What’s GAP insurance coverage and do I want it when submitting an auto insurance coverage declare?

GAP insurance coverage is an elective protection that gives monetary safety to automotive house owners in particular circumstances. For instance, such a insurance coverage safeguards you from bearing the burden of paying off a mortgage or lease on a automotive that has been stolen or deemed a complete loss after an accident.

However what’s GAP insurance coverage, and do you want it if you study the best way to file an auto insurance coverage declare? Learn on to study extra.

Understanding GAP Insurance coverage and When You Want it

Merely put, GAP insurance coverage covers the distinction between the excellent stability on a automotive mortgage or lease and the automobile’s precise money worth (ACV) on the time of theft or important injury.

Commonplace auto insurance coverage insurance policies typically cowl solely as much as the ACV, which might depart you owing cash to your lender or leasing firm in case your automotive is price lower than your remaining stability.

Listed here are a number of conditions the place GAP insurance coverage is likely to be useful:

• You leased your automotive.
• You made a low down cost in your mortgage.
• Your financing time period is prolonged.
• You rolled over destructive fairness from a earlier mortgage into your new one.
• Your automobile depreciates shortly.

GAP insurance coverage is most useful for many who bought a automotive with a low down cost, as new automobiles usually depreciate quicker than used automobiles. Earlier than buying this protection, take into account your automotive’s depreciation fee, mortgage stability, and down cost quantity.

The Function of GAP Insurance coverage in Auto Claims

Think about you bought a brand-new automotive for $25,000 and took out a mortgage to finance the acquisition with no down cost. After a yr, the automotive’s ACV has depreciated to $20,000, however you continue to owe $23,000 in your mortgage. Sadly, you get into an accident that ends in your automotive being deemed a complete loss.

Sadly, your normal auto insurance coverage coverage will cowl solely the ACV of $20,000. Nevertheless, since you will have GAP insurance coverage, your GAP supplier pays the additional $3,000, guaranteeing you don’t should repay the distinction out of pocket.

To file a GAP insurance coverage declare, comply with these steps:

• Contact your insurer to report the incident and provoke the claims course of.
• Present all obligatory documentation, together with the unique GAP contract, gross sales settlement, producer’s bill, financing contract, cost historical past, valuation report, insurance coverage settlement assertion, and any police studies you filed.
• Keep on prime of any requests for added paperwork and comply with up along with your insurer concerning the standing of your declare.

As soon as your declare is accepted, most GAP insurers ship a test on to your auto lease or mortgage supplier inside 4 to 6 weeks. Do not forget that totally different insurers might have barely totally different declare necessities, so all the time confirm the required paperwork along with your GAP insurance coverage supplier.

Buying GAP Insurance coverage: Sellers vs. Auto Insurers

How a lot GAP insurance coverage prices will fluctuate relying on whether or not you buy it via a seller, financial institution, credit score union, or auto insurance coverage firm. Examine affords from varied sources to seek out the perfect deal.

Whereas lenders and dealerships promote GAP insurance coverage at a flat fee, often between $500 and $700, auto insurers cost a median of $20 to $40 per yr when bundled with an current coverage or between $200 and $300 for a standalone coverage.

As well as, when shopping for GAP insurance coverage via an auto insurer, you keep away from paying curiosity on bundled lease/mortgage funds. Think about bundling GAP protection with collision and complete protection in your auto coverage — this may add as little as $20 per yr to your annual premium.

When to Cancel Your GAP Insurance coverage

You’ll sometimes want GAP insurance coverage for about two years or till you owe lower than your automobile’s worth. It’s important to maintain observe of when this happens in an effort to cancel the coverage and keep away from pointless bills. Make sure to study the best way to cancel GAP insurance coverage if:

• You’ve paid off your mortgage early.
• You promote the automobile.
• The quantity owed in your mortgage is lower than the present price of your automotive.

Bear in mind that your automotive’s ACV could also be up for debate through the claims course of. Nevertheless, you possibly can negotiate a complete loss auto insurance coverage settlement by offering clear proof of the automobile’s present worth.

Deciding When You Want GAP Insurance coverage

GAP insurance coverage could be a lifesaver in circumstances the place your automotive is stolen or significantly broken, and you continue to owe extra in your mortgage or lease than the automobile’s precise money worth. Nevertheless, it’s not obligatory for each driver.

Rigorously consider your monetary scenario and take into account elements like depreciation fee and mortgage stability earlier than buying GAP protection.