WalletHub, Financial Company
@WalletHub
A gap insurance policy will likely cost around $400 to $700 in total when you purchase coverage from a car dealership. If added to your car insurance policy instead, gap insurance will typically cost you around $36 per year. The cost of gap insurance depends on the car’s value and your risk factors, such as your age and claims history.
Average Gap Insurance Cost
| Providers | Cost |
| Dealership | $200 to $700 total |
| Lender | $200 to $700 total |
| Add-on to Existing Car Insurance Policy | $20 to $40 per year |
How to Get Cheap Gap Insurance
Some car leases include gap insurance at no added cost. But besides this free coverage, buying gap insurance from your normal car insurance company is usually the cheapest option. On average, gap insurance will only add around 5% to 6% to your comprehensive and collision cost. But since gap insurance is a relatively uncommon kind of coverage, not every insurance company offers it.
If your insurer does not provide gap insurance, it’s a good idea to compare quotes and see if it would be worth switching companies. If not, some companies offer standalone gap insurance policies. Also, if you are financing a car through a bank or credit union, these institutions will usually offer gap insurance upfront for anywhere from $200 to $700.
How Much Is Gap Insurance from a Dealer?
Dealerships are often the most expensive source of gap insurance, costing around $400 to $700 up front. If you are buying gap insurance that is rolled into your loan, bear in mind that you will be paying interest on the gap insurance premium as well as the rest of the loan’s balance. As a result, you’ll actually end up paying more than the original cost. This also comes into play wherever else you might get auto financing and gap insurance at the same time, including banks and credit unions.
However, price is not the only factor that should affect your decision of where to buy gap insurance. You should also consider how long your gap coverage will last and how long you will need it. Similarly, some gap insurance policies will pay your deductible, although many will not. And most gap insurance policies do not pay for anything you owe from a previous car loan.
People also ask
Is gap insurance worth it?
Gap insurance is worth the money whenever you owe more on your car loan or lease than the car is worth. For example, if you paid a small down payment on your car, your loan term is 4-5 years or your car will depreciate quickly, you should consider getting gap insurance.
Gap insurance is never mandated by state law, and few lenders or lessors require it, so the decision to buy it depends on...
read full answer by WalletHub, Financial CompanyDo I need gap insurance if I have full coverage?
Gap insurance is needed even if you have full coverage because full coverage will not reimburse you for the difference between what you owe on your car loan or lease and the vehicle’s actual cash value if the car is totaled or stolen. Gap insurance fills in that gap.
When You Need Gap Insurance If You Have Full Coverage
- You’re financing/leasing a new vehicle for a long term (60+months).
- You made...
Should I buy gap insurance from a dealer?
No, you should not buy gap insurance from a dealer in most cases. Gap insurance from a car dealership typically costs much more than gap coverage from an insurance company, bank, or credit union, and the cost is usually added to your loan balance, meaning that you have to pay interest on it. The only reason to buy gap insurance from a dealer is if you cannot find the coverage options that you want from...
read full answer by WalletHub, Financial CompanyDid we answer your question?
Important Disclosures
Ad Disclosure: Certain offers that appear on this site originate from paying advertisers. For full transparency, here is a list of our current advertisers.
Advertisers compensate WalletHub when you click on a link, or your application is approved, or your account is opened. Advertising impacts how and where offers appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear and their prevalence). At WalletHub we try to present a wide array of offers, but our offers do not represent all financial services companies or products.
Advertising enables WalletHub to provide you proprietary tools, services, and content at no charge. Advertising does not impact WalletHub's editorial content including our best picks, reviews, ratings and opinions. Those are completely independent and not provided, commissioned, or endorsed by any company, as our editors follow a strict editorial policy.