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Top 10 reasons why GAP Insurance will not pay out?

Like all insurances, you may not be too surprised to learn that GAP Insurance may not always settle. All products have terms and conditions to meet, in order for a claim to be eligible and paid. 

Here we provide the Top 10 reasons why your GAP Insurance policy will not pay out. Top 10 reasons why GAP Insurance does not pay out

1. Your main motor insurer does not pay out

The number one reason why a GAP Insurance policy does not pay out. For a GAP policy to work your main motor insurer must cover the incident you are claiming for, and pay out the market value for the vehicle. The GAP Insurance can then top up this settlement. 

If the motor insurer does not pay out then you cannot claim on the GAP. 

Examples of when your motor insurer may not pay out would include where you have been negligent in leaving the keys for vehicle unguarded. Other examples would include drink driving or using the vehicle for excluded uses like courier or taxi use. 

Another example would be where the vehicle suffers a catastrophic mechanical failure, like an engine or gearbox blow up. Your motor insurance is unlikely to cover this (unless it happened because of a flood perhaps), even if the vehicle is not economic to repair. 

2. You do not have an 'insurable risk' on the vehicle

This means that you have taken the GAP policy out in your name but you have no potential of a financial loss if the vehicle is written off. 

An example of this would be where you take a GAP policy in your name, but the vehicle ownership and finance agreement is in someone else's name. If the vehicle is written off then you cannot claim for a loss as the vehicle is not in your name. 

You must have an insurable risk in the vehicle to be valid to take a GAP Insurance policy for it. 

 

3. The vehicle is being used for certain commercial activities*

Most GAP Insurance products do not cover some commercial activities with standard cover. This may even be the case when your motor insurer does cover you.

One area of commercial use often excluded from standard cover is 'hire and reward'. This can include taxis, private hire, courier, and chauffeur work.

Other areas of commercial work often not covered would be tuition or driving school vehicles. 

*Total Loss Gap does not currently cover hire & reward, or driving school vehicles. However, we do have products available with our other brands, including EasyGap.co.uk

 

4. You have stopped paying for the policy

You may have elected to pay for the GAP cover on a monthly basis, or through a credit agreement. If you stop paying this then your cover could end automatically. 

 

5. You sell the vehicle or change owner

If you sell your vehicle then the GAP cover normally ceases automatically. This can also be the case if you change the ownership of the vehicle on the V5 document between family members. For example, if a father buys the vehicle and then transfers the vehicle to one of his children, the original purchase invoice for the vehicle is still in the father's name. The fact that the vehicle has changed keepers to his son or daughter could then prevent him from making a GAP claim. 


 

6. You have already made a claim on the GAP policy

GAP Insurance is very much a 'one-time-only' type of cover. You can only claim on it once when the vehicle is written off. If you successfully claim for the vehicle then that is the end of the policy. This is even the case if you have some time left on the cover. 

If you replace the vehicle you have claimed for then you will need a new GAP policy for this vehicle.


 

7. There is no 'GAP' to fill

Remember GAP cover is designed to top up your motor insurers settlement back to perhaps the price you paid for the vehicle, or to clear a finance or lease settlement. If there is no 'gap' between the motor insurers settlement and the original price you paid (if that is the GAP you have purchased), then you cover has no difference to make up. 

Another example where there may be no GAP is if your motor insurer replaces the vehicle for you. Perhaps your vehicle was brand new, and your insurer has provided another brand new replacement for you. 

This may not happen often, but if it does then you have no loss to cover. Normally, you will see your GAP cover simply transferred to your new vehicle free of charge.

 

8. Your GAP Insurance policy has expired

All GAP products have a period of cover. When the policy comes to an end you cannot normally renew or get new cover as you have owned the vehicle too long at this point. 

The decision of how long you want GAP cover for on your vehicle is one you must make at the outset. 

 

9. You are not fully comprehensively insured

Most GAP policies will require that you are fully comprehensively insured for the full policy term. If you are only third party covered then your motor insurer would not pay out for a fault claim, or a theft. If your main motor insurer does not payout then you cannot claim on the GAP cover. 

 

10. Your vehicle does not appear in Glasses Guide

You may have heard of Glass Guide. It is widely used by insurers and motor dealers to work out the value of a vehicle. If your vehicle is not listed in Glasses Guide then many GAP products will not cover you. 

This is simply because GAP is designed to cover from the 'write off' value of the vehicle. If there are not guide prices to work out the write off value then the GAP Insurance underwriters cannot work out what they should be covering. 

Imported vehicles and modified vehicles (vans turned into motorhomes aftermarket) are usually excluded from cover, therefore. 

This is not an exhaustive list, and there will be other reasons why your GAP cover will not settle if you make a claim. However, if you do your research at the outset you will find that GAP cover is quite simple and straightforward. If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be more than happy to answer your questions.