Commercial auto insurance is required for any vehicle used primarily for your mobile oil change business to protect the vehicle, driver, and others on the road in the event of an accident. Select a policy that not only covers accident-related vehicle repair costs and medical treatment for anyone harmed, but also provides adequate coverage for any company property you transport in your vehicle.
Does insurance cover oil change?
Maintenance, such as an oil change, is often not covered by automobile insurance, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Car insurance will almost certainly not cover the price of repairing or replacing your vehicle, whether it’s for routine maintenance, a mechanical issue, or a blown engine.
How much should an oil change cost?
Depending on your location, an oil and filter change with standard oil will cost between $35 and $75. If your vehicle requires synthetic oil, you should budget between $65 and $125.
Some folks are handy and have the time and resources to change their oil and filter on their own. (If that isn’t you, no worries!) Depending on where you reside, five quarts of conventional oil and a new filter would set you back roughly $30. It will cost roughly $45 plus VAT for synthetic motor oil and a new filter. Actual costs should be obtained from your local auto parts store.
Regular maintenance will not only keep your automobile running smoothly, but it will also help safeguard the value of your car over time. See How to Maintain the Value of Your Car for further information.
How long can you go past your oil change?
Cars typically last between 5,000 and 7,500 miles before requiring an oil change. Additionally, if you use synthetic oil in your vehicle, you can go 10,000 or even 15,000 miles between oil changes.
Is an oil change considered a repair?
Brake part replacement, minor tune-ups, oil and filter change, flat tire repair, lubrication, and “other comparable procedures” are all described as “minor automobile maintenance.”
Anything outside of that scope, as well as body or painting work on automobiles or vehicle parts, is termed “major repairs.” This is most likely intended to deter ne’er-do-wells from setting up a chop shop or paint booth in their front yard.
But now comes the tricky part. The zoning code goes on to say that it’s illegal to do even minor repairs in the following situations:
Can you total a car if the engine is blown?
No, in most cases. A normal car insurance coverage only covers vehicle repairs if they are the result of an accident. If your engine experiences a mechanical failure or other issue, you are unlikely to be covered.
Is engine damage covered by insurance?
In general, car insurance policies cover liability for bodily injury and property damage caused by an accident, as well as comprehensive loss caused by fire, theft, explosion, and other causes. Any engine damage caused by normal wear and tear or mechanical failure, on the other hand, will not be covered by an insurance claim.
Is full synthetic oil worth it?
Synthetic oil is superior to regular oil in terms of engine protection. Although conventional oil (i.e. mineral oil) can offer enough lubrication, it cannot match with synthetics in terms of overall engine performance and protection.
Synthetics use higher-quality base oils than traditional oils, which are less refined, resulting in conventional oils:
Full synthetic oils outperform conventional and synthetic blend motor lubricants in terms of engine performance and protection. Mobil 1TM advanced full synthetic motor oils have been precisely designed with a customized additive system that gives significant performance benefits over and beyond those found in traditional and synthetic blend oils, including:
So all of the chemistry that begins in a lab has a significant impact on the road.
Is it cheaper to change your own oil?
On a financial basis, if you own one of the more popular mainstream vehicles and receive two or three oil changes per year, you’ll likely save less than $20 per service between having it done at an individual shop or an oil change chain versus doing it yourself. If you don’t have any of the tools or equipment you’ll need to accomplish the task and have to go out and buy them, you’ll have to wait a few years to see a return on your DIY savings. And, of course, one tiny blunder might result in hefty repair fees for a do-it-yourselfer.
When it comes to convenience and time, appointmentless oil change services are widely available in most cities (including small ones), and many factory dealerships now provide quick-lube services. Most vehicle oil changes can be completed in less than 30 minutes by an experienced lube technician, who will almost always have all of the necessary fluids, filters, and parts on hand.
Why is an oil change so expensive?
There are few constants in life, one of which is that change an oil change, that is is unavoidable. Even though we all cope with changes on a daily basis, being slapped with new or greater fees for vehicle care and maintenance is rarely a pleasant experience.
You may have noticed that pricing for what appears to be the same oil change have increased over the last few years when you come in for your regularly scheduled oil change. We’re all aware with the seemingly cyclical increases in the cost of living, but the price of some oil changes has risen significantly more than the cost of living, and we’re here to explain why.
Let’s take the ever-popular Chevy Silverado as an illustration of the rise we’re talking about. In 2013, an oil change cost around $38, but by the following year, the cost had risen to $90.
If consumers are unprepared for this, it could lead to unnecessary confusion and frustration. Many customers are unaware, however, that the oil change conducted in 2013 was not the same oil change that could be used on 2014 model vehicles.
Manufacturers are mandating a different sort of higher-grade oil, a synthetic, to be used in modern vehicles, as well as a bigger capacity of that oil. Because of advancements in engine design and onboard technologies, this is the case. Not only is high-grade synthetic oil more expensive, but it also requires more of it to adequately maintain the car. Although the initial cost of an oil change is higher, this is what permits the vehicle to go between oil changes for extended periods of time.
Car owners who change their oil at longer intervals but avoid the more expensive synthetic oils advised for their vehicle may cause havoc with their engine, which will wind up costing a lot more in the long run.
What happens if oil change is overdue?
As previously stated, your engine oil degrades and wears out over time. The oil becomes less effective in lubricating and absorbing heat as a result of this. If your oil continues to flow through your engine at the same rate, you’ll start to experience a slew of issues.
In fact, if you put off getting your oil changed for too long, your smooth, clear oil will transform into filthy sludge. When this happens, your engine will have to work harder to get through the muck accumulation. It loses its lubrication and heat absorption reduces. This means that your vehicle will be vulnerable to serious problems.
- Getting Rid of Your Automobile’s Warranty It’s critical to replace your oil according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, especially if you bought your car fresh new. Failure to do so may cancel your car’s warranty and leave you without assistance if something severe happens!
- Engine Components Warped – Because heat is no longer evacuated and there is almost no lubrication, your engine components will begin to battle, push, and grind against one another. This will cause the parts in your engine to distort, causing the engine to seize. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this, and the only option is to replace the entire engine.
- Blown Head Gasket – A blown head gasket will put you out of commission. Depending on the age and value of your car, replacing a blown head gasket can be a pricey repair. If this happens frequently, you may need to replace the engine.
- Engine is inefficient – Your engine’s oil not only lubricates it, but it also maintains it clean. The filter, which is also removed during an oil change, traps additives that convey dirt and debris. As a result, driving quality and engine power may suffer.
- Complete Engine Failure – If you go too long without changing your oil, you may lose your car. When motor oil becomes sludge, it loses its ability to remove heat from the engine. This can result in a complete engine shutdown, which will need the purchase of a new engine or a new ride.
If you put off getting your oil changed long enough, your engine will eventually lock up and need to be replaced. This fix, of course, can cost thousands of dollars. When an engine fails, many individuals sell their cars as-is to a salvage yard and purchase a new one.
These are, without a doubt, terrifying! Your oil change is critical to the overall safety and longevity of your vehicle, from overheating engines to voiding your vehicle’s warranty. Oil changes are still one of the least priced and fastest maintenance procedures available, which is fortunate for you.