Is Safeco full coverage?

You need full coverage if your car is leased or financed. Full coverage car insurance is not required by law, but lenders and lessors generally want it, and it is a good idea to maintain full coverage if you cannot afford to repair or replace your car in the event of a total loss.… read full answer

How to Decide if You Need Full Coverage

You should consider your car’s value and your location when deciding if you need full coverage. If you own your car outright but it’s particularly valuable, your full coverage premium is likely a good investment compared to the car’s worth.

Similarly, even if you could afford to repair or replace the vehicle, it’s smart to keep full coverage if you live in an area with frequent collisions or thefts. After all, full coverage usually refers to a policy that includes collision and comprehensive coverage in addition to the state’s minimum required insurance.

If you are trying to save on your premium but cannot drop full coverage, you might be able to raise your deductible, as long as it isn’t dictated by your insurer or lender. But bear in mind that you should always choose a deductible that you’ll be able to afford in the event of a claim.

If you don’t keep full coverage on a financed car, you could be held responsible for paying for the vehicle in its entirety in the event of theft or an auto accident. You could also lose the car to the lender you signed a contract with if you don’t keep full coverage on your financed car.… read full answer

Nearly all lenders require that drivers carry full auto insurance coverage when they initially finance a vehicle. Lenders also usually stipulate in the contract that some form of full coverage is to be maintained for the life of the loan. Auto lenders impose the full coverage requirement because they want the vehicles they finance, which are technically still their assets, to be protected with the most insurance coverage possible so they can collect the vehicle’s value in case of an accident or theft of the car.

So, if you don’t keep full coverage on a financed vehicle, whether because you miss payments or you purposefully cancel the coverage, you’re likely in breach of your contract. Your insurance company or the DMV may contact the lienholder (lender) to alert them of the change, at which point your lender can legally cancel your contract, request full payment of the loan, or even repossess the vehicle.

Sometimes, if your lender finds you’re not keeping full coverage on a financed vehicle, it will contact you to give you a chance to have it reinstated. If you fail to do this, your lender could purchase an auto insurance policy for the vehicle and add it to the cost of your loan in what’s called “force-placed insurance.” These policies are typically expensive.

Ultimately, it’s best to keep full coverage on a financed car until you own it outright. Only then can you choose the level of car insurance coverage you want, as long as it meets your state’s minimum requirements.

No, Safeco does not offer gap insurance. Unlike seven of the top 10 car insurance companies, Safeco does not sell gap insurance, a specialty type of coverage that pays for the difference between a totaled car’s value and the driver’s loan or lease balance.

You have several options if you’re a current Safeco customer and are looking for gap insurance. You could … read full answerswitch insurers and purchase a policy from a company that does offer gap insurance (or loan/lease payoff coverage, which is similar), like Nationwide or Progressive. You could also maintain your policy with Safeco and purchase gap insurance from a dealership or a stand-alone company. However, it’s worth noting that dealership gap insurance is often the most expensive option, since it’s usually rolled into your loan and charged interest.

For more information, check out WalletHub’s complete guide to gap insurance.