11 Car Insurance Add-Ons That Are Worth the Money (and 5 You Can Skip)

Your car insurance quote includes optional coverages that can add $600 or more to your annual premium. Some protect you from financial disasters that could cost thousands. Others generate profits for insurers while delivering minimal value.

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the average US driver pays around $1,700 annually for full coverage car insurance, though costs vary significantly by state and driver profile. Understanding which add-ons match your actual risks versus which ones you can safely skip helps you build the right protection without overpaying when comparing car insurance policies.

What Are Car Insurance Add-Ons?

Car insurance add-ons (also called endorsements or riders) let you customize your base policy to address specific situations standard coverage doesn't include. Your base policy typically covers liability for damage you cause, plus collision and comprehensive coverage for your vehicle.

11 Car Insurance Add-Ons Worth Buying

These optional coverages typically deliver real value when matched to your situation.

1. Roadside Assistance Coverage

Roadside assistance covers towing, jump-starts, tire changes, lockout service, and fuel delivery, usually for $10-$25 annually. A single tow can cost $100-$200, so one use often recoups several years of premiums.

• Worth it if: You lack AAA, manufacturer warranty coverage, or credit card roadside benefits, drive an older vehicle, or travel through remote areas where tow distances and costs can spike.
• Skip it if: You already have robust, clearly documented roadside coverage through a warranty, AAA membership, or premium credit card.

Average tow cost vs. roadside premium:

• Average tow: $100-$200
• Annual roadside premium: $10-$25

2. Rental Reimbursement Coverage

Rental reimbursement pays $30-$75 per day toward rental cars or alternative transportation while your vehicle is being repaired after a covered claim. It generally costs $20-$60 annually versus $560-$1,050 out of pocket for two weeks of rental expenses.

• Worth it if: You depend on your vehicle for work, have no backup transportation, or live where public transit is limited.
• Skip it if: You own a second vehicle, work from home, or have reliable family transportation support.

3. Full Glass Coverage

Full glass coverage eliminates your comprehensive deductible (often $250-$500) for windshield repairs or replacement. It usually costs $30-$60 per year, while a windshield replacement can run $400-$1,000, especially on newer vehicles with advanced driver-assistance systems.

• Worth it if: You frequently drive on highways, live where temperature swings cause glass chips and cracks, or carry a $250-$500 comprehensive deductible.
• Skip it if: Your comprehensive deductible is $100 or less, or your car's glass is inexpensive to replace.

Average windshield replacement vs. glass coverage:

• Windshield replacement: $400-$1,000
• Full glass coverage: $30-$60 annually

4. New Car Replacement Coverage

New car replacement coverage pays for a brand-new vehicle (often the same make and model or current-year equivalent) instead of the depreciated value if your car is totaled within a specified period, typically 1-3 years.

It often costs $40-$100 annually and can bridge a depreciation gap of several thousand dollars on newer vehicles.

• Worth it if: You recently bought a new car, financed near MSRP, or drive a model that depreciates quickly in the first few years.
• Skip it if: Your car is more than 2-3 years old, or you made a down payment of 20% or more, and are not heavily upside-down on your loan.

5. OEM Parts Coverage

OEM parts coverage ensures repairs use Original Equipment Manufacturer parts instead of aftermarket components when available. It usually costs $20-$50 per year and can be especially valuable on newer or luxury vehicles where safety systems and resale value are sensitive to part quality.

• Worth it if: You drive a vehicle under five years old, own a luxury brand, or rely on advanced safety features that may perform best with OEM components.
• Skip it if: Your car is older, has minimal resale value, or you are comfortable with high-quality aftermarket parts.

Note: OEM parts coverage may be limited or defined differently by state law and by each insurer's repair program, so read the endorsement language carefully.

6. Gap Insurance

Gap (Guaranteed Asset Protection) insurance covers the difference between your auto loan or lease balance and the vehicle's actual cash value if your car is totaled.

It typically costs $40-$60 annually when purchased through an insurer, while dealerships may charge a flat $500-$700, making insurer-based gap coverage far more cost-effective in many cases.

• Worth it if: You financed more than 90% of the car's price, have a loan term over 60 months, rolled negative equity into the new loan, or are in the first three years of financing.
• Skip it if: You put 20% or more down or your loan is nearly paid off, and your car's value comfortably exceeds your remaining balance.

From claims I've handled, gap insurance has prevented drivers from owing $6,000-$10,000 out of pocket after a total loss on highly financed vehicles.

7. Accident Forgiveness

Accident forgiveness prevents a surcharge after your first at-fault accident, which can otherwise increase your premium by 20-40% for three to five years. The endorsement usually costs $30-$100 annually, but the total avoided surcharges can add up to $1,500-$3,500 over time.

