Have you ever heard the saying that a totaled car equals a paid-off loan? Many drivers believe this common myth. They think that if they crash their vehicle, their car insurance will step in and completely wipe out their remaining loan balance. However, this is rarely true. Let us explore the reality of what happens when you total your car and how you can protect your wallet.
Common Car Insurance Myth
If a vehicle is totaled, the insurance payout will completely wipe out the remaining auto loan or lease balance. People often think standard car insurance acts as a magical eraser for their car debt.
The Car Insurance Reality
Standard car insurance policies do not care about your loan balance. Instead, they pay the Actual Cash Value (ACV) of your vehicle at the time of the loss. Unfortunately, the ACV aggressively factors in depreciation. A new car loses a huge chunk of its value the second you drive it off the dealership lot. Therefore, your insurance company will only pay what the car is worth today, not what you originally paid for it.
The Danger of Being Underwater
Because vehicles lose value so quickly, you might owe more on your loan than the car is actually worth. Financial experts call this being “underwater” on a loan. If you total your car while you are underwater, your standard car insurance, with comprehensive and collision, will not cover the full loan amount. As a result, you have to cover the difference out of your own pocket. Paying thousands of dollars for a car you can no longer drive is a terrible financial burden.
The Solution: Gap Insurance added to the Policy
How can you avoid this expensive trap? You need to specifically carry Gap insurance. Gap coverage pays the difference between your car’s actual cash value and the remaining balance on your auto loan. If you have this specific coverage, you will not have to empty your savings account to pay off a wrecked vehicle. Gap insurance does have restrictions so be sure to talk to your agent about that.
Get Expert Help Today
Finding the right car insurance coverage can feel confusing. Fortunately, you do not have to figure it out alone. You can reach out to a local independent insurance agent like AlphaSure Affordable Insurance Services to help in shopping for car or home insurance. The experts at AlphaSure will review your current policy and help you find a policy that won’t break the bank.
