Is gap insurance worth it for new cars in Hawaii?

I hear you, but I’m still a little wary. Even with a big down payment, all it takes is one distracted driver and your car’s totaled before you’ve even made a dent in the loan. Has anyone actually had to use gap in Hawaii? I keep thinking about those crazy insurance horror stories...

I get where you’re coming from. I actually had a coworker whose car got totaled on H1 just a few months after buying it - she still owed thousands more than insurance paid out. She didn’t have gap and really regretted it. I’m usually super frugal, but that made me rethink skipping it, especially with how unpredictable drivers can be here.

That story about your coworker is rough. I’ve always wondered if gap insurance was just another upsell, but hearing stuff like this makes me think twice.

she still owed thousands more than insurance paid out

Yeah, that’s the nightmare scenario - paying for a car you don’t even have anymore. I’ve seen people get burned by that, especially if they put little or nothing down. Did your coworker lease or buy? Sometimes leases require gap, but with a loan it’s optional.

Did your coworker lease or buy? Sometimes leases require gap, but with a loan it’s optional.

That’s a good point - gap is usually baked into leases, but with loans it’s kind of a gray area. I’m curious, has anyone here actually had to use their gap coverage after a total loss? Was the payout process smooth, or did you run into any surprises with what was covered? I’ve heard stories where folks thought they were covered, but the fine print got them... Wondering if that’s common or just rare bad luck.