Gap insurance and tracker

[mistertee]

Hello all,

BW 44, and I order in July, it's been so long that I've completely forgotten what I bought and had to go through my notes that I left "memento" style from 3 months ago. 

2 things I wrote that was that I needed to look into gap insurance and a tracker.

ALA offer back to invoice for £128, and additional alloy wheel replay at £169 for 3 years.  Is that good or bad? I've heard alloy wheel insurance is a bit of a waste of time due to all the paperwork involved.

I'm not sure which tracker to go for there are so many of them out there.  Has anyone got it and which one did they recommend, I'm interested to know if anyone had to actually use it after getting a car taken.

Thanks all!

[Bruce]

Wouldn't bother with a tracker. It's only a Golf! I've always found that insurance is no cheaper with one. If they've got the kit to start it etc they will definitely have gps and phone jammers to defeat the tracker.

[JonnyG]

The Gap insurance is well worth it on a car such as the GTi IMHO.

If you have GAP, I wouldn't worry about a TRACKER myself.  If the car is nicked and never found you'll be able to get a brand new one.

[Aidey]

i went with the Gap insurance, its got to be worth it on a car like the Gti, i would hate it to be stolen by boyracers  and not get anything near what it worth back

[stiggy786]

I think gap insurance is a fantastic product for the price and peace of mind. I am assured that claiming gap insurance (if you end up being in such an awful position as to need to do so) won't affect your future premiums. I wonder if anyone has any light as to how this can be guaranteed. In negotiating the gap, VW have to directly communicate with your insurance company so there's no way they'd not punish you with a big hit on your renewal next time round after such a large payout.

The dealer said products like alloy and bodywork is not worth the paper it's written on because the small print is excessive and the eligibility criteria so stringent. In my experience with a similar product from BMW, in practice it's very unlikely that damage large enough to bother you would be small enough to be covered by the policy.

[GolfTi]

The better insurance companies will offer new for old for the first 12 months.

[p3asa]

I think gap insurance is a fantastic product for the price and peace of mind. I am assured that claiming gap insurance (if you end up being in such an awful position as to need to do so) won't affect your future premiums. I wonder if anyone has any light as to how this can be guaranteed. In negotiating the gap, VW have to directly communicate with your insurance company so there's no way they'd not punish you with a big hit on your renewal next time round after such a large payout.

Its your insurance company that pay out. Its the GAP insurance company that pay out the gap (difference) to invoice. So yes your insurance company will definitely know or maybe I'm reading your question wrong?

[monkeyhanger]

I think gap insurance is a fantastic product for the price and peace of mind. I am assured that claiming gap insurance (if you end up being in such an awful position as to need to do so) won't affect your future premiums. I wonder if anyone has any light as to how this can be guaranteed. In negotiating the gap, VW have to directly communicate with your insurance company so there's no way they'd not punish you with a big hit on your renewal next time round after such a large payout.

The dealer said products like alloy and bodywork is not worth the paper it's written on because the small print is excessive and the eligibility criteria so stringent. In my experience with a similar product from BMW, in practice it's very unlikely that damage large enough to bother you would be small enough to be covered by the policy.

If your insurance company were to punish you for a claim without GAP, GAP won't save you from that punishment, but you won't get punished twice because GAP insurance is not based on an individual's perceived future risk like regular insurance is. They just pay the difference out e.g. £26k car new - 2 years old written off, insurance company say car is worth £17K, GAP pays out the other £9k.

[Gtiless]

I dont know whether to take out a gap policy.(return to invoice) I paid approx 17k for my mk6 and could get 3 years r.t.i cover for  £96,this seems good to me,is there some kind of catch to it and is it worthwhile do you think?

[monkeyhanger]

I dont know whether to take out a gap policy.(return to invoice) I paid approx 17k for my mk6 and could get 3 years r.t.i cover for  £96,this seems good to me,is there some kind of catch to it and is it worthwhile do you think?

Well it's insurance on insurance. If you won't make a claim then it's money wasted (save for the reassurance it has given you). For the risk, paying £120 or so for 3 years cover rather than £350 to a VW dealer is not bad for if the worst should happen. On a brand new £26k car, theres a lot of damage that can be done before it is considered a write off. Unless you bend the safety cell in a smash it'll probably get repaired within years 1 to 3 rather than be a write-off. I got mine for nowt as part of my deal, but for many it's worth every penny of £120.