Dropping insurance coverage on a leased vehicle has its consequences. Just as when making payments on an auto loan, when leasing a vehicle auto insurance protects the lien holder from loss.
Lease Agreements
Auto lease contracts may vary somewhat but all lease agreements contain a disclosure statement covering insurance requirements, excess wear and tear, mileage, early termination and a section outlining what happens if the vehicle is stolen or destroyed.
General Requirements
Lease agreements detail the coverage a lessee (person who is leasing) is required to carry. You will be required to pay for this yourself.
Basic Coverage
Your contract will most likely require all the basic coverage including bodily injury, death, liability, property damage, comprehensive and collision with specified coverage limits and deductibles outlined. Check with your state's department of insurance to find out what your legally required minimums are as well.
Repossession
If you fail to keep your leased car insured, the lessor may repossess your car. If this is the case, it will be spelled out in the lease agreement.
Forced Insurance
Alternatively, lessors can purchase “forced” insurance to protect their interest in the vehicle, adding these costs to your payments plus fees and penalties.
Consequences
Dropping auto insurance coverage on a leased vehicle can expose you to liability, is illegal under the law and can wreck your credit rating.
References
- CarInsurance.com: What are the consequences for driving with no insurance
- Edmunds. "Automotive Industry Trends 2020," Page 19. Accessed Aug. 5, 2020.
- Allstate. "What Is a Lienholder?" Accessed Aug. 5, 2020.
- American Family Insurance. "What Kind of Insurance Do You Need for a Leased Car?" Accessed Aug. 5, 2020.
- Allstate. "Insurance for Leased Vs. Financed Cars." Accessed Aug. 5, 2020.
- Insurance Information Institute. "What Is Gap Insurance?" Accessed Aug. 5, 2020.
- Progressive. "What Is Gap Insurance?" Accessed Aug. 5, 2020.
- Geico. "Protect Your Car With Mechanical Breakdown Insurance." Accessed Aug. 5, 2020.
- Allstate. "Excess Wear & Tear." Accessed Aug. 5, 2020.
- American Family Insurance. "Why You Need Gap Insurance Coverage." Accessed Aug. 5, 2020.
Writer Bio
Charles Green is a freelance writer in North Carolina who has been writing since 1992 and freelancing since 2002. His work appears in "435 South Magazine," "Wisconsin Golfer" and for various websites. Green earned a Bacheler of Science in business administration from Ramapo College of New Jersey.