How does gap insurance work after a car is totaled?

Gap insurance covers the difference between your auto loan and the car's depreciated value. In other words, gap insurance helps you pay off your auto loan or lease if you're no longer able to drive your car due to it being totaled or stolen.

It’s important to note that gap insurance only pays when your car is totaled or stolen, so you cannot file a gap claim if you simply can’t make your loan or lease payments. Additionally, most gap insurance policies will not pay your … read full answercollision or comprehensive deductible, if applicable.

Loan/Lease Payoff Insurance: Gap Insurance Alternative

Not all insurance companies offer gap insurance, but some offer loan/lease payoff insurance as an alternative. Loan/lease coverage is similar to gap insurance, except that it usually only pays up to 25% of the vehicle’s actual cash value toward the policyholder’s loan or lease balance, which might not be enough to cover the full amount owed.

If you’re curious about gap insurance or loan/lease coverage, you should check with your insurance company to see if they offer either.

To learn more, check out WalletHub’s guide to gap insurance.

Gap insurance works by covering the difference between the balance on a car loan or lease and what the vehicle is actually worth if it is stolen or declared a total loss. For example, if you owe $24,000 on your loan and your car is worth only $20,000 when it's totaled, gap insurance would cover the $4,000 gap. Purchasing gap coverage ensures that you don't have to make loan or lease payments for a car that is no longer drivable. This type of insurance is optional, unless required by your lender or lessor.… read full answer

In order to purchase gap coverage, a driver typically needs comprehensive and collision insurance, as well. Collision and comprehensive coverage will pay up to the car’s actual cash value (ACV) if it’s a total loss, and then gap insurance pays off whatever you still owe.

Example of How Gap Insurance Works

Imagine you buy a $50,000 car with a down payment of $10,000. One year later, the car is worth $20,000, but you still owe $24,000 on the loan. If the car is totaled in an accident or stolen, your insurance company will pay $20,000 (the car’s actual cash value), minus your deductible.

If you don’t have gap insurance, you’ll still owe $4,000, and you’ll still have to pay off the car even though you can’t drive it. But if you do have gap insurance, it will pay the $4,000, as you can see below.

Other Key Things to Know About Gap Insurance

• Gap insurance can be purchased from dealerships, banks, credit unions and car insurance companies.

• The money received from your gap insurance policy will be paid directly to your lender or lessor, not to you or toward a new vehicle.

• Some gap insurance policies will cover your comprehensive or collision deductible.

• Gap insurance is not legally mandated in any state, but it can be required by lenders and lessors.

• If you sell your car, pay off your loan early, or trade your car in, you can receive a gap insurance refund.

To learn more, check out WalletHub’s guide on gap insurance.

Gap insurance costs around $3 per month when you add the coverage to your car insurance policy. When you purchase coverage from a car dealership instead, a gap insurance policy will cost a total of $400 to $700 in most cases.

A gap insurance policy covers the difference between what a leased or financed car is worth and how much the driver owes Like any other type of insurance, the cost of gap insurance varies depending on the car’s value and the driver’s risk characteristics, such as age and claims history.… read full answer

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.