• Worth it if: You have maintained an accident-free record, the cost is under about 5% of your total premium, or you live in a state where rate increases after at-fault accidents are especially steep.
• Skip it if: You rarely drive, already pay a very low premium, or the add-on cost exceeds about 5% of your total policy price.

Average rate increase after first at-fault accident:

• 20-40%, lasting 3-5 years
• Total added cost over time: $1,500-$3,500

8. Rideshare Coverage

Rideshare insurance fills the coverage gaps that exist when you are logged into an app like Uber, Lyft, or DoorDash but have not yet accepted a ride or delivery, a period many personal policies partially or fully exclude. It usually costs $10-$30 monthly and is a critical protection even for occasional gig drivers.

• Worth it if: You drive for any rideshare or delivery service, even part-time, and rely on your personal vehicle for that income.
• Skip it if: You never use your vehicle for any commercial or app-based driving.

Important: In many states, failing to disclose commercial use can result in denied claims or car insurance policy cancellation after an accident, so rideshare coverage isn't optional from a compliance standpoint.

9. Custom Parts Coverage

Custom parts and equipment coverage extends protection beyond standard policy limits (often $1,000-$1,500) for aftermarket modifications such as wheels, suspension upgrades, body kits, or specialty lighting. It costs $20-$100 annually, depending on the value of your modifications and the insurer.

• Worth it if: You have invested more than $2,000 in documented modifications and want those upgrades properly insured against theft or damage.
• Skip it if: Your vehicle is stock or your modifications total less than $1,000 and fall comfortably within the policy's built-in limits.

10. Umbrella Liability

Umbrella liability policies provide $1-$5 million in additional liability protection above your auto and home limits. They typically cost $150-$300 annually for the first $1 million of coverage, with each additional $1 million often priced at $75-$150.

• Worth it if: You own a home, have substantial savings or investments, or earn a high income that could be subject to garnishment after a serious at-fault accident.
• Skip it if: You already carry very high underlying limits (such as 250/500/250) and have minimal attachable assets, although even then, an umbrella policy can be relatively cheap peace of mind.

Note: Most umbrella policies require minimum underlying liability limits on your auto policy (for example, 250/500/100 or similar), so you may need to increase base limits to qualify.

11. Higher Liability Limits

Increasing auto liability limits from state minimums to at least 100/300/100 or 250/500/250 often costs just $100-$300 more per year. Given that serious injury claims and legal judgments can easily exceed state minimums, this add-on provides a large increase in protection for a relatively small additional premium.

• Worth it if: You have any assets to protect, anticipate future earnings that could be targeted in a lawsuit, or drive regularly in high-traffic or high-severity areas.
• Skip it if: You already maintain high limits alongside an umbrella policy and have very limited attachable assets, though this is rare for most drivers.

5 Car Insurance Add-Ons You Can Skip

These optional coverages rarely justify their cost for most drivers and often duplicate existing protections.

1. Credit Life or Credit Disability Insurance

Credit life or credit disability coverage pays your car payments if you die or become disabled, but usually covers only that single loan. It typically costs $50-$150 annually, while term life or disability insurance can often provide broader protection for multiple debts and living expenses at a comparable or lower cost per dollar of coverage.

2. Vanishing Deductible Programs

Vanishing or disappearing deductible programs reduce your deductible $50-$100 per claim-free year in exchange for an additional $20-$50 in annual premium. After five years, you might reduce your deductible by $250, but you may have paid $100-$250 in extra premiums and lose much of the benefit if you file a claim sooner.

3. Duplicate Roadside Coverage

Many drivers pay for roadside coverage multiple times through their auto policy, AAA membership, and one or more credit cards. Before adding roadside assistance, it is worth inventorying your existing benefits and claim limits to avoid paying three or four times for essentially the same service.

4. Tire and Wheel Coverage

Tire and wheel coverage often duplicates road hazard warranties built into many tire brands or sold inexpensively at the time of purchase. Insurance-based tire and wheel endorsements typically add claim restrictions, per-incident caps, and exclusions for cosmetic damage, which can make them poor value relative to the actual risk.

5. Excessive Sound System Coverage

Base auto policies usually include $1,000-$1,500 of coverage for audio equipment, which adequately covers most modest upgrades. Unless your system exceeds roughly $5,000 and you have receipts, paying extra for dedicated sound system coverage tends to be unnecessary.

In my experience, the most oversold add-ons prey on convenience or fear, especially duplicate roadside coverage, vanishing deductibles, and credit insurance. If an add-on sounds vague, emotional, or hard to explain clearly, it's usually not worth the cost.

