Comparables that aren't comparable
Valuations are built from recent sales the insurer selects. Trim level, mileage, options, and local market all move the number, and all are arguable.
Common problems with total loss work
What tends to go wrong, what it usually points at, and what your options are when the business that did the work won't put it right.
Condition and recent work ignored
New tyres, a recent major service, or documented above-average condition are value the standard valuation tools do not see unless someone puts them in front of the adjuster.
The appraisal clause
Most auto policies contain a provision for resolving a valuation dispute through independent appraisal. It is in the contract you already signed, and most people are never told it exists.
Placeholder imagePhoto: close-up of a common total loss defect, the kind of detail a homeowner would photograph
What to do about it
Document what you were promised and what you got, keep every invoice and message, and photograph everything before anyone “fixes” it. Whatever route you take from there, whether talking to the business yourself, a licensed attorney, or us, the case rests on that record.
This isn't legal advice
We're a consumer advocate, not a law firm, and this page is general information rather than guidance about your situation. If you need legal advice, speak to a licensed attorney in your state.
More on total loss disputes we take on, or how the process works.
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