It's easy to assume comprehensive car insurance covers everything that could go wrong with your car — but a snapped timing chain or a failed gearbox usually isn't an "accident," and typically isn't covered by comprehensive insurance at all. That's where Mechanical Breakdown Insurance (MBI) comes in.

Comprehensive insurance protects your vehicle (and others) against sudden, external events, including:

• Accidental damage to your car

• Damage to other vehicles or property

• Theft

• Fire

• Storm and natural disaster damage

MBI covers the cost of repairing or replacing mechanical or electrical components that fail unexpectedly — the kind of component failure that comprehensive insurance was never designed to cover. Simplify offers MBI underwritten by Autosure, with two options: Smart Cover and Extreme Plus.

• Comprehensive insurance: covers sudden external events — collisions, theft, fire, weather damage

• Mechanical Breakdown Insurance: covers internal mechanical and electrical component failure — the kind of thing a manufacturer's warranty would have covered when the car was new

• Smart Cover provides core protection for a range of mechanical and electrical components

• Extreme Plus extends cover further, generally including additional components and higher claim limits

Exact claim limits, covered components, and exclusions vary by plan and vehicle — always check the current Product Disclosure Statement for full details before choosing a level of cover.

For most financed vehicles, especially anything out of the manufacturer's warranty, it's worth having both:

• Comprehensive insurance is often required by your lender as a condition of finance

• MBI fills the gap comprehensive insurance leaves — unexpected repair bills for things like the engine, transmission, or electrical systems

• You're rear-ended at the lights → comprehensive insurance

• Your car is stolen from a car park → comprehensive insurance

• Your automatic transmission fails well out of warranty → Mechanical Breakdown Insurance

• Your air conditioning compressor unexpectedly fails → Mechanical Breakdown Insurance (subject to the plan and exclusions)

👉 View Insurance Options & PDS Documents

Generally no — MBI covers sudden, unexpected mechanical or electrical failures, not routine servicing or consumable items. Check the PDS for what's included.

Eligibility depends on the vehicle's age and mileage, and varies between Smart Cover and Extreme Plus. A Loan Expert can confirm what your vehicle qualifies for.

Not quite — MBI is a separate insurance product that can pick up cover once (or if) a manufacturer's warranty has ended, subject to its own terms and exclusions.

Simplify's Mechanical Breakdown Insurance is underwritten by Autosure.

Not sure which level of cover suits your car? 👉 Contact a Loan Expert

This article is general information only. Cover, claim limits, and exclusions depend on the current Autosure Product Disclosure Statement for Smart Cover and Extreme Plus — always read the PDS before purchasing.