How to Decide Which Car Insurance Add-Ons You Need

Matching add-ons to your actual situation is more important than maximizing the number of endorsements on your policy. A simple way to decide is to look at four key factors.

Vehicle Age

• New cars (0-3 years): Often need new car replacement, gap insurance, and sometimes OEM parts coverage to protect against rapid depreciation and costly technology-heavy repairs.
• Mid-age cars (4-8 years): Typically benefit more from rental reimbursement and roadside assistance than from new car replacement.
• Older cars (9+ years): For many drivers, the focus shifts to strong liability limits and possibly dropping full coverage if the vehicle's value is low.

Lease contracts may also require specific add-ons like gap coverage or higher physical damage limits.

Driving Patterns

• High-mileage commuters: Tend to get strong value from rental reimbursement and roadside assistance due to higher exposure and limited flexibility if the car is in the shop.
• Occasional drivers: May need fewer convenience-based add-ons but should still maintain adequate liability limits.
• Gig workers: Must have rideshare or delivery coverage to avoid serious coverage gaps while driving for pay.

Location

• Urban drivers: Benefit from higher liability limits because accident frequency and injury claims are typically higher in dense traffic.
• Rural drivers: May get more value from roadside assistance due to longer tow distances and limited nearby services.
• Extreme weather areas: Full glass coverage and comprehensive coverage become more important where hail, debris, or road sand commonly damage windshields.

Financial Situation

• Strong emergency funds: Allow you to self-insure minor risks, potentially skipping some small-dollar convenience add-ons.
• Tight budgets: Make it vital to prioritize protection against large, disruptive losses, such as higher liability limits, gap insurance, and, in some cases, accident forgiveness.

My approach with clients is to identify which financial risks they can't comfortably absorb and buy add-ons only for those exposures. The goal isn't maximum coverage but efficient coverage that protects your assets, income, and mobility.

How to Compare Car Insurance Add-Ons Across Companies

The same add-on can be priced and structured very differently by different insurers, so comparing only total premiums can be misleading. A more effective approach is to create a simple comparison that lists your base premium, itemized add-on costs, coverage limits, and total annual premium for each quote.

When Comparing Add-Ons, Look Closely At:

• Coverage triggers and waiting periods: For example, some accident forgiveness programs apply only after a claim-free period or only once per policy term.
• Per-incident vs. annual limits: Roadside assistance might cover unlimited tow events up to a dollar cap or a fixed number of tows per year.
• Usage restrictions: Rideshare endorsements may exclude certain platforms, delivery-only driving, or larger vehicles.
• Eligibility rules: New car replacement and accident forgiveness often require a clean record or a vehicle under a certain age at policy start.

Good Questions to Ask Insurers About Add-Ons

• Is there a limit on roadside uses per year, or a maximum tow distance?
• Does accident forgiveness apply to all drivers on the policy or only the named insured?
• Are OEM parts guaranteed in writing, or "when available and where permitted by law"?
• For gap and new car replacement, how is vehicle value determined (actual cash value, agreed value, or a third-party valuation source)?

Bottom Line on Car Insurance Add-Ons

Smart add-on choices can save you $500+ annually. Focus on what protects you from financial disasters: gap insurance if you financed heavily, rental coverage if you need your car for work, and higher liability limits to protect your assets. Skip the money drains: duplicate roadside coverage, vanishing deductibles, and credit insurance.

Review your coverage every year. Your needs change. That gap insurance you needed three years ago? Probably unnecessary now. The roadside assistance you skipped during warranty? Time to add it. Compare quotes from multiple car insurance companies to see how they price add-ons differently, not just which has the lowest total.

Methodology

• Expert verification: All insurance information reviewed by Joey Haddad, Licensed Independent Insurance Adjuster & Auto Insurance Specialist.
• Sources: National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) 2023 Auto Insurance Database and Insurance Information Institute. Cost estimates based on multi-state rate filings and 10+ years of claims adjusting experience.
• Transparency note: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute insurance advice. Always work with licensed insurance professionals and compare multiple quotes before purchasing coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I spot which add-ons are inflating my quote?

Ask for an itemized quote that lists each optional coverage and its annual cost. That’s the fastest way to see what’s adding $600+.

2. Do I still need gap insurance if my car isn’t brand-new?

Gap is worth it when you owe more than the car is worth (common with small down payments, long loans, or rolled-in negative equity). Skip it once your loan balance is clearly below the car’s current value.

3. Is roadside assistance worth it if I already have AAA or credit card coverage?

Usually no. If you already have reliable roadside benefits, adding it again is often duplicate coverage with little payoff.

4. Does accident forgiveness cover any accident automatically?

Not always. Many policies limit it to the first at-fault accident and may require a claim-free period before it applies, so check the endorsement details.