Insurance for complete peace of mind

GAP Insurance

Short Term Motor Insurance

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would be covered by your Comprehensive Car Insurance

An expert team offering unparalleled customer support.

Proven, industry leading cover

We carefully construct our insurance and warranty policies to offer great value cover that gives you everything you need.

Providing unparalleled customer support

Quick, clear, impartial information. Our salaried customer support team don’t get commission, they just give solid guidance.

A provider you can count on

We’ve got your back. Whether you want a quick, simple policy or you want to spend a while talking about your options, we’ve got you covered.

Our quick guides

Lots of people ask us these questions, so you might want to know too…

What is cycle insurance?

Despite more people than ever switching their four wheels for two, very few riders have insurance. While it’s not a legal requirement, having robust cycle insurance cover gives you that complete peace of mind should the worse happen. Whether it’s a leisurely bike ride around your city, a daily commute, doing the school run or a bike hike around the countryside; ALA Cycle Insurance can protect your investment, leaving you to enjoy the great outdoors.

What types of cycle insurance does ALA offer?

Whatever your style – we can provide you with cover.

From cycling as part of your daily commute to heading out on a weekend for long rides through rolling countryside, we have a cover for you. And if you’re a thrill seeker who enjoys funbox jumping on your BMX or you prefer a downhill run on your mountain bike, we’ve got you covered. And if you pedal with an added bit of battery power – we can look to cover you too.

Discover the right cycle insurance for you and head out on the open road knowing we’ve got your back.

What is GAP Insurance?

GAP stands for Guaranteed Asset Protection. There are several specific types of GAP insurance but the overall purpose of this type of cover is to protect you financially in the event of a total loss claim.

Whilst a large number of policies are purchased for brand new cars, GAP Insurance can be taken out on used models if desired. Vehicles are an expensive and often long-term investment, and driving – by its very nature – can be inherently dangerous, so unfortunately there is no way of guaranteeing the condition and health of your car.

Depreciation within the car market is very high. Up to 77% of the value of a brand-new vehicle can vanish over a 3-year period, while some used cars can depreciate by as much as 20% within the first six months. Add this to the fact that vehicle theft has accounted for around one in seven crimes, there has been a 7% increase in vehicle theft in 2018, and a 30% increase since 2015, not to mention the high rate at which vehicles are written off, GAP Insurance attempts to provide some much needed indemnity should anything untoward occur to your vehicle.

Should I get GAP Insurance?

Your need for GAP Insurance entirely depends on the circumstances surrounding your purchase, and there are a number of factors to consider before taking out a policy.

As a rule of thumb, the newer the vehicle you’re buying, the more you will benefit from having GAP Insurance coverage in the event of any incidents. If you’re buying an older vehicle for cash, the benefits of having a GAP policy are much lower; older cars still depreciate but at a much slower rate. If you’re signing long-term finance deals on brand new vehicles, you can risk having to pay outstanding finance out of your own pocket if your insurer does not pay enough to cover the balance.

You may also wish to consult your comprehensive car insurance, as some insurers will replace a car bought from brand new if it is written off within its first year. If you believe you may have this cover, check the terms and conditions thoroughly to ensure there are no exceptions or exclusions to this cover. If you’re happy that the cover offered by your insurer is sufficient, GAP insurance can be purchased before the end of the first year to ensure you’re covered for the rest of the time you own the car.

How much does GAP Insurance cost?

Dependent on the value of the vehicle and the term length of your finance agreement, policies range from around £100-£300 for multi-year coverage. ALA offer an online quoting tool that will clearly illustrate how much you’re being covered for and what the cost of that GAP Insurance policy would be.

Considering the price paid to get the car on the road and how long you anticipate owning the vehicle for, the quotation tool accurately displays how much of the vehicle’s worth would be covered year-on-year by your comprehensive car cover. It also tells you what the potential shortfall would be if you didn’t have GAP Insurance in place.

