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Car Insurance Learning Center  Learning Center  Auto Insurance Questions & Answers   Questions & Answers  Professional Answers   Auto Insurance Answers

Exactly how is the "cash value" of an auto determined after a total loss?

Every insurance company has their own internal rules that are used to determine actual cash value (ACV). Determining the ACV is subjective and we know of no standard table that is used. Determining ACV takes into account the effect of depreciation due to wear, condition and age.

Most insurance company claims departments use a computerized evaluation process to assist them in determining the value of your vehicle. Insurance companies purchase third party computer systems (like CCC) that help them estimate costs in automotive claims and collision repairs. Third party software supplies insurers with software and a database that helps determine the value of a vehicle based upon automating the claims process. These systems have databases and systems that contain benchmarking tools to find the true value of a vehicle from repair shops and dealers.

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"Actual Cash Value" is the cost to replace an item of property at the time of loss, less an allowance for depreciation. Remember that a deductible may apply.

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Please refer to your insurance policy for specific information.

Comment Update: You can use some of these resources to help determine the value of your vehicle (visit their used car sections):

  • Edmunds.com - www.edmunds.com
  • Kelly Blue Book - www.kbb.com
  • NADA guide book - ww.nadaguides.com

Comment Update: The basic criteria is listed above. Typically, the trade in value at one of the sites listed above will give you a good starting point. Each company uses different databases. After an amount is determined you can ask how the company arrived at that amount.

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Related Questions
Car Insurance Related How is my car determined to be a "total loss"?
Car Insurance Related I just hit a deer in my car and was wondering how much the damage would have to be for the insurance company to total the car. Is it half of the suggested retail value of the car?
Car Insurance Related How is the "actual cash value" determined?
Car Insurance Related How do I calculate what my car is worth? I want to do so in order to determine how much collision & comprehensive coverage I should get.
Car Insurance Related I just recently totaled my 2003 Nissan Altima. The insurance adjuster made me an offer of about $13K for the car (actually a lot more than what I was expecting). When I asked if I had the option to keep the car, he said that I did, but that they would pay me a salvage value. The salvage value would calculate out to about 20% less than the initial offer (about $10K). If I keep the car, does that mean that I would receive the car plus $10K? At that point, I would not plan on repairing the vehicle. Instead I would try to sell the vehicle or trade it in at a dealership for as much as I could. If my theory is correct, I would end up making a lot more money off of this then if I had just accepted the initial offer of $13K. Is that true?
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Visitor Comments
Give me a % I can work with. Not this mumbo jumbo.
Comment added: 07:43 PM Sep-04
Answers were clear, but the reader understood that there are no surefire formulas related to cash value. Thank you!
Comment added: 02:30 PM Aug-01
What are the basic criteria and can the average car owner access the databases?
Comment added: 09:38 PM Jun-08
This is the best site for car insurance information. My car was totaled and now I understand some of the ins and outs of this confusing insurance industry. Thanks.
Comment added: 11:41 AM May-01
Thank you! I was checking to see if the adjusters claim that you take 80% times the cost to repair prior damage and deduct that from the Retail Value was STANDARD? Or the Standard used by this particular company? I appreciate learning that it depends and is somewhat negotiable. It would be great if a "rule of thumb" percentage or a range was included in your answer.
Comment added: 06:29 PM Mar-13
The questions itself was not answered
Comment added: 11:45 AM Nov-10
This is the best explanation of "actual cash value" that Ive found on the Web.
Comment added: 09:08 AM Sep-15
very true
Comment added: 09:43 AM Jan-28
This does not help the insured because they have no way of determining what the cash value of thier vehicle is worth compared to the insurance companys. The question explains how the insurance companies come up with what they think is the cash value of the vehicle with no way of the consumer to compare with.
Comment added: 01:08 PM Nov-16
Question Details
This car insurance answer was last updated 9:10 AM Jun-11.
This Insurance Claims question was asked 01:53 PM April-18-2005.
Rated 5.95 out of 10 based on 22 votes.
Insurance Claims Category
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