One of the standout features of Bubblegum car insurance is its optional engine & gearbox warranty. That means comprehensive coverage for accidents, but extra protection if your car breaks down due to engine or gearbox issues.

But what exactly does this engine & gearbox warranty cover, and do you really need it?

Here’s the thinking behind bundling engine & gearbox warranty coverage together with car insurance:

Most car insurance plans in Singapore are designed to insure you and other parties against accidents. This is understandable since accidents can be financially damaging (at best), even fatal (at worst).

But if you’re a super careful driver and already do everything you can to avoid accidents, you might be scared of your car suffering a breakdown for other reasons. After all, it's one of the most expensive things you own!

To provide additional value to drivers, Bubblegum has decided to offer an optional engine & gearbox warranty coverage on top of our comprehensive car insurance plan. This means you’re also insured against engine and gearbox breakdowns — which, for safe drivers, are far more likely than accidents!

Bubblegum’s engine & gearbox warranty covers repairs up to $5,000 per car insurance policy. Most major components within the car engine and gearbox are covered, including:

Engine components and sub-parts

• Cam Shaft and Follower
• Connecting Rods
• Crankshaft
• Cylinder Head (not due to overheating)
• Gudgeon Pins
• Oil Pump
• Push Rods
• Rocker Assembly
• Timing Gears
• Valves and Guides
  
  Gearbox (manual cars)
• Bearing and Bushes
• Gears and Shafts
• Synchromesh Hubs
  
  Gearbox (automatic cars)
• Bearing and Bushes
• Gears and Shafts
• Governors and Servos
• Valves and Gear Lever
  
  Minor parts not listed here, such as engine hoses and pipings, are not covered. Also, components outside the gearbox and engine will not be covered; for example, sensors, light bulbs and air-con refrigerant.
  Last, there are some exclusions, like mechatronics and differentials, that commonly appear on performance vehicles and usually aren't the source of problems.
  
  As with all other motor warranty products out there, Bubblegum’s engine & gearbox warranty does not cover wear and tear and pre-existing conditions.

Bubblegum’s engine & gearbox warranty is available for many — but not all — cars. Here are the eligibility criteria for this free benefit:

• Your car must be 12 years old or less
• Less than 200,000km in mileage
• Used for personal reasons only (private hire vehicles are not covered)
  
  In addition, the driver must be 21 to 70 years old and have at least 1 year of driving experience.
  
  Provided you and your car meet the criteria laid out above you can buy our Comprehensive + Warranty plan and Bubblegum will cover its engine and gearbox with no pre-inspection needed. However, there is a cooldown period - you will not be able to claim within the first 30 days or the first 1,000km after your insurance policy begins.
  
  If you’d like to remove this restriction, simply opt for a pre-inspection to certify that your car is free of pre-existing conditions.

As a pre-requisite for Bubblegum’s engine & gearbox warranty benefit, you will need to send your car for regular servicing at any workshop of your choice:

• First servicing: within 1 calendar month from the policy start date
• Subsequent servicing: every 10,000km or 6 months, whichever is earlier
  
  In the event of an engine or gearbox breakdown, you may call Bubblegum’s 24-hour hotline at +65 61001620. The friendly team will help get the claims process started.
  
  Next, select one of Bubblegum’s list of authorised car workshops and proceed with your engine and gearbox warranty repairs. (This restriction allows Bubblegum to keep repair costs and policy premiums affordable for all customers.)

Depending on your car and the kind of driver you are, you may or may not feel that an engine & gearbox warranty is necessary.

If your car is new from a dealer, it would probably come with a dealership warranty already. Since we like being honest - in this scenario it's unlikely to be worthwhile for you to buy our engine and gearbox warranty.
However, you might want to compare its claim limit with Bubblegum’s and select the one that offers more protection. (If opting for the latter, ask your car dealer if they can waive the cost of their warranty.)

For cars no longer under dealership warranty, an engine & gearbox warranty is not compulsory but can give you protection against unexpected car repair expenses. This is provided you’re willing to send your car for regular servicing and keep good records.

For many drivers in today’s inflationary world, the deciding factor is likely to be the cost of an engine & gearbox warranty.

 
By bundling this nice-to-have with our car insurance plan, Bubblegum has eliminated the need to agonise over it. Since you’ll have to buy your mandatory car insurance policy anyway, why not enjoy Bubblegum’s additional engine & gearbox warranty for some extra peace of mind?