There are strict rules and regulations that exist around the sale of GAP Insurance, so it is worth ensuring that your broker is fully authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) before proceeding. Whilst most companies will have internal complaints procedures which you will have to work through first, if you are in any doubt that you haven’t been dealt with directly in line with the FCA’s rules, you can complain directly to the Financial Ombudsman. You can also take this step if your GAP Insurance claim is rejected unexpectedly.

What types of GAP Insurance are there?

Like all forms of insurance, there is a variety of options available, so it’s well worth knowing which is best suited to your exact needs. Don’t rush into agreeing any cover without knowing exactly what you’re going to need. Whilst you can’t have more than one GAP policy on one vehicle, a number of suppliers provide “combined” cover which gives you better coverage and the security that you desire.

What is excluded from GAP Insurance?

While there are multiple policy types, there are still instances within all of those that GAP Insurance simply won’t cover. While these obviously differ between brokers and individual policies, there are some common exclusions that it’s worth being aware of.

How does GAP Insurance work?

As previously discussed, GAP Insurance refers to the deficit between what you may have paid for your car on day one, and what your insurance policy will pay out in the event of a total loss incident occurring down the line.

You should be aware from the outset of what GAP Insurance does and doesn’t cover, as this can sometimes be a source of confusion. Things that aren’t covered include personal injury or death, damage to property, repairs to the vehicle, repossession, courtesy cars, any effect on valuation caused by an accident, a down payment for a new car, extended balances from old loan agreements on vehicles and extended warranties added to your car loan.

While there are some policies which will individually cover some of those occurrences, they won’t be covered as standard, and will likely be additional charges, or need to be packaged with other options.

What is a car warranty?

A car warranty – or mechanical breakdown insurance – is designed to protect you and your car in the event of an unforeseen breakdown. Think of it like a safety net. While the actual level of cover can vary from policy to policy, car warranties will usually cover the most important parts.

If your vehicle does suffer a fault or failure, being covered by a car warranty means you aren’t left alone to deal with it. Warranties don’t just take care of the cost of replacement parts. They also cover labour and extras such as car hire, too. And, for many, it proves a smart investment.

What does an ALA car warranty cover?

If you’re looking to get protection for your car, it’s important to remember that not all policies are the same. It’s always a useful idea to check what is covered under a car warranty by looking at the fine print to be absolutely sure that your chosen warranty gives you the cover you need.

With Gold, Silver and Platinum levels of cover, an ALA warranty can offer the level that’s most appropriate for the age and condition of your car. But you can also rest assured that all options cover major components as standard, including:

Our comprehensive list of covered components can provide you with more information about what is included under each ALA warranty option from ALA.

What isn’t covered by ALA car warranty?

ALA warranty cover is designed to provide peace of mind if your car breaks down. But there are some parts or components that our policies do not cover. To find out more, we’ve tried to make it clear with our comprehensive list of covered components.

Additional cover for your vehicle.

Not everyone will be unfortunate enough to write off their car or have it stolen, but we all from time to time lose our keys, hit the curb, or damage new paint. We’ve got you covered for those accidents too.

In addition to our GAP vehicle cover, we offer a suite of additional products to ensure your investment is protected from everyday mishaps. Scratch and Dent cover for those accidental scratches, Tyre and Alloy Wheel Insurance for scuffs and scrapes, Keycare for mislaid keys and Excess insurance to cover you for the voluntary and compulsory excess charged when you make a claim with your comprehensive car insurer.

These products mean we think about what might happen, so you don’t have to.

Keycare

Excess cover

Scratch & Dent

Tyre & Alloy wheel

GAP Insurance

Short Term Motor Insurance

Cycle Insurance

Contact

Warranty

Additional Car Cover

Help & Support

About ALA

© ALA Insurance Brokers. ALA IB Limited trading as ALA Insurance Brokers is Authorised and Regulated by The Financial Conduct Authority. FCA Firm Reference No 571109.

Registered in England, number 06833207. Registered office: ALA IB Limited, Unit 3, Park Farm Courtyard, Easthorpe, Malton, YO17 6QX All ALA offers are subject to our fair usage terms and conditions. Authorised and Regulated UK Based Insurance Brokers.