General Motors is sweetening its new-car deals by throwing in a year’s worth of free insurance for Washington and Oregon residents who drive home GM vehicles before Sept. 6.

The offer, which the automaker is road-testing in those two states to gauge consumer appeal, applies to new 2010 through 2012 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles.

Insurance, provided by MetLife Auto & Home, includes both liability and physical damage coverage and exceeds requirements in both states. It covers replacement of any vehicle that is damaged beyond repair without any deductions for depreciation. That could save buyers thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs, officials said.

“This offer enhances the vehicle’s value proposition because our policy is considered one of the most comprehensive in the industry,” Bill Moore, president of MetLife, said in a news release. “Our new car replacement feature is a benefit not found in most auto policies.”

Coverage applies to the vehicle and anyone who drives it with the owner’s permission for the first year. It goes beyond state requirements and more than meets standard auto insurance coverage recommendations.

The policy includes more than five times the minimum total liability coverage required under Washington and Oregon law and includes comprehensive and collision coverage that is not mandated in either state.

GM officials say they are targeting the Pacific Northwest in order to increase sales in what has been a tepid market for U.S.-made vehicles. The company says the free insurance could become standard if the trial run is successful.

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