WalletHub, Financial Company
@WalletHub
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 collision 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.
People also ask
How long does it take for gap insurance to pay?
Gap insurance takes 5-45 days to pay the policyholder after a claim is filed. For drivers to receive a gap insurance payout, the car first needs to be declared a total loss, and the insurance company needs to accept the claim.
State laws also dictate how long an insurance company has to pay for a claim. For example, insurers in Texas must pay within five days after accepting a claim. Some other states, like...
read full answerWhen does gap insurance not pay?
Gap insurance does not pay when a car needs normal repairs, when a car is damaged but not declared a total loss, or when a driver does not make the necessary payments. Gap insurance only pays when a car is totaled and there is a difference between the lease or loan balance and the car’s value.
It’s also worth noting that certain insurers limit the amount a gap insurance policy will pay, often to 25%...
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 answerDid we answer your question?