GAP insurance (aka Guaranteed Asset Protection or Guaranteed Auto Protection) is an addition to an auto insurance policy that some car buyers opt into when purchasing a new car.
Whether you want to cancel GAP insurance because you got rid of your car, because you’ve paid off the loan early, or for any other reason, we’ll give you a refresher on what GAP insurance covers along with a straightforward explanation of how to cancel it.
What is GAP insurance?
GAP insurance will provide you with an insurance payout to cover the difference (the gap) between your loan balance and the value of the auto insurance payout if the car is totaled or stolen.
Let’s look at an example.
Say you have a $40,000 loan balance on your brand-new car. As you probably already know, new cars depreciate right after you drive them off the dealership lot. A little over one year later, you get into an accident, and the car is declared a total loss. Unfortunately, the vehicle is only valued at $30,000, but you still owe $35,000.
If you didn’t have GAP insurance, you’d still owe the full $35,000 on the loan, even though you only received a $30,000 check from the insurance company for your totaled car. However, because you purchased GAP insurance, you have coverage for the additional $5,000 gap between the $35,000 loan balance and the $30,000 insurance payout.
How to actually cancel Buick GAP insurance
You can cancel your GAP insurance coverage by contacting the company that issued your GAP insurance and requesting to terminate your policy.
The best way to cancel Buick GAP insurance is to write to Buick or your GAP insurance administrator with a formal request to cancel. Ideally, you should send your written, signed cancellation notice to the administrator address listed on your contract.
If you have Buick GAP insurance, then it’s likely your GAP administrator is AMT Warranty Corp. or Safe-Guard Warranty Corporation.
We’ve included each company’s contact information below:
Safe-Guard Warranty Corporation
Two Concourse Parkway
Suite 500
Atlanta, GA 30328
Email: custserve@sgintl.com
Phone: 1-800-742-7896
AMT Warranty Corp.
P.O. Box 927
Bedford, TX 76095
Phone: 877-265-1166
Alternatively, you can send your cancellation letter to the Buick dealer where you purchased your vehicle.
You may also be able to cancel some GAP insurance policies by phone, email, or fax, but Buick’s GAP insurance contract states that you have to write to the dealer or administrator.
Be aware that you may need to sign certain documents, and however you choose to cancel, always remember to ask the GAP insurance provider to verify your cancellation in writing.
In addition to a cancellation letter, your GAP insurance provider might ask for additional documentation before canceling your GAP policy, such as an odometer disclosure or a loan payoff letter stating you’ve paid off your loan balance.
When does it make sense to cancel GAP insurance on my Buick?
There are a few reasons it can make sense to cancel GAP insurance on your Buick.
1. You sell your car
If you sell your Buick, you obviously don’t run the risk of it being totaled or stolen since you don’t own it. Therefore, it makes sense to cancel your GAP insurance.
2. You trade in your vehicle
Similar to selling your car, you’ll no longer have any need for GAP insurance on your Buick if you trade it in for another vehicle. While you should consider purchasing GAP insurance on your newly purchased car, you won’t need GAP insurance on your Buick anymore.
3. You pay off the loan early
Once you pay off your loan, GAP insurance is irrelevant because there is no loan balance. If you pay off your auto loan and your car gets totaled or stolen, your auto insurance policy will pay you the current value of the vehicle (assuming your policy is active and you’ve paid your premiums), and you won’t have to worry about any loan balance.
4. The value of your car exceeds your loan balance
If you’ve gotten to the point where your car is worth more than the remaining balance on your loan, you may want to cancel your GAP insurance. The gap covered by GAP insurance disappears if the car’s value is greater than the amount you owe on your loan, rendering GAP insurance obsolete.
So, if your car is now worth $20,000 and you only owe $12,000, there’s no gap between your car’s value and the loan balance.
FAQs
Should I cancel GAP insurance on my Buick?
Canceling GAP insurance on your Buick is a personal choice. If you no longer own the car or you’ve paid off the loan, you should cancel your GAP insurance. If you want to cancel your GAP insurance but still have a loan on the car, make sure your vehicle’s current value exceeds the loan amount.
When am I allowed to cancel GAP insurance?
Unless your auto loan or lease contract requires you to maintain GAP insurance, you can cancel GAP insurance at any time.
Will I get a refund if I cancel my GAP insurance coverage?
Depending on the terms of your agreement, you may be eligible for a GAP insurance refund. Buick will refund the full amount of your GAP insurance if you cancel within 60 days. Beyond that timeframe, you might qualify for a prorated refund depending on the age of the policy.
Does GAP insurance cover extended warranties?
GAP insurance does not provide coverage for extended warranties, and it won’t cover any late fees, interest charges, or missed payments.
Is GAP insurance required?
GAP insurance is not usually required when buying a vehicle, though some lenders may require buyers to purchase GAP insurance. Many dealerships require GAP insurance when leasing a vehicle, though our research indicates that Buick generally offers this as an optional coverage on loans and leases.
Do I have to pay a fee for canceling GAP insurance?
You may have to pay a fee to cancel your GAP insurance policy. If you’re owed a refund, your insurance provider will often subtract the amount of the fee from your refund.
How can I write a letter canceling my GAP insurance?
To write a letter canceling your GAP insurance, simply write to your insurer indicating you’d like to cancel your GAP coverage and make sure your request includes your name, policy number, the effective date of cancellation, and your signature.
When you write to your insurer or GAP administrator, you should also include your current address (so insurers can know where to send your refund check), along with a request for written confirmation from the insurer that your letter was received and that they have processed your cancellation.
Sources:
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (2016, June 16). What is guaranteed auto protection (GAP) insurance?
- Progressive. (n.d.). How to cancel gap insurance.
- Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. (n.d.). Gap insurance.
- Insurance Information Institute. (n.d.). What is gap insurance?
- DeMarco, J. (2022, May 25). When Can You Get a GAP Insurance Refund? Capitalone.com.
- Linus Buick GMC. (n.d.). GAP Coverage.
- https://www.buick.com/protection-plans/faq#:~:text=GAP%20Coverage%20is%20provided%20by,(877)%20265%2D1166.
Jonathan is a writer with over 10 years of experience and a former insurance agent. Jonathan’s focus is to simplify personal finance and help equip you with the tools you need to make smart financial decisions. Despite the criticisms, he remains committed to driving a manual transmission and prides himself on smooth shifting, even in rush-hour traffic.
