Total Loss Threshold Calculator

See whether your car is likely to be declared a total loss, using your state's actual rule: a percentage threshold, the Total Loss Formula, or (where state law sets no number) the test most insurers use.

Short answer

A car is totaled when repairs cost more than the law or the insurer allows. 25 states set a percentage of the car's actual cash value, from 60% to 100%; 5 use the Total Loss Formula (repair cost plus salvage value at or above the car's value); in the other 21 the insurer decides, usually with that formula.

Not legal, financial, or insurance advice. This tool gives a general, educational estimate only. Insurance laws, deadlines, and formulas vary by state, by policy, and by insurer, and they change over time. Verify anything important with your insurance policy, your state department of insurance, or a licensed attorney before relying on it. Insurers use their own valuation software and repair estimate, which can differ from the numbers you enter here.

Percentage threshold vs. Total Loss Formula

States regulate when an insurer must declare a vehicle a total loss in one of two ways. A percentage-threshold state sets a fixed percentage (commonly 70-100%) — once repair costs reach that share of the vehicle’s value, it must be totaled. A Total Loss Formula (TLF) state instead adds the estimated repair cost to the estimated salvage value; if that combined number meets or exceeds the vehicle’s value, it’s a total loss.

Why this matters for your claim

If your car is close to the line, understanding your state’s specific rule helps you evaluate whether your insurer’s decision (to repair or to total) matches what the law actually requires — and gives you a factual basis to push back if it doesn’t.

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Worked example

Your car's actual cash value is $12,000 and the repair estimate is $9,000. That is 75% of its value.

New York (75% threshold): $9,000 reaches 75%, so the car meets the total loss threshold.
Texas (100% threshold): $9,000 is below 100% of value, so the threshold is not met and the car would normally be repaired.
Pennsylvania (Total Loss Formula): add the estimated salvage value. If salvage is $3,500, then $9,000 + $3,500 = $12,500, which exceeds $12,000, so the formula points to a total loss.

Insurers can usually choose to total a car below the threshold if repairing it is not economical. The threshold tells you when they must, which matters most when you think a car is being repaired that should have been totaled, or the other way round.

What to do next

Total loss rules by state

Claim deadlines and total loss rules for every state, with the law behind each one: compare all states.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a percentage threshold and the Total Loss Formula?

A percentage-threshold state totals a car once repairs reach a set percentage of its value (for example 75%). A Total Loss Formula (TLF) state instead adds the repair cost to the estimated salvage value and totals the car if that combined figure meets or exceeds the full value. Where state law sets no number, the insurer decides when repairs are uneconomical, and most insurers use the Total Loss Formula.

Can I ask my insurer to repair a car they want to total, or vice versa?

In most states you can push back on the valuation or the repair estimate, but the insurer generally decides whether to total a car based on the numbers. An independent appraisal is the usual way to challenge that decision.

Can I keep my car if it is declared a total loss?

Often yes. The insurer deducts the salvage value from your payout and you keep the car, but it will usually get a salvage title, which affects registration, insurance and resale. Rules differ by state.

What if I think the insurer's actual cash value is too low?

Ask for the valuation report and the comparable vehicles used, check them against real local listings for the same trim and mileage, and respond in writing with your own comparables. Many policies also include an appraisal clause for value disputes.