Direct Gap

Direct Gap, British specialist in GAP insurance for cars

Direct Gap is a UK company dedicated exclusively to GAP (Guaranteed Asset Protection) insurance, cover that pays the difference between the settlement paid by your motor insurer when the vehicle is declared a total loss and the car's value at the time of purchase or the outstanding finance balance. The company presents itself as the country's number one specialist in this type of policy and offers, according to its own website, savings of up to 75% compared with equivalent cover offered by dealerships.

Types of GAP insurance

Direct Gap's range is organised into four main types, each tailored to a different financial situation:

• Lease & Contract Hire: pays the difference between your motor insurer's settlement and the outstanding finance balance. It is designed for leased or contract hire vehicles; it does not apply to cash purchases, loans, HP or PCP.
• Return To Invoice: pays the difference between your motor insurer's settlement and either the invoice price of your vehicle or the outstanding finance balance, whichever is higher.
• Vehicle Replacement: pays the difference between your motor insurer's settlement and either the cost of a replacement vehicle matching the original specification, age and mileage, or the outstanding finance balance, whichever is higher.
• Agreed Value: pays the difference between your motor insurer's settlement and your vehicle's agreed retail price.

Additional cover

In addition to GAP policies, the company offers complementary cover for damage that conventional insurance does not always cover:

• Alloy Wheel Insurance: helps pay for the repair or replacement of alloy wheels damaged by accidental or malicious damage; if the wheel cannot be repaired, it contributes towards a replacement.
• Tyre Insurance: covers the repair or replacement of tyres that sustain accidental or malicious damage.
• Scratch & Dent Insurance: covers the cost of smart repairs for minor cosmetic damage to your vehicle's exterior, interior trim and alloy wheels.
• Tyre & Alloy Insurance: covers the cost of repairing accidental or malicious damage which has occurred to your alloy wheels or tyres.
• Short Term Car Insurance: temporary comprehensive cover, from one hour up to 28 days.

How the policies work and what they include

The website explains how GAP insurance works with an example: a vehicle bought for £20,000 that is worth £8,000 at the time of the incident; the policy would cover the £12,000 shortfall, preventing the policyholder from continuing to pay the finance company for a car they can no longer use. Among the standout features of Direct Gap's policies are cover for all named drivers on your policy, no mileage restrictions, a 30-day money back guarantee, motor insurance excess cover up to £1,000 and underwriting by A-rated UK insurers. The company also offers free tools, such as a depreciation calculator, and has a blog.

Customer ratings and awards

Direct Gap shows an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot, Feefo and Google, based on more than 14,000 reviews. The testimonials on the website highlight the clarity and speed of the sign-up process, the personal telephone service and the ease of handling claims and renewals. The company has received the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award. Several customers mention taking out successive policies and receiving loyalty discounts, as well as pro-rata refunds on unused policies.