GAP Insurance - Why You MUST Have It

You're all set to sign the contract for your new car loan when it hits you: "What happens if this car gets into an accident?"

Technically, the car still belongs to the bank or leasing company. But, you're still responsible for replacing it.

That's right. Even after your auto insurance company figures out how much the car is worth and pays off the damage, you may still owe the bank some dough. And that's where Gap Insurance comes in.

GAP insurance is a must for leasing. And if you made only a small down payment when buying a car, you need a GAP auto insurance policy as well.
 
As the name implies, GAP insurance covers what traditional car insurance doesn't. In other words, it closes the GAP between what your auto insurance company pays if your car is stolen or totaled and what you owe the finance company.

Here is how it works. Say you bought your car two months ago for $25,000. You begin making car payments at about $500 a month based on a 6-percent interest rate. Then, disaster strikes: a tree falls on your car and flattens it.
 
You call the auto insurance company and the claims adjuster looks into his crystal ball and decides at the time of the accident your car was worth only $20,000. The car may only be a couple of months old, but it has already lost 20 percent of its value. Unfortunately, the finance company still wants the full amount you owe them. With interest, tax and license fees, they figure that to be $27,000.

Yikes! There's a gap of $7,000 between the $20,000 that the insurance company is willing to pay you and the $27,000 the finance company is demanding. Most folks are going to be eating Spam dinners for the next two years, but not if you have Gap Insurance.

Apply the same scenario to someone who bought their car. If they left the dealer lot without putting several thousand dollars down, they likely owe more than the auto insurance company will pay if the vehicle gets totaled or stolen in the first few years. Once again, GAP coverage can save the day.

And that's why GAP insurance is a must for many drivers. In fact, gap insurance is usually mandated by lease contracts or included within them. Unless you have unusually deep pockets gap insurance must be a high priority for your new car.
 
Is 100% necessary for people who finance their cars ? Well, it depends on your coverage. If your regular auto insurance policy is written to pay off the fully financed amount, then you don't need GAP insurance. However most policies don’t have this feature so the investment in GAP insurance is a good investment.

If your car is totaled or stolen, carefully follow all requirements made by your auto insurance company. For example, some companies require you to continue making car payments on your totaled vehicle until the money from the GAP insurance is paid out

When you go to buy your next car get pre-approved for the auto loan first. Then check out our car insurance companies for your insurance quote including GAP insurance. If you have an accident, you'll be glad you planned ahead.