Audi insurance and free GAP cover

[Daveotto]

Got free 7 day cover today for the new ar and got ull year quote which was a good £150 more than cheapest I found from comparison sites.

Audi insurance girl gave the usual spiel on you get lots of extras and better quality product. One thing that did interest me was that in effect they say they give you GAP insurance for first year if car is unfortunately a write off, need to dig around on this with a follow up call as might be a cheap way of getting GAP insurance for bit of piece of mind.

Has anyone else heard this or can confirm that is correct, hopefully this thread will not be as heated as the last insurance thread discussion!!

 

[RYes3]

Yep its true, they will replace at buying price if a total loss claim arises. Its their USP to be fair. I used them when I bought a 2012 S3 but they came nowhere close with the RS3.

 

[A3sportbackMark]

Yep its true, they will replace at buying price if a total loss claim arises. Its their USP to be fair. I used them when I bought a 2012 S3 but they came nowhere close with the RS3.

Is that for the 7 day cover, or/and the annual insurance?

 

[Daveotto]

Is that for the 7 day cover, or/and the annual insurance?

Is for the annual cover and way it was recounted is for a total lose due to damage, not sure if this also applies to theft as well, hence need for a follow up call and advise from the forum.

 

[RYes3]

Pretty sure its first year only if continuance from 7 day free is taken.

 

[Daveotto]

Pretty sure its first year only if continuance from 7 day free is taken.

yes for GAP part it is first year only which IMHO is the biggest risk in terms of total loss

 

[SilureMark]

You'd be able to get GAP for three years for less than £200 if you shop around. Audi insurance quoted me £1100 fully comp on my RS - went with esure, £420 and lower excess, free courtesy car, etc too. Go figure! I do wonder if anyone goes with them after that 7 day period? Very expensive IMO.

GAP is essential IMO. I had a car stolen almost 3 years into ownership and it paid out the difference between the insurance (which was just about the trade value of the car!) and the original invoice price. I was actually in the process of ordering a new car when it happened, so getting two cheques totalling £36k and banking one of them yet still being able to lob a big deposit at the new car was a result I suppose. Still would have rather not had the car stolen. Scum who did it did get caught - that was the guy from Harlow who was in all the papers having nicked hundreds of cars and got sentenced to a new house, community service and pat on the back by the judge. He then nicks a Boxster, gets caught again and then got 3 years.

 

[Gazzz]

I thought new for old was standard for the first year on all policies? Certainly the last time I bought a new car it was included as standard with just a 'normal' insurer. It's not something I've checked on more recent policies as it no longer applies to me

 

[JohnM100]

I thought new for old was standard for the first year on all policies? Certainly the last time I bought a new car it was included as standard with just a 'normal' insurer. It's not something I've checked on more recent policies as it no longer applies to me

Yep it's standard on mine for the first year. GAP covers for subsequent years.

 

[Vw2audi]

u should get GAP for 3 years with return to invoice, got my GTI covered via car2cover, very comprehensive about £140 for 15k of cover, piece of mind for 3 years to cover the shortfall on insurers valuation should it get nicked/written off

 

[cemerson]

I'll be getting 4 years cover (ie, while I'm financially tied to the car), and probably return to spec rather than invoice which only costs a small amount more

 

[mjcourtney]

I also got return to spec, as oposed to return to invoice. I think it was £20 more expensive, but effectively means they'll replace the car with the same specification regardless of whether costs have increased since I ordered.

 

[cemerson]

Yup - and costs already have increased so I've immediately 'lost out' by taking a return to invoice plan!

 

[Vw2audi]

fair point on RTI, go for the full monty

 

[Little Red Monster]

My Lexus IS250 was written off four years ago, the car was replaced with a new one to the exact same spec by the insurance company, but with a later reg of course, which was to my advantage. I think the value only becomes an issue when you require a cash payment.

 

[Fragup]

I'll be getting 4 years cover (ie, while I'm financially tied to the car), and probably return to spec rather than invoice which only costs a small amount more

Thats sounds a very good idea, haven't looked into gap ins. Yet but was intending to nearer the time!
Think I will do the same, when time comes.

thanks for the info.

 

[Daveotto]

You'd be able to get GAP for three years for less than £200 if you shop around. Audi insurance quoted me £1100 fully comp on my RS - went with esure, £420 and lower excess, free courtesy car, etc too. Go figure! I do wonder if anyone goes with them after that 7 day period? Very expensive IMO.

GAP is essential IMO. I had a car stolen almost 3 years into ownership and it paid out the difference between the insurance (which was just about the trade value of the car!) and the original invoice price. I was actually in the process of ordering a new car when it happened, so getting two cheques totalling £36k and banking one of them yet still being able to lob a big deposit at the new car was a result I suppose. Still would have rather not had the car stolen. Scum who did it did get caught - that was the guy from Harlow who was in all the papers having nicked hundreds of cars and got sentenced to a new house, community service and pat on the back by the judge. He then nicks a Boxster, gets caught again and then got 3 years.

Have already found a returns to spec GAP policy at £178, and will probably go for that. Seems a reasonable company....ALA.co.uk, anyone got any experience with these guys?

We got burgled about 7 years ago, long story cut short was, police done nothing, we found evidence (DNA and CCTV) and the toe rag got caught and got 3.5 years

 

[mjcourtney]

I went through ALA for mine too. Don't have any experience of claiming through them, but their cover is good value when compared to other providers.

 

[M11 CUV]

I used ALA too. What I particularly liked was the very clear statement that ALA would pay the difference between the insured value (invoice, replacement or whatever) and the amount paid by your comprehensive insurance policy. Many similar products said they would paid the difference between the 'market value' and the insured value so I could see the potential for a different interpretation of 'market value' by your comprehensive insurers and 'market value' by your GAP insurers.

 

[Daveotto]

Just noticed ALA do not allow deferred poilicy start dates which is a bit off putting as my most likely insurance company provides cover for the first year so might go with directgap.co.uk, anyone used these guys?

 

[M11 CUV]

Yes, no deferred start but did you read ALA's explanation of why they do this? In summary, there are sometimes restrictions on a full payout in the first 12 mths so there could still be a gap but if no gap payout made on a total loss within the first 12 months then they will start a new policy on the replacement vehicle free of charge. I think this maybe 'cake and eat it' territory ....

 

[Daveotto]

Yes, no deferred start but did you read ALA's explanation of why they do this? In summary, there are sometimes restrictions on a full payout in the first 12 mths so there could still be a gap but if no gap payout made on a total loss within the first 12 months then they will start a new policy on the replacement vehicle free of charge. I think this maybe 'cake and eat it' territory ....

Yes, read the explanation and IMHO I thought it wrong that ALA assumed all insurance companies had restrictions, but accept some might. I read the policy document for my potential insurer (Tesco's) and the GAP cover appears very comprehensive and equivalent to stand alone return to spec cover.

NOTE: This is my opinion and not financial advice

 

[mjcourtney]

Oh yes, forgot that when we say anything about gap insurance we need to immediately state "in my opinion", or else we have the farce we had a few months ago and there'll be an Audi Gap insurance salesman along to set us back on the straight and narrow