GAP Insurance: Providers, Stand Alone & Cost Comparison

Mind the gap!

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Updated: March 27, 2025 . 7 min read

Written by Ofir Sahar

CEO & Founder

Ofir Sahar

CEO & Founder

Some of the products on this page come from partners who may compensate us when you click on their links or take specific actions. This helps us keep our content free. That said, our opinions are our own and based on independent analysis.

 

People buy cars for different reasons –  to commute to work; to make shopping faster;or  to take kids to school.However, In the event that an insured car is damaged or wrecked or stolen,  an  auto insurance  will greatly help. 

 It will allow you to make a claim and get money  amounting to your car’s actual cash value (ACV). Car GAP insurance coverage makes sure that car owners have a guaranteed asset (auto) protection.

This article cover  A detailed run-through of Car GAP insurance and everything it entails and the best companies offering the policy.

Understanding Car GAP Insurance?

A GAP insurance is a car insurance policy that will account for the remaining amount you owe to the dealer. The amount you’ll get from GAP insurance is calculated using this formula “ car actual value – amount owed for the financing of the car ”. 

By the way, GAP is also known as Guaranteed Asset Protection Insurance and Guaranteed Auto Protection Insurance.

What Does Gap Insurance Cover?

It covers your vehicle payments in case it gets damaged or stolen in incidents such as:

  • Fire
  • Theft
  • Accidents
  • Tornado
  • Flood
  • Hurricanes

Should these events happen, GAP car insurance will work collaboratively with your basic comprehensive and collision car insurance. Remember, you must first have a basic car insurance policy to get this policy as an additional option.

What Is Not Covered.

Even with the seemingly wide scope covered by gap insurance, there is still a limit to its breadth. instances in which it may not be applied are;

 

  • Ongoing car repairs
  • Reimbursement
  • Down payments
  • Settle balances
  • Carry overbalances to your new car
  • Extend warranties for car loans

 

GAP Insurance Cost

their policies are normally purchased in one of two places:

  • Car dealerships
  • Car insurance providers

Dealerships offer GAP insurance policies. However, this is expensive and costs $500 to $700.

Standalone gap insurance cost is more expensive than gap insurance from insurers that’s usually an additional option to car insurance, as well as gap insurance that is provided by car loan, lease and refinance companies.

It is better to get  car Gap  insurance from your car insurance company to add.By doing this, the cost is only $50 – $60 a year maximum, which makes a massive difference from the rates offered by car dealerships.

The cost depend on;

  • Who you buy it from
  • Your vehicle’s value, 
  • Your state of residency and 
  • Age. 

How to Find the Best GAP Insurance Quote

To find a great deal on a policy, you should compare gap insurance quotes first.

By comparing gap insurance quotes in advance, you are able to get a deeper look at companies, coverage offers, plans and rates and decide which deals to go for and which to avoid. 

STANDALONE GAP INSURANCE

It is a gap insurance coverage that is bought directly from a company without buying any other product.

Stand alone gap insurance coverage is normally purchased online through big and well known companies such as Gap Direct as well as online marketplaces like, for example, AutoPay.

Stand-alone gap insurance cost is normally higher than the cost of gap insurance that was purchased from auto insurance companies as an add-on to a car insurance policy or from car loan providers.

Best Gap Insurance Companies and Providers

PROGRESSIVE GAP INSURANCE: 

Progressive is a Mutual Insurance Company, established in 1937 by Joseph Lewis and Jack Green. It is best known for their car insurance, also renters, homes, and life insurances usually done through third parties.

The average Progressive gap insurance cost is only about $5 a month, or $60 a year. A rather inexpensive coverage that promises more value for the money, especially if the aperture between your car’s ACV or actual cash value and what you owe the car is relatively big.

Ratings:5/5

Pros

  • Direct model means lower rates
  • Faster claiming process
  • Roadside assistance add-ons

Cons

  • Discounts not available for all the states

 

STATE FARM GAP INSURANCE

State Farm is an insurance company that not only offers auto insurance services but also renters and home insurance. Customers are happy with their stable and comfortable rates, and fear no automatic raise in the event that policies renew. 

State Farm average auto insurance cost is either $1,548 a year, $744 per-six month policy, or $129 per month. Should one decide to get an insurance quote, State Farm provides an array of them based on individual rating factors. 

insurance cost:$15 to $55 a year

Pros

  • Easy policy access through online portals
  • Offers multi-policy discounts
  • Provides safe driver and teen driver discounts

Cons

  • Absence of accident forgiveness option

GEICO GAP INSURANCE

Government Employees Insurance company or better known as GEICO is an American automobile insurance company headquartered in the state of Maryland. The company is best known for its low rates, easy to operate online tools and excellent customer service.

 Pros

  • Low rates
  • Easy to operate online tools
  • Excellent customer service

 

USAA GAP INSURANCE

USAA is an auto insurance company that provides coverage to all active and even retired military personnel. Immediate family members of the aforementioned individuals are also able to enjoy their auto insurance offerings.

USAA is known for their cheap rates, excellent customer service and online experience ratings, which have enabled them to garner mostly positive reviews.

Insurance cost:$269

Pros

  • Discount on stored-vehicle for all military personnel
  • Flexible management of one’s own policy and claims online
  • Affordable rates for USAA members
  • very easy to navigate online interface

Cons

  • Products are only available to USAA members and their immediate families

 

AAA GAP INSURANCE

AAA, or Automobile Association of America, offers  auto insurance services  to all its members across the 50 states. Customers praise the personalized services provided by the company and the availability and flexibility of their local agents.

 Claims process is normally fast and their insurance rates are very affordable. An AAA gap insurance waiver costs $299 on a flat fee that can be added to the car loan basic balance or paid on its own as a lump sum.

The company is well-liked for the excellent roadside services that it offers, the rental car option and possible add-ons as well as discounts up to 27%.

Benefits are also only available if one becomes a member.  While discounts are abundant, teen drivers are excepted from availing them.

Pros

  • Excellent roadside services offered
  • Gap insurance, rental car and other add-ons available
  • Gives multiple discounts up to 27%

Cons

  • Discount for teen drivers is unavailable
  • Available only to AAA members

 

NATIONWIDE GAP INSURANCE

Nationwide Insurance is a mutual insurance company that offers basic, standard and premium coverages and provides a range of discounts 

Nationwide GAP insurance cost in most cases will range between $20 to $50 a year.

 The company allows for customized plans, and has a vanishing deductible program. With total assets amounting to $2 billion, the company’ financial strength is significantly superior. 

Pros

  • Vanishing deductible program
  • Customized plans
  • Strong claims support by claims center
  • $2 billion in assets
  • SmartRide offers discount up to 40 percent for safe driving
  • Provides classic car insurance as well

Cons

  • No rideshare insurance available
  • Higher rates for drivers with bad driving records

 

 LIBERTY MUTUAL GAP INSURANCE

Liberty Mutual is an American global insurer that offers cutthroat priced car insurance products to its customers along with their special discounts and coverage options. 

The company has also an easy online platform wherein quotes are freely given and an available sign up if a customer would like to subscribe to a new policy.

 The company not only offers auto insurance precisely formulated for teachers as well as a unique deductible-reducing policy. 

Pros

  • RightTrack good driving feature
  • Liberty Mutual unique deductible-reducing policy
  • Offers accident forgiveness option
  • New car replacement

Cons

  • Increased rates
  • Discounts not available in all states

 

About the author

Ofir Sahar

Ofir is the founder and CEO of Insuranks. He established Insuranks in 2019 from scratch and has been running educational insurance websites since 2009 on a mission to help businesses...See full bio.

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