When You Need An Independent Appraisal

When You Need an Independent Car Appraisal

I hope I don’t shock you when I tell you this, but somebody needs to say it: your car insurance company isn’t necessarily on your side after a car accident. In most cases, the insurance company’s goal is to pay you the least amount of money they can get away with—unless you prove that they owe you more. This is especially common in cases involving diminished value and total loss claims.

Diminished Value

Diminished value is what happens after a car has been in some type of accident. Your vehicle loses a certain amount of value after a wreck that can’t be recovered, even after repairs are made. If you were not at fault in the accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance company owes you the diminished value amount in addition to the cost of repairs.

The adjuster for the insurance company will typically use the 17c formula to determine this amount. The formula starts with your vehicle’s pre-accident value, often pulled from sources like KBB.com. If your car is newer, completely stock, and there are plenty of comparable vehicles on the market, the diminished value calculation might be straightforward. Still, it