What's gap insurance coverage?
What's gap insurance coverage? Gap insurance helps pay the difference between what's owed on a vehicle loan and the actual value of it, if it's stolen or a total loss. This difference is what's referred to as the "gap". In general, this "gap" occurs when you buy a new vehicle, the value (actual cash value) can start going down right away. This is what your car insurance covers, not what you owe on a loan. This is where gap insurance can help. How does gap insurance work? Let's say you buy a new vehicle with a $25,000 loan. You get into an accident and your vehicle is totaled. At the time of the accident, your vehicle is valued at $15,000 but you still owe $20,000 on your loan. For a covered loss, you'd get paid for the value of your vehicle at the time of the incident ($15,000). This leaves $5,000 owed on your loan. With gap insurance, the difference would be covered, minus any deductible. Please note, gap insurance coverage ...