I totally get where you're coming from with the dealership pressure—been there myself. When I financed my first car, I felt pretty overwhelmed by all those add-ons they threw at me. Ended up passing on gap coverage initially because it just felt like another upsell. But a friend of mine had a pretty nasty accident about a year into her loan and ended up owing way more than insurance covered. She was super relieved she had gap coverage, so that made me reconsider.
From what I've seen, gap premiums usually aren't tied directly to your driving record or credit score like regular auto insurance is. They're mostly based on the value of your car and the loan amount, but some providers might have their own quirks. As for when it stops being worth it, the rule of thumb I've heard is once you owe less than your car's actual cash value, gap coverage becomes less useful. Usually happens around halfway through paying off the loan, give or take.
Anyway, good on you for taking a step back to research first—it's always better to feel confident in your decision than rushed into something you're unsure about.
