Total Loss Valuation Checker
Got a total loss valuation report that looks low? Enter its numbers and the comparable cars it used. We check them line by line, show where money was taken off, and turn the result into a counter-offer letter.
Short answer
A total loss offer should match your car's actual cash value: what comparable cars (same year, model, trim, mileage and condition) sell for near you, plus sales tax and fees in many states, minus your deductible. Most underpayments come from the comparables, condition ratings and price adjustments in the report, which this checker tests line by line.
What the rule says a total loss payment should cover
The NAIC Unfair Property/Casualty Claims Settlement Practices Model Regulation, which many state total loss rules follow, says a cash settlement for a totaled car should be based on the actual cost to buy a comparable car, less your deductible, including all applicable taxes, license fees and other fees to transfer ownership (Section 8A(2)).
- Comparable means the same make, a similar body style, similar options and mileage, in as good or better condition.
- The cost can come from two or more comparable cars in your local market area, available now or in the last 90 days, or from nearby areas only when none are available locally.
- Any deduction, including for condition, must be "measurable, discernible, itemized and specified as to dollar amount", and the basis for the settlement must be fully explained to you (Section 8A(3)).
- If you tell the insurer within 35 days of receiving the payment that you can't buy a comparable car for that amount, it must reopen the claim (Section 8A(2)(e)), unless it already showed you a specific comparable car, with its VIN, that you could have bought for the value it set.
The adjustments people most often dispute
Projected sold or typical negotiation adjustments lower each comparable's advertised price to what the software predicts it would sell for. Class actions in several states challenge these adjustments; some courts have dismissed similar cases, and none of that changes your own claim automatically. You can still ask the insurer for the data behind each adjustment and point out that you would have to pay the advertised price to replace your car.
Condition adjustments rate your car as below average. Ask how the condition was judged, who inspected it, and which photos support each rating, and send maintenance records, recent repairs and photos from before the loss.
Already settled a claim? Share the first offer and what you finally got, anonymously, in 30 seconds. It helps us build the Lowball Index, which we publish once enough claims are in.
Worked example
A report sets a base value of $16,400 from three comparables advertised at an average of $17,200, each cut by an average $800 "projected sold" adjustment. It takes $650 off for condition, includes no sales tax or fees, and subtracts a $500 deductible: an offer of $15,250.
- Negotiation adjustments: $800 in question.
- Condition deduction with no itemization: $650 in question.
- Sales tax at 7% on $15,750: $1,102.50 missing.
- Title and registration fees: missing, amount depends on your state.
Up to $2,552.50 is in question, so the opening counter-offer is $17,802.50 plus fees. The letter asks for a value of $17,200 plus tax and fees, and lists each point.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get my total loss valuation report?
Ask the adjuster in writing for a complete copy of the valuation report, including every comparable vehicle and every adjustment. Insurers generally have to explain the basis of a total loss settlement, and the report is the document that does it.
What is a projected sold adjustment?
A reduction the valuation software applies to a comparable car's advertised price, based on its estimate of how much buyers negotiate off dealer prices. It lowers the comparable's value and therefore your car's value. You can ask the insurer to justify it or to value the comparables at their advertised prices.
Should a total loss payment include sales tax?
Under the NAIC model rule, a cash settlement includes all applicable taxes and the fees to transfer ownership of a comparable car. Many states follow this, but some only pay tax once you buy a replacement, and the rules for leased cars and third-party claims can differ. Check your state's regulation.
What if the insurer won't change the valuation?
Send a written counter-offer with your evidence, then consider invoking the appraisal clause in your policy, filing a complaint with your state department of insurance, or small claims court for third-party claims within the limit.