determine what happened and whether the loss qualifies for coverage. GEICO states that failing to give it an opportunity to investigate before repairs begin may jeopardize the claim.
GEICO MBI vs. Standard Car Insurance
Mechanical breakdown insurance and ordinary auto insurance are intended to address different types of losses.
| Situation | Coverage That May Apply |
| Unexpected covered mechanical failure | Mechanical Breakdown Insurance |
| Damage from a crash | Collision coverage, subject to policy terms |
| Vehicle stolen or damaged by certain non-collision events | Comprehensive coverage, subject to policy terms |
| Oil change or scheduled service | Generally paid by the vehicle owner |
| Normal wear and tear | Not covered by GEICO MBI |
Having collision and comprehensive coverage therefore does not automatically mean an ordinary mechanical failure is covered. Conversely, MBI does not replace collision or comprehensive insurance.
GEICO MBI vs. an Extended Warranty
MBI can serve a similar purpose to an extended vehicle warranty or service contract because both can reduce the cost of certain repairs. They are not identical products, however, and the details can differ considerably.
GEICO highlights two practical differences with its MBI coverage: you pay for the insurance as part of your policy rather than necessarily paying a large service-contract price up front, and GEICO allows MBI customers to choose their repair facility. Coverage definitions and exclusions should still be compared carefully before choosing one product over another.
Does GEICO MBI Pay for Towing or a Rental Car?
Do not assume that buying MBI automatically gives you every service you might need when your vehicle breaks down. Towing, roadside assistance, and temporary transportation are separate coverage questions.
For help with towing, jump-starts, lockouts, and similar roadside problems, see what GEICO roadside assistance covers.
Rental reimbursement is also separate from MBI. In particular, ordinary rental reimbursement may not apply simply because your vehicle has a mechanical failure. Our guide explains when GEICO may cover a rental car if your vehicle breaks down.
Is GEICO Mechanical Breakdown Insurance Worth It?
Whether MBI makes sense depends on the cost of adding it to your policy and how much value you place on transferring some of the risk of a major unexpected repair to the insurer.
Before buying or renewing MBI, consider:
- Your manufacturer warranty: Determine what is already covered and when that protection expires.
- The MBI premium: Compare the added premium over the period you expect to keep the vehicle with the protection you receive.
- The $250 deductible: Smaller repairs may not provide much benefit after the deductible is applied.
- Your emergency savings: Consider whether you could comfortably pay for a major repair without insurance.
- How long you expect to own the vehicle: MBI may have different value for someone who trades a car after a few years than for someone planning to keep it well beyond the factory warranty.
- Alternative protection: If you are comparing MBI with an extended warranty or service contract, compare covered repairs, exclusions, deductibles, repair-shop restrictions, cancellation terms, and total cost rather than looking only at the monthly payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does GEICO MBI cover the engine?
Potentially, yes. GEICO describes MBI as covering most original mechanical parts and systems, which can include covered mechanical failures involving the engine. Whether a specific engine repair is covered depends on the cause of the failure, the manufacturer warranty, exclusions, and the terms of the policy.
Does GEICO MBI cover the transmission?
A covered mechanical failure involving the transmission may qualify for MBI because GEICO’s coverage extends broadly to mechanical parts and systems. The individual claim still must satisfy the policy’s terms and cannot simply be routine maintenance or normal wear and tear.
Does GEICO MBI cover normal wear and tear?
No. GEICO’s current claims guidance specifically excludes maintenance and wear and tear from its MBI coverage description.
Can I use my own mechanic for a GEICO MBI claim?
Yes. GEICO says you may take the vehicle to the repair facility of your choice. The shop should diagnose the problem and contact GEICO with its estimate before beginning repairs.
What is the GEICO MBI deductible?
GEICO currently lists a $250 deductible for covered Mechanical Breakdown Insurance claims. GEICO says the customer pays that deductible directly to the repair facility while GEICO pays the facility for the approved covered portion of the repair.
Bottom Line
GEICO Mechanical Breakdown Insurance provides broader mechanical-repair protection than the original article suggested. Rather than covering only a short list of named components, GEICO currently describes MBI as covering most original mechanical parts and systems when a qualifying mechanical failure occurs, subject to the policy’s exclusions and conditions.
The key limitations are just as important: routine maintenance and normal wear and tear are not covered, manufacturer-warranty coverage takes priority, eligibility is limited mainly to newer low-mileage vehicles, and you should obtain GEICO’s authorization before repairs begin. For an approved covered loss, the current deductible is $250.
Before relying on MBI for a repair, check the coverage shown on your declarations page and review the complete policy contract. GEICO notes that availability and terms can vary by state and situation.