For many, our vehicles are our pride and joy. They get us from A to B, usually quite comfortably. If you have kids involved in many activities, for many they become like our second home.
Unfortunately, many people owe more money on the car loan than the vehicle is actually worth. Are you one of them? If your vehicle was totaled in an accident or caught in a hail storm, would your insurance company pay enough to cover the balance on your loan? If not, would you have the funds to pay that balance?
If the answers those questions was no, you may want to consider Auto Loan/Lease Coverage, most commonly known in the auto dealership industry as “GAP coverage.” Purchasing Auto Loan/Lease Coverage will ensure your insurance company fully pays off your loan balance if your vehicle is totaled so you can avoid financial distress.
Does everyone need Auto Loan/Coverage? The answer: No.
People in these situations are the ones who would benefit the most from purchasing Auto Loan/Lease Coverage:
- If you Lease a Vehicle. The leasing company usually makes you responsible for the value difference as part of your signed lease agreement.
- If you put less than 20% down on a vehicle. Almost immediately, you owe more than the vehicle’s depreciated value.
- If you finance for 60 months or more. The value of the vehicle will depreciate faster than it takes to pay off your loan.
- If you drive more than 15,000 miles a year. The mileage causes accelerated depreciation.
- If you’re financially stressed with limited savings to put toward an unexpected loan balance.
- If you roll negative equity from a previous vehicle. This immediately creates a loan balance higher than the new vehicle worth. In this situation, you’re not eligible for Auto Loan/Lease Coverage, so be sure to ask your insurance agent if a separate loan for that old balance may be more beneficial.
- If you buy a certain brand or model that has a history of accelerated depreciation. Do some research on how well the vehicle you want to purchase holds its value.
If you choose to purchase this coverage, don’t make the biggest mistake of all:
Don’t buy it at the dealership and build it into your loan.
Some loan companies charge as much as $10-15 per month. Most insurance carriers, on the other hand, charge a percentage of your Comprehensive and Collision premiums for that vehicle. These are usually $20-30 a YEAR. Unfortunately, if you purchase the coverage from the dealership and then call your insurance agent to have your new vehicle added to your insurance policy, its too late to add Auto Loan/Lease Coverage to your policy. Most insurance carriers require that it be added to your auto insurance policy within 30 days of leasing or securing a loan on a vehicle.
Take this new knowledge with you BEFORE you lease or buy your next new or used vehicle. Talk with your insurance agent FIRST so you know your best cost and protection options.