How can I cancel Dodge GAP insurance?
If you want to cancel your Dodge GAP insurance, you’ll have to follow the cancellation instructions listed in the GAP contract you signed when you purchased your coverage.
Dodge and other automotive manufacturers owned by Stellantis (such as Chrysler, Fiat, and Jeep) do not offer their own in-house GAP insurance policy. So, while you may be able to buy GAP insurance from your local Dodge dealership, it’s an after-market product, and Dodge itself won’t be the company providing the GAP insurance.
For example, one of Dodge’s preferred GAP insurance providers is Zurich American Insurance Company. According to Zurich’s website, you should request a cancellation of your insurance coverage by contacting the dealership where you purchased the policy. You can also contact Zurich’s Customer Service team at 888-835-5063.
Many GAP insurance providers require you to cancel your policy in writing. Sometimes, the company will have a cancellation form you have to complete, while others might allow you to skip the written letter and cancel online, over the phone, or by faxing a letter with your signed cancellation request.
Refer to your GAP insurance agreement for exact instructions on how to cancel your policy (or, if you can’t find the original agreement, contact your GAP insurance provider directly).
Once you submit your cancellation notice, make sure to ask for written confirmation verifying the successful cancellation of your policy.
Will I get a refund if I cancel my GAP insurance?
If you paid for your GAP policy upfront, you may be entitled to a prorated refund based on the time remaining on the policy. For example, let’s say you purchased GAP insurance for 8 years and paid $800. After 5 years, you cancel the policy. You’ll likely receive a refund of $300 (though that doesn’t include any applicable processing or cancellation fees).
It may take a few weeks to process your cancellation, but don’t worry – they’ll usually give you a refund based on your effective cancellation date as long as it was within roughly the last 30 days.
If you purchased your GAP coverage from your auto insurance company, you might pay for it monthly. Since you didn’t pay upfront, you won’t be entitled to a refund. And, when you cancel your monthly GAP insurance payments, make sure to specify that you only want to cancel your GAP insurance, not your auto insurance coverage.
How does GAP insurance actually work?
GAP (Guaranteed Auto Protection or Guaranteed Asset Protection) coverage is a type of insurance that helps restore you financially if your car is totaled or stolen, and your auto insurance payout doesn’t cover the remaining amount on your vehicle loan.
Let’s look at an example.
You buy a brand-new Dodge Durango and take out a $35,000 auto loan to finance your purchase. As you might already know, new cars can often depreciate by as much as 20% in the first year from normal use alone. (As a refresher, depreciation is the decrease in an asset’s value over time resulting from wear and tear.)
One day, to your dismay, you come outside to discover someone has stolen your car. You call the police and your insurance company, but the car is nowhere to be found. Your insurance company estimates the current value of your Dodge at $26,000 and writes a check for that amount.
Unfortunately, you still owe $30,000 on your auto loan, so even after the lender takes the $26,000 insurance payout, the $4,000 remaining balance is your responsibility. Thankfully, you remembered you purchased GAP insurance when you bought the car, and you filed a GAP claim that covers the additional $4,000.
When does it make sense to cancel GAP insurance?
Canceling GAP insurance makes sense when you’re no longer at risk of losing money due to a gap between your insurance payout and your loan balance.
Some key events that indicate it’s time to cancel GAP insurance on your Dodge include:
- The purchase of a different GAP insurance policy
- Selling your Dodge
- Trading in your Dodge for another car
- The end of your lease (or terminating your lease early)
- Paying off your loan early
- Your loan balance is significantly less than the current market value of the car
FAQs
Is it a good idea to cancel GAP insurance?
Canceling GAP insurance on a car is a good idea if you no longer have that car, if you’ve paid off the loan on it, or if the value of the vehicle is substantially higher than the remaining loan balance.
Can I remove GAP insurance on my auto loan?
You can remove GAP insurance from your auto loan as long as your loan contract doesn’t require you to maintain GAP insurance.
How can I get a refund on my GAP insurance?
Your GAP insurance provider will usually process any applicable refund when you cancel your policy, and you won’t have to take any additional action to request a refund.
How long does GAP insurance coverage last?
GAP insurance typically lasts for the entire length of the car loan, unless you choose to cancel your policy.
However, it’s important to understand that just because you have GAP insurance doesn’t mean it will pay out if you get into an accident. GAP insurance only takes effect if your car gets stolen or totaled and the insurance payout isn’t enough to cover your loan balance.
What happens when you cancel GAP insurance?
When you cancel GAP insurance, you lose your protection against financial losses due to a gap between the insurance payout on a totaled or stolen vehicle and the remaining balance on your loan. Be sure that you can afford to pay the difference should something happen to your car before you cancel.
How do I write a letter to cancel my GAP insurance?
To write a letter canceling your GAP insurance policy, make sure to include your name and contact information, the policy number, the effective date of cancellation, and your signature. You should also request written verification from the insurer that the policy has successfully been canceled.
When you send a letter requesting to cancel your GAP insurance, the insurance provider might require you to submit additional documentation or information, such as the current odometer reading or a loan payoff letter.
Does GAP insurance cover engine failure?
GAP insurance doesn’t cover engine failure or any other mechanical issues with your car. GAP insurance only protects you when there’s a deficit between your auto insurance payout from a total loss (or the theft of your vehicle) and your loan balance.
How much money will I get back if I cancel GAP insurance?
The amount of your GAP insurance refund depends on the time remaining on the policy. You won’t get a refund for any premiums that were already used, but if you cancel coverage several years early, your refund will be prorated for any unused portion of the policy.
Sources
Stellantis Financial Services. (n.d.). After Market Products.
DeMarco, J. (2022, May 25). When Can You Get a GAP Insurance Refund? Capital One.
Allstate. (2022, May). What is gap insurance and how does it work?
Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. (n.d.). Gap insurance.
Zurich American Insurance Company. (2022). Vehicle Protection Products FAQ.
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.
