Can I have GAP insurance if I bought my car from a private dealer?
There are various GAP insurance policies available, each suited to your specific situation and vehicle. If you buy your car from a private seller, you can still obtain a GAP insurance policy. Agreed Value GAP insurance applies to cars, pickups and vans that have been bought privately. It also applies to vehicles that don’t meet the requirements for Back to Invoice Plus or Vehicle Replacement Plus.
However, vehicles must be under 10 years old and have no more than 100,000 miles on the clock. Also, unlike most GAP insurance policies, there is no time limit on when you can purchase Agreed Value GAP insurance. You can take out a policy at any time to protect yourself against future depreciation.
Should I buy my GAP insurance from a dealership?
The most popular way to purchase or finance a car is through a garage or dealership. The dealer may try to sell you GAP insurance as an extra incentive; they should highlight the various benefits of taking out a policy, but it will probably be more expensive than most GAP insurance policies from independent providers with not additional benefits.
It may be tempting to accept their offer without shopping around to save yourself some time and effort. However,
GAP insurance from a franchise dealer can cost up to 61% more than a policy from a specialist GAP insurance company. Also, dealers are likely to gain commission from selling you GAP insurance, so as long as they hit their targets. With a trusted GAP insurance company like ALA, you’re going to get all the information you need about the cover, excellent customer service if you need to speak with one of the team, as well as a quote that won’t break the bank.
To see how much money you could save by choosing ALA rather than a dealership,
you can start building your quote here.
When can I buy GAP insurance?
If you bought your car, pickup or van from a private seller, you could take out a GAP insurance policy whenever you like. There are no time restrictions, so you don’t have to worry about getting a quote before your allocated days are up within a certain time frame. This allows you to get everything in order, from your comprehensive car insurance to your vehicle tax, before you acquire GAP coverage. However, your car must be less than ten years old and have less than 100,000 miles on the clock.
If you bought your car from a VAT-registered dealer, different GAP insurance policies have different time limits. Back to Invoice Plus, also known as Return to Invoice Plus, has a 180-day window in which you can buy your policy. If you opt for a car finance agreement or buy the car outright, you can take out a Vehicle Replacement Plus policy, which has a 90-day window from the day you acquired your vehicle. Contract Hire Plus has more leeway, with a 365-day window.
If you would like to discuss a quote or policy for your vehicle,
you can get in contact with our team today.