When can you claim on gap insurance?

Asked by: Meaghan Gislason  |  Last update: February 11, 2022
Score: 4.1/5 (74 votes)

Gap insurance coverage may apply if you're underwater on your auto loan (meaning, you owe more than the car is worth) when your vehicle is stolen or totaled. "Totaled" means that repair costs exceed the value of the vehicle. Whether a vehicle is declared totaled depends on state laws and your insurer's discretion.

When should I file a gap insurance claim?

If there is an outstanding payoff balance after your auto insurance carrier provides its settlement, you must file a GAP claim to receive a GAP benefit. Filing a GAP claim is voluntary and not required if there is not an outstanding payoff balance. You may, however, want to cancel your GAP coverage at that time.

How does a gap insurance claim work?

Gap insurance claims are how insured drivers get a payout for the difference between their car's loan or lease balance and its actual cash value (ACV) after a total loss. To file a gap insurance claim, drivers must contact their insurer and provide documentation showing the car's value and its coverage details.

Is there a waiting period for gap insurance?

In general, yes, you can get GAP insurance after you've already purchased your car, but you'll want to do it within the first two to three years of owning the vehicle. This time frame is when you're most likely to owe more than what your car is actually worth in the event of a total loss or theft.

How much will my gap refund be?

If you decide that you no longer need GAP insurance after 22 months, you can request a refund for the remaining 14 months of coverage. In that case, your refund will be $350. Note that this applies only in case you paid the full GAP insurance amount upfront.

How to make a Gap Insurance claim

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WHO issues a gap refund?

The insurance provider will cancel your insurance policy and issue a refund, usually in the form of a check, for the remainder of your gap insurance coverage. In many cases, it can take from between 4 to 6 weeks to get your refund back.

How long does a gap claim take to process?

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.

Is gap insurance a good idea?

If there is any time during which you owe more on your car than it is currently worth, gap insurance can definitely be worth the money. If you put down less than 20% on a car, you're wise to get gap insurance at least for the first couple of years you own it. By then, you should owe less on the car than it is worth.

How do you claim gap insurance?

If you experience a life-changing event that qualifies for a benefit payment, you can claim in one of the following ways:
  1. Contact: You do not need to submit a separate Discovery Gap Cover claim to us.
  2. Email: scan and email your claims to sgapclaims@discovery.co.za.
  3. Call us on 0860 99 88 77.

How do I get my gap refund?

To get a gap insurance refund, contact the insurance provider and give them the policy number and documents showing that the car was traded in, sold, or paid off early. Gap insurance refunds are usually only possible for policies that were paid in full up front.

Can gap insurance deny claim?

There are many different reasons why your loan/lease coverage and gap insurance claims could be denied. ... Every insurance carrier and policy has different stipulations. While your car insurance company may deny a claim, your gap insurance company could still approve one.

How Does gap insurance work through dealership?

Gap insurance pays for the difference between what a totaled car is worth and what the driver still owes on their auto loan or lease. ... Gap insurance costs between $400 and $700 when purchased from a dealership and between $20 and $40 per year when added to a car insurance policy.

Does gap cover only cover hospital expenses?

Gap cover serves to cover shortfalls where doctors charge above medical aid rate, and where medical aid pays up to their specified rate from the Risk or hospital benefit. Gap cover cannot provide cover where medical aid does not pay towards a procedure or covers the full amount for a procedure.

What happens if your car is totaled and you still owe on it?

If your car is totaled and you still owe money on the loan, the insurance company will pay your lender for the car's value, and you will be responsible for any remaining balance if the check is less than the loan amount.

Is Gap cover tax deductible South Africa?

It is found that gap cover contributions are not deductible and that not allowing gap cover contributions as a deduction or as a tax credit detracts from the principles of taxation.

Do I need gap insurance if I have full coverage?

Yes, you need gap insurance if you have full coverage and still owe money on a car loan or lease. Gap insurance is needed even if you have full coverage because full coverage does not cover the difference between what you owe on a loan/lease and the car's actual cash value, like gap insurance does.

What happens if you don't use your gap insurance?

Your collision coverage would pay your lender up to the totaled car's depreciated value — say it's worth $19,000. If you don't have gap insurance, you would have to pay $1,000 out of your own pocket to settle your auto loan on the totaled car.

Does gap insurance cover the entire loan?

When your loan amount is more than your vehicle is worth, gap insurance coverage pays the difference. For example, if you owe $25,000 on your loan and your car is only worth $20,000, your policy's loan/lease payoff coverage covers the $5,000 gap, minus your deductible.

How long does it take for insurance to pay for totaled car?

Typically, you can expect payout for your totaled vehicle within a few days after the ACV has been determined. There are two instances where you may not receive money for your totaled vehicle: If you lease.

When car is totaled What does insurance pay?

If the insurer totals your car, they will pay you the vehicle's actual cash value (ACV). The actual cash value is how much it was worth just before the loss. It includes a reduction in value for depreciation, so the ACV will be less than what you paid for the vehicle, even if it's relatively new.

Can I buy gap insurance after an accident?

No, you cannot get gap insurance after an accident and have it applied to the accident you were just in. ... Gap insurance providers usually only write policies for brand-new vehicles, or at least cars less than three years old.

Can you cancel gap insurance after 2 years?

Answer: Yes, usually you can cancel gap insurance if you determine that you no longer need it. Gap insurance policies, terms and fees vary. ... After that initial period, if you cancel the policy you normally will receive a refund prorated according to the length of time that you kept the policy in effect.

Can you cancel gap insurance at any time?

However, this can vary based on the company. Some companies will offer a prorated refund depending on your cancellation circumstances. Can you cancel gap insurance at any time? Yes, you can typically cancel your gap insurance at any time if you find you no longer need it.

What is GAP approval?

Accepting a gap is when the driver of the decision vehicle merges with the circulating flow from the vehicle's position at the entry of the roundabout as soon as the gap is large enough not to cause crashes or severe conflicts.

Which is the best medical gap cover in South Africa?

Sanlam and Absa emerged as the top-ranked gap cover providers in South Africa. Sanlam offers the best value for money to people under the age of 60 – their Comprehensive Gap Cover costs approximately R250* per month per individual or family.