Gap Insurance: General Overview, Why You Need It, and How to Go about Buying it

Insurance policies are one of the best things to be ever created by man. A system that helps you share the risks on the property you own and your life, they always come in at the right time. Of the types of insurance policies covering property and life, Gap insurance policy covers cars specifically, especially when you are leasing or financing the car.

Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) insurance is an insurance policy whose clause offers protection for the borrower of a car if the car is totaled by paying the remaining difference between actual market value of the vehicle and the balance still owed on financing. To put it another way, it covers the amount on a loan that is the difference between the amount still owed and the amount covered by another insurance policy.

Gap insurance covers new and small vehicles and heavy trucks. Financing companies and lease contracts require it. It is usually paid upfront and, as a result of this, a person is eligible for a refund if they sell or refinance their vehicle.

Sites like uk.collected.reviews as well as reviews on  InsuretheGap reviewed dedicated to writing reviews about products and services, give potential insurance policy holders information about what to expect from Gap insurance coverage companies.

Why You Need It

It is important to note that Gap insurance coverage offers a lot of value for money and protection to the insurance holder.

Say you are involved in an accident, as a gap insurance holder– and since you are financing the car or you have leased it — the insurance company pays you the amount left to complete financing the car loan in relation to the actual amount of the car based on its current value.

Though others might argue that car insurance does not cover the whole vehicle but only parts of it, Gap insurance is different. With Gap insurance, it is the amount left to finance the car, the Gap, which it is concerned about. Clearly, Gap coverage isn’t insuring the car in itself, it is rather estimating the value of the car and paying the holder what is left of the financing loan.

There are some conditions for Gap insurance to operate seamlessly, though. You must be leasing or financing a vehicle, that’s one. What you owe versus the value of your car is also taken into consideration.

If a less than twenty percent down payment for a vehicle is made, and your loan period is 60 months or more, then you are eligible.

How To Go About Buying it

There are two ways to get Gap coverage. One is by buying from a broker and two, is a waiver agreement sold by the finance and insurance manager. While the first is regulated by the insurance industry, the second is unregulated. While ensuring your car seems attractive enough with its many advantages, it is advised that you make adequate research about both types of gap coverage and choose wisely.