How does gap insurance work?

Yes, you can buy gap insurance at any time before a car loan or lease is paid off but only from some gap insurance providers, as others will only sell coverage to the first owner of a car with a recent model year. The standalone gap insurance provider Gap Direct sells policies regardless of the car’s age, for example. Gap Direct will cover a car as long as it has not already been declared a total loss.… read full answer

On the other hand, gap insurance policies directly from dealerships or from major insurers like Allstate in coordination with a dealership usually need to be purchased at the same time as the car. Specific requirements vary by insurer, though, and it should be possible to find coverage for a car that you financed, leased, or refinanced during the past year or two.

In short, as long as you’re willing to check with multiple insurers, you can get gap insurance after you buy a car.

It’s also worth noting that you are unlikely to need gap insurance for a car that is more than a few years old, since gap insurance is designed to cover the difference between a car’s actual cash value (ACV) and the balance on a loan or lease. Car depreciation slows after the first year of ownership, meaning that an older car likely does not have a large gap between its value and the balance on a loan or lease.

For more information, check out WalletHub’s tips on whether gap insurance is worth it and where to buy gap insurance.

To get a gap insurance refund, contact the insurance provider and give them the policy number and documents showing that the car was traded in, sold, or paid off early. Gap insurance refunds are usually only possible for policies that were paid in full up front. Drivers cannot get refunds simply because they never filed a gap insurance claim.… read full answer

If you are cancelling within 30 days after the policy’s start date, you might be able to get a full refund, minus any cancellation fees. In other cases, only a partial refund may be possible. The details will depend on your policy and your state’s laws.

When You Can Get a Gap Insurance Refund

• You are paying off, selling, or trading in the covered car.
• You are switching to a different gap insurance company.
• Your loan balance is no longer more than the car’s actual value, though it’s best to leave a cushion of $1,000-$2,000.

If you need a gap insurance refund because you’re selling or trading in the car, be sure to wait until the car no longer legally belongs to you before cancelling your gap insurance. Then, you will need to give the appropriate paperwork to your insurance provider, such as a proof of sale or auto payoff letter. Some gap insurance companies might also require an odometer verification showing the mileage on your car, which you can get from a dealership before you sell or trade in the vehicle.

Similarly, if you’re refinancing, wait to cancel your gap insurance until your previous loan is no longer in effect.

On the other hand, drivers cannot get a gap insurance refund if the insured car is declared a total loss before the policy’s expiration date. In this case, the gap insurance will pay for the difference between the car’s value and the loan balance, but drivers will not be eligible for a refund for the remaining months of coverage.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Gap Insurance Refund?

Gap insurance refunds usually take 4-6 weeks. Staying in contact with your gap insurance provider and promptly returning signed paperwork can expedite the process, though.

Gap insurance is worth it if you paid a small down payment on your car, your loan term is 4-5 years, or your car will depreciate quickly. Gap insurance is never mandated by state law, and few lenders or lessors require it, so the decision to buy it depends on personal circumstances.… read full answer

You Should Buy Gap Insurance When

• You don’t have the savings to pay off your loan or lease if the car is totaled or stolen.
• Your down payment is less than 20% of the car’s value.
• Your loan will last four years or more.
• You drive more miles than average, which reduces the car’s value faster.
• Your car is a make and model that depreciates especially fast, like a luxury sedan or electric vehicle.
• You are a single-car household and need a car to get around.
• Your loan includes negative equity from your last car.

Since gap insurance covers the difference between the car’s actual cash value and the amount you owe, researching these two numbers will be a key deciding factor in whether gap insurance is worth it.

Why Getting Gap Insurance Is Worth It

For example, say you buy a car for $20,000 and your down payment is $2,000. This small down payment suggests that gap insurance might be worth it, but it’s still a good idea to check the car’s anticipated value after a year to determine if there will be a gap. If the car is worth $12,000 after a year but you’ll still owe $15,000, gap insurance could be a smart investment. If you don’t buy gap insurance and this car is totaled after a year, you’ll still owe $3,000 even though you can no longer drive it.

On the other hand, if your down payment is large enough or the car’s resale value is high enough that you’ll never owe more than the car is worth, gap insurance is unnecessary. Similarly, if you do owe more than the car is worth but you have the resources to pay the difference if the worst happens, it might be worth taking the risk.