Gap Insurance for Used Cars (2023)

Amy Beardsley
Written byAmy Beardsley
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Amy BeardsleyInsurance Writer
  • 3+ years writing about auto, home, and life insurance

  • 7+ years in personal finance and technology

Amy specializes in insurance and technology writing and has a talent for transforming complex topics into easy-to-understand stories.

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Jackie Cohen
Edited byJackie Cohen
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Jackie CohenEditorial Manager

Jackie Cohen is an editorial manager at Insurify specializing in property & casualty insurance educational content. She has years of experience analyzing insurance trends and helping consumers better understand their insurance coverage to make informed decisions about their finances.

Jackie's work has been cited in USA Today, The Balance, and The Washington Times.

Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin Halachev
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Konstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

Updated June 15, 2022

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Buying a used car is a great way to save money and get a good deal on a vehicle. But what if your used car gets totaled, and you still owe money on it? That’s where gap insurance comes in — it covers the difference between what you owe on your loan and the actual cash value of your vehicle.

However, it doesn’t replace auto insurance. If you’re looking for a car insurance policy, Insurify is your one-stop shop to search and compare insurance quotes. So, when searching for insurance rates, is gap insurance for used cars worth the cost? Let’s find out.

Quick Facts
  • Gap insurance pays the difference between what you owe on your car and what it’s worth if it’s totaled.

  • Gap policies are best when buying used cars less than three years old.

  • Gap insurance can cost from $20 to $700 per year, so it pays to shop around.

Gap Insurance for Used Cars

Is gap insurance worth it?

Depending on the value of your car, gap insurance can help you cover costs after an accident.

The “gap” in gap insurance stands for “guaranteed asset protection.” It’s a type of auto insurance that activates in the event of a total loss to cover the difference between what you owe on your car and what it’s worth.

It’s typically optional coverage. However, your lender may require you to purchase it if you lease or finance your vehicle, whether buying a used car from a dealership, auction, or private party. It’s especially helpful if you buy a car, truck, or SUV that depreciates at a faster rate than normal, like luxury sedans or SUVs.

Gap insurance protects you in case of a total loss after an accident or theft. Rather than paying out of your own pocket, your policy can cover your loan balance after the insurance company issues the claim payout.

Best Car Insurance Companies

Best Car Insurance Companies

Gap Insurance 101

It’s common for motorists to owe more than their cars are worth in the first year or two after buying a vehicle. That’s because the value of the car depreciates over time. While new cars typically lose their value more quickly than used cars, most depreciate 20% per year, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I).

For example, suppose you bought a used Toyota Corolla from a dealership. You finance the car with no down payment and leave the dealership with a five-year $22,500 auto loan. Your monthly payment is $375, and you’ve paid $4,500 after 12 months. You still owe $18,000. Then, you’re in an accident, and the insurance company totals your car.

If your car depreciates at an expected 20%, your car’s value is $18,000 — so you break even. But what if your car depreciates faster than average? Suppose it depreciated 30% since you bought it. Now, the car is only worth $15,750. Instead of you paying the $2,250 difference, your gap insurance picks up the tab, and you walk away with a $0 balance.

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What Gap Insurance for Used Cars Covers

Gap insurance covers things other policies won’t. For example, your lender may require you to buy full coverage (liability, comprehensive, and collision insurance) if you finance your used car. This covers the cost to repair or replace your vehicle if you’re in an accident and your car is totaled.

Even the best car insurance only pays your car’s depreciated or “fair market” value. It typically relies on a metric like Kelley Blue Book to determine the vehicle’s worth. The car’s actual cash value (ACV) may not be enough to pay off how much you still owe on your loan. But that’s where gap insurance can step in to cover the difference.

However, it doesn’t cover:

  • Missed loan payments due to financial hardship, disability, or loss of job

  • Vehicle repairs or maintenance

  • Rental car fees while your car is in the shop

  • Extended warranties

  • Insurance policy deductible costs

Cheap Car Insurance

Cheap Car Insurance

Who Needs Gap Insurance

Gap insurance isn’t something everyone needs. It’s only necessary if you’re financing or leasing your car. It’s common when you’re buying a new vehicle but can come in handy when buying a used car, too.

Used car gap insurance may make sense if:

  • You put no money down on a car (or made a small down payment).

  • You rolled negative equity from an old car loan into your new loan.

  • You choose a loan term with a long payoff period.

  • The luxury sedan or SUV you bought depreciates more quickly than normal.

