My dad's 2024 Prius was totaled in a single vehicle crash in MA. He filed a claim with his insurance company and they sent him a valuation of $27k for the car. He sent me the report to review and there's several inaccuracies with respect to his car's milage and equipment.
His car had 13,xxx miles on it when it was in the accident and the valuation report lists it as having an even 20k. His car in listed in the report as not having several options that are in the window sticker(nav, parking sensors etc. the car was fully optioned from the factory ) that the three comps are listed as having all of the missing options
The milage and option adjustments for the comps amount to about $2.5k in downward adjustments. The biggest single one though is a $3600 downward condition adjustment on the comps to bring them to "private average" condition that they assessed my dad's car as being in. This is despite the comps all having higher milage than my dad's. My dad's Prius was in arguably better than average condition, it was in low milage, garaged in the winter and had no crash damage or even curb rash on the wheels. Between the three adjustments they've reduced the value by over $6k compared to comps.
Is it possible to go back to the adjuster with the window sticker and actual milage and get them to correct both the incorrect adjustment based on vehicle attributes and get them to reassess the condition of his car to at least above average? Does this need to be done in a particular way or will the window stickers+photo of the odometer from after the crash be sufficient?
Is it worth contesting the valuation report for a total loss payout on a car?
byu/XalentineDay inInsurance
Posted by XalentineDay
8 Comments
https://orlandoautoappraisal.com/
Yes it’s worth it. Get a free consult.
You can go back to the adjuster advising of the inaccuracies of the report and request the rerun it with correct information.
I didn’t read the whole post lol. Yes, they will adjust your value with your evidence of mileage. It’s hard to get them to change the value of the “condition” but absolutely try.
Short answer is yes. Without going into too much detail here. Hire an appraiser for $300-$500 dollars. If the appraiser has a higher value, insurance has to pay for your appraisal and they also have to hire another appraiser. (Check your policy if you are State Farm, they really know how to screw their customer making the appraisal clause non existent, other insurances you should do it) CCC valuations are shit and They have been sued many times over it. I’ve never seen an independent appraisal lower than insurance appraisal which means they pay more, both to your appraiser for low balling you, and to you for low balling you. It’s always worth it unless you are State Farm who makes you go to mediation and pay for it yourself to get a better value. ( check the policy ) if you are a claimant you have to be indemnified the same way as their policy holders.
Check your state ins dept.. I thought it should be average retail, not average private party price.. also the options and mileage should be comparable.
Just give them the correct information is the fastest solution. Not all cars auto decode and adjusters have to manually find some items or manually find window stickers.
There is not a national database or anything and some makes you can’t even find a window sticker af the customer does not have the original.
Always contest the value. Have them get you an exact replacement, Michigan says they need to find you a comparable car from what I remember.
Speak with the adjuster and talk to them. If there is tangible evidence that they missed something, made a mistake, or factual inaccuracy, they will normally make immediate changes and forward you the updated paperwork.