What Can I Do If Insurance Is Not Paying Enough for My Totaled Car?

Your car has been declared a total loss. The insurance company sends you a valuation report and a settlement offer.

But the number feels low.

What can you actually do about it?

You can have the valuation independently reviewed and, if the vehicle was undervalued, dispute the amount of the loss.

At Synergy Auto Appraisals, that starts with a free case evaluation.

Before assuming the insurance company's number is the final answer, it is worth finding out whether the valuation actually reflects what your vehicle was worth.

Why Could My Total Loss Offer Be Too Low?

A total loss settlement is heavily dependent on one number: the value of your vehicle immediately before the loss.

The insurance company typically reaches that number using a valuation report containing comparable vehicles, mileage, equipment, condition, adjustments and other market information.

That doesn't mean every valuation is wrong.

But it also doesn't mean every valuation is right.

The comparable vehicles may have different trim levels, mileage or equipment. Important factory options may be missing. Condition adjustments can affect the final number. The vehicles being used as comparables may simply not represent your vehicle very well.

That is why the valuation itself matters — not just how professional the report looks.

The question isn't whether the insurance company has a valuation. The question is whether that valuation accurately represents your vehicle.

How Does an Independent Total Loss Appraisal Help?

An independent appraiser evaluates the vehicle and market separately from the insurance company's valuation.

We look at the actual year, make, model, trim, mileage, options, condition, comparable vehicles and market evidence to determine what the vehicle should reasonably have been worth before the loss.

The goal isn't to search the internet for the most expensive version of your car.

The goal is to establish a defensible market value supported by evidence.

That is the basis of a Total Loss Valuation Dispute.

What Happens If We Find That the Vehicle Was Undervalued?

This is an important distinction.

Synergy does not simply prepare an appraisal report, hand it to you and tell you to go argue with the insurance company.

We handle the valuation dispute.

We develop the independent valuation, support it with market evidence, communicate through the dispute process and, when the applicable policy provides for appraisal or arbitration, handle the valuation position through that process.

If the appraisers cannot agree and the policy provides for an umpire, the dispute can proceed through that next step as well.

The point is that you are not expected to learn vehicle valuation methodology or negotiate the dispute by yourself.

That is what you hired an appraiser for.

My Total Loss Offer Looks Low. What Should I Do Now?

Get a copy of the insurance company's complete valuation report and have it reviewed before assuming the offer is correct.

Synergy Auto Appraisals offers a free case evaluation to determine whether there appears to be a legitimate valuation difference worth pursuing.

There is no reason to guess when you can have the valuation checked.

Synergy works with everything from everyday cars and trucks to classics, exotics, commercial vehicles and specialty assets. You can view the vehicles we service or use our Find an Appraiser page to learn more about service availability.

If your vehicle was totaled and the settlement number doesn't make sense, don't assume the first valuation has to be the last one.

Think Your Total Loss Offer Is Too Low?

Send us the insurance company's valuation for a free case evaluation.

We'll review the situation and determine whether there appears to be a legitimate valuation dispute.