You might consider skipping gap insurance if:

  • You put at least 20% down when you bought your vehicle.

  • You plan to pay off the car in less than five years.

  • The vehicle historically holds its value better than average.

Keep in mind that you won’t need gap insurance forever. It’s best only when your loan balance exceeds the car’s value.

How Much Gap Coverage Costs

The cost of gap insurance largely depends on where you buy the policy. You can add coverage to your regular auto insurance premium for $20 more per year, according to Triple-I. Some companies offer it as a stand-alone policy for about $300 per year. However, you might pay as much as $500 to $700 if you buy gap insurance from a lender.

Where to Buy Gap Insurance

Gap insurance is available when you first purchase your vehicle. However, you don’t always have to buy gap insurance right away. If you aren’t sure whether you need it, you may be able to purchase a policy within three years of buying your vehicle. Here’s where to look for a policy.

Dealership or Lender

Gap insurance from the car dealership or lender can seem like a convenient way to buy coverage. However, it’s usually the most expensive option. Besides paying more for the policy, you also pay interest on the cost because it’s rolled into your loan payments.

Car Insurance Company

Many auto insurance companies offer gap coverage as an add-on to your car insurance policy. For example, you can buy a policy from some top providers, such as Travelers, Nationwide, Liberty Mutual, and Allstate.

Gap Insurance Provider

If you’re looking for gap insurance, you may consider stand-alone coverage. Companies like Gap Direct offer coverage that isn’t tied directly to your loan or car insurance policy. However, Gap Direct isn’t accepting new applications at the time of this writing. Instead, it recommends buying a policy from your lender, dealer, or insurance company.

Alternatives to Gap Insurance

You might not qualify for gap insurance on your used car — your car may be too old, or perhaps you waited too long after buying the vehicle to get a policy. In either case, alternatives to gap insurance are available.

  • Loan/lease payoff coverage is like gap insurance, but the payoff is often limited to no more than 25% of the value of your car.

  • New car replacement is usually for newer vehicles less than three years old. It can pay you the value of a new car of the same make and model as your old car.

You also can pay off your vehicle in full. If you don’t have a car loan, you don’t need gap insurance.

Final Thoughts: Is gap insurance worth it?

If you’re in the market for a used car, gap insurance is a great way to protect your investment. It can cover the difference if your car is a total loss and you owe more on it than it’s worth.

It isn’t always the best option for used cars because they depreciate more slowly. But gap coverage can be worth it if you buy a car less than three years old, put less than 20% down, or roll negative equity into your new loan.

What Is Gap Insurance for Cars? Do You Need It?

What Is Gap Insurance for Cars? Do You Need It?

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How old can your car be for gap insurance?

    Gap insurance is available for used cars. Insurance guidelines can vary by company, but you may not be able to buy a policy if your vehicle is more than two or three years old.

  • Can you get gap insurance after buying a car?

    Many drivers buy gap insurance at the time they purchase a vehicle. If you didn’t buy it then, you might be able to buy a policy if your purchase was recent.

  • Where can you buy gap insurance?

    Many dealers and lenders offer gap insurance to those buying used cars. You can also buy a stand-alone policy or bundle it as add-on coverage with your auto insurance policy.

  • Do you need gap insurance if you have full coverage?

    You may still want gap insurance even if you have full-coverage car insurance. Full coverage, which includes liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage, can pay to repair or replace your vehicle. Still, insurers consider depreciation when calculating your vehicle’s worth and only pay the fair market value. If you owe more than your car is worth, you’ll need gap insurance to cover the difference.

References

  1. https://www.iii.org/article/what-gap-insurance. Insurance Information Institute.

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Methodology

Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.

Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).

Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:

  • Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
  • Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
  • No additional coverage
Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:
  • Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
  • Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible

Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.

Amy Beardsley
Amy BeardsleyInsurance Writer

Amy is a personal finance and technology writer. With a background in the legal field and a bachelor's degree from Ferris State University, she has a talent for transforming complex topics into content that’s easy to understand. Connect with Amy on LinkedIn.

Jackie Cohen
Edited byJackie CohenEditorial Manager
Photo of an Insurify author
Jackie CohenEditorial Manager

Jackie Cohen is an editorial manager at Insurify specializing in property & casualty insurance educational content. She has years of experience analyzing insurance trends and helping consumers better understand their insurance coverage to make informed decisions about their finances.

Jackie's work has been cited in USA Today, The Balance, and The Washington Times.

Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVice President of Engineering
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.