That’s because your car insurance provider pays the vehicle’s depreciated market value at the time of loss, potentially leaving you responsible for paying the remainder of your auto loan balance. However, gap insurance can help you cover those costs. With gap coverage, you won’t be stuck with a large vehicle loan if your new car is totaled.

What is gap insurance?

Guaranteed Asset Protection, also known as gap insurance, is an optional coverage you can add to your auto insurance policy when adding a new vehicle to your policy. Gap insurance will pay the difference if your new car is totaled or stolen, and you owe more than the claim payout amount on your auto loan.

For example, let’s say you still owe $30,000 on your auto loan for your vehicle, but it has depreciated since you purchased it last year. If your vehicle is totaled and the current market value for your vehicle is $26,000, this is the amount you’ll receive from your insurance company (minus your deductible). That leaves you on the hook for $4,000 to your lender at a time when you’ll also need to replace your vehicle. In this example, gap insurance would pay off that additional $4,000 owed on your loan.

How does gap insurance work in Florida?

Like every state, Florida drivers are not required to have gap insurance by law. However, purchasing gap insurance may be worth considering in some cases where you are financing a new vehicle. For example, if you decide to put less than 20 percent down as a downpayment or have an auto loan that is longer than 60 months, gap insurance may be helpful. Gap insurance may also be required when you’re leasing a vehicle.

When it comes to used vehicles, gap insurance is less common. Although each car insurance company is different, many require that your car is less than two or three years old to purchase gap insurance. Your gap coverage could also expire after your car reaches a certain age. Additionally, some auto insurance companies may also require that you be the original owner of the car. The best way to find out whether gap insurance works for your vehicle is to speak to an insurance agent.

One thing to remember is that gap insurance is different from new car replacement coverage. With gap insurance, when you file a claim with your auto insurer and your car is declared a total loss, your provider will pay your lender. On the other hand, new car replacement coverage helps you purchase a brand new vehicle of the same make and model, or may even pay more than the value of the original vehicle if a newer model is available. Some insurers will offer both coverage options, while others may only allow you to purchase one or the other.

When do you use gap insurance?

Gap insurance is only used if your car is declared a total loss before your gap coverage expires. Purchasing gap insurance will not help cover your vehicle’s regular repairs after an accident or engine failure.

For example, let’s say you drive your new car off the lot and into a telephone pole, and your car is damaged beyond repair. You only made a 5 percent down payment on your auto loan, but your car would likely depreciate to about 91 percent of its value immediately, according to Edmunds. That means you would only receive 91 percent of your vehicle’s value from your auto insurer (minus your deductible), but you would owe 95 percent of its value to your lender. Gap coverage would help you pay off the difference.

Gap insurance vs. other coverages

Unlike other types of car insurance, gap insurance is considered an optional insurance coverage. It only covers you in certain situations, and it typically expires as your car ages. Comprehensive and collision insurance are also optional, but these coverage types are more widely available and are usually necessary to help cover repair costs of your vehicle from an incident. Here’s how these insurance types compare:

All three coverage types can be important for new vehicles, and insurers will require that you have comprehensive and collision coverage on your vehicle to add gap coverage.

Where to buy gap insurance in Florida

Many major car insurance providers in Florida offer gap insurance. You may also be able to purchase gap coverage directly from your dealership or lender, but it may be less costly if you buy it as an endorsement to your auto insurance policy.

Gap insurance companies in Florida

Some of the largest insurers providing gap coverage in Florida include:

• Allstate: Allstate offers gap insurance to policyholders who are the original owners or leaseholders of a new vehicle. The company also has an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best and is ranked highly in J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study for Florida.
• Liberty Mutual: To get gap coverage from Liberty Mutual, you must be the vehicle’s first owner and purchase the coverage at the same time as your vehicle. Liberty Mutual has an A financial strength rating from AM Best; however, it is not ranked by J.D. Power in Florida.
• Progressive: Once added to your policy, Progressive’s Gap insurance does not expire as long as your vehicle is insured with Progressive. When you no longer want gap coverage, it is important to remove this add-on from your policy. Progressive has an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best but is ranked below average for customer satisfaction by J.D. Power.
• Travelers: You must be the original owner and purchase your vehicle from a dealership to be eligible for gap coverage from Travelers. The insurer has an A++ financial strength rating from AM Best but ranks slightly below average in J.D. Power’s 2022 study for Florida.

In addition, State Farm offers a similar program known as Payoff Protector for loans originated by State Farm Bank.