Buying gap insurance is a strategic financial decision that depends on whether you are "underwater" on your vehicle loan—meaning you owe more to your lender than the car is actually worth.

: Most lease agreements benefit from or even require gap insurance because depreciation often outpaces your payments.

Consider gap insurance if any of the following apply to your financing or vehicle choice:

: You bought a luxury vehicle or a model known for losing value quickly.

: You rolled debt from a previous vehicle into your new car loan.