Do you ever get money back from gap insurance?
Asked by: Moses Purdy PhD | Last update: August 10, 2025Score: 4.5/5 (74 votes)
Do you get a refund for gap insurance?
You can cancel gap insurance and request a refund if you sell or trade in your car, want to change insurance companies or no longer owe more on your loan than your car is worth.
Does gap insurance give you your down payment back?
Gap insurance will only cover what is left on your loan after an insurance company pays out. In other words, no, it won't cover the down payment you made initially because it wasn't part of the loan amount.
Does gap insurance pay you money?
Gap coverage covers the difference between what you owe on your auto loan and the payout you receive from your insurer if your vehicle is stolen or rendered a total loss. While it does fill in a financial gap, that is not where this coverage gets its name — it actually stands for “guaranteed asset protection.”
How much is the gap refund settlement?
Settlement amounts ranged from $4,036.56 to $1,655,124.78, with each settling entity agreeing to provide refunds to impacted consumers under an assurance of discontinuance agreement. We posted about previous GAP refund settlements here and here.
How to Cancel Gap Insurance and Get a Refund
What is the refund policy for Gap?
If you are looking to get a refund from returning your items to GAP, make sure they are in their original condition: unwashed and unworn. Items not in this condition will not be accepted and you will not be refunded. Items which are damaged can be returned at any time.
What does Gap not cover?
Gap insurance covers your vehicle but will not cover other vehicles, property damage, or bodily injury.
Does gap insurance write you a check?
If you have gap insurance, it can help cover the difference in the event you have a total loss, minus the policy's deductible. It is important to understand that having gap insurance doesn't mean that your insurance provider will write you a check for what you originally paid for the car.
Why won't gap insurance pay?
GAP does not pay out if the insurance company deems your vehicle a total loss and you do not carry comprehensive and collision coverage. GAP does not include costs beyond the difference between your loan balance and the car's value. This means it does not cover missed loan payments or extra rental car costs.
What to do when your car is totaled and you still owe money?
If your car is totaled and you still owe on it, but the accident was not your fault, contact the at-fault driver's insurance company with your lender information. To maintain your good credit, you should continue to make your loan or lease payments until the insurance company issues payment to your lender.
Does Gap give cash back?
You can redeem $25 in GapCash for every $50 you spend at Gap and Gap Factory during the specified redemption period. Maximum redeem per transaction is $125 in GapCash. If you earned $50 in GapCash for example, you do not have to spend $100 to redeem.
Will gap insurance pay if you are behind on payments?
Gap insurance doesn't cover missed or late payment fees, repossessions, extended warranty costs or car repairs…just loan balances.
How do I know if I paid gap insurance?
In some cases, GAP insurance is required if you lease a vehicle, in which case it should be outlined in your lease agreement. If you're asking, “How do I know if I have GAP insurance?”, the best option is to check with your insurer or the dealership you purchased/leased your vehicle from.
How long does Gap take to pay out?
Gap insurance takes 5-45 days to pay the policyholder after a claim is filed. For drivers to receive a gap insurance payout, the car first needs to be declared a total loss, and the insurance company needs to accept the claim. State laws also dictate how long an insurance company has to pay for a claim.
Is it too late to get gap insurance after an accident?
If you get into a minor fender bender and you're within the eligibility time frame, you can probably still get gap insurance. However, you can't get gap insurance after an accident that totals your vehicle. At that point, you are stuck paying off your auto loan balance out-of-pocket.
How long is gap insurance good for?
GAP insurance lasts as long as you need it to, with most drivers keeping their policies active for a year or two. As there's no further need for a GAP plan once the balance of a loan is less than the value of your vehicle, you can terminate your policy any time after you owe less than the car is worth.
Do I get any money from gap insurance?
If you sell or trade a car for which you've bought GAP insurance, you can get a refund on the amount of coverage you didn't use. Make sure you wait to cancel your insurance until after the car is legally sold or traded.
Why would my gap claim be denied?
If the gap insurance company discovers there was any fraud or misrepresentation (you lied) on your application for coverage, your claim could be denied. The vehicle isn't a total loss. Only total loss claims are covered by a gap policy. The claim exceeds the policy limits.
What is the most gap insurance will pay?
The most gap insurance will pay is the full amount left on your loan or lease after your insurer pays your vehicle's actual cash value for a covered collision or comprehensive insurance claim. The exact amount gap insurance will pay depends on the balance of your loan or lease and the value of your car.
How to get gap insurance refund from dealership?
Some dealers include a cancellation period of 30 days, during which you can cancel your gap insurance and receive a full refund. Review the terms of your agreement and contact your dealer for specifics about cancelling your coverage. Dealers may require you to fill out a gap insurance cancellation form.
What does gap insurance actually cover?
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.
What happens when your car is totaled but still drivable?
Rebuilt/Reconstructed Title: Once a salvage vehicle has been repaired and inspected, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will issue a "rebuilt" or "reconstructed" title for the vehicle. Once you obtain this, you can legally drive the vehicle.
How to calculate gap insurance refund?
Most gap insurance refunds are pro-rated based on the time coverage was in place. Assume you paid $600 for 48 months of coverage but cancel after 18 months due to an early loan payoff. The refund would be calculated: ((48-18)/48) * $600 = $375.
How do I check my gap claim?
Please contact Protective at 800-432-4566 between the hours of 8AM – 6PM Central Time to inquire on the status of your claim. Please have your GAP addendum/policy number or your claim number ready when you call.
Will gap insurance cover my totaled car without insurance?
Your gap is insurance. You said you had no insurance. But even if you had Gap, it only covers the difference between what you owe and what the car was worth. It does not cover accident damage, just financial damage.