What is gap insurance for a leased car?

Answer 1

GAP coverage is very necessary especially in a lease situation. GAP coverage comes into play if a vehicle is deemed totaled. What GAP does is to pay for the difference in the actual cash value that is payable under the normal policy and the balance owed to the lease company or finance company of a loan. In the early years of a lease or loan the vehicle value falls quicker that the value of the vehicle. If you total the vehicle within this period you can find yourself without a vehicle but with a sizable amount of money due on a vehicle you cannot drive any more. GAP coverage will pay this difference. The Finance Dept of the auto dealership will try to sell you on this GAP insurance. First, no matter what they say, it is not mandatory to but it from them. Personal Auto insurance companies offer GAP insurance that does the same thing for about 10% of the premium the dealership charges you for the same coverage. You will also have a right to cancel the coverage whenever you feel the value and loan balance have equaled out. One catch is that you must purchase the GAP coverage from you insurer withing 6 months of purchasing the vehicle. As a matter of full disclosure, I own and operate a small Independent Insurance Company in Central Georgia and have for the past 22 years. Prior to that I worked as an agent for a direct writer of insurance for 3 years.