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Gap insurance lasts for the length of the loan or lease when purchased from a dealership, and it lasts for as long as it remains on the policy when purchased from a standard car insurance company. Gap insurance is usually only needed for one to two years, since it’s useless when a car is worth more than the loan/lease balance.
Gap insurance pays for the difference between a car’s loan or lease balance and its actual cash value if it is declared a total loss. Since new cars depreciate quickly, gap insurance can keep drivers from needing to make payments on a car that is no longer drivable. But depreciation slows down over time, so the gap between car value and loan/lease balance eventually disappears as the driver pays off the car.
As a result, you should keep an eye on the amount you owe and also estimate the car’s value using online tools like Kelley Blue Book. In general, it makes sense to cancel gap insurance coverage once your loan or lease balance is $1,000-$2,000 less than the car is worth.
People also ask
How do I know if I have gap insurance?
To find out whether you have gap insurance, check your existing car insurance policy and the terms of your loan or lease. Drivers can get gap insurance through their insurance company as an add-on or separately through their auto lender, so it’s important to look for gap coverage in the list of coverages provided by both.
How To Know If You Have Gap Insurance
1. Check with your car insurance company.
You...
read full answerIs 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 answerHow do I get a gap insurance refund?
You can get a gap insurance refund for unused premiums if you paid for coverage up front and then canceled it early. 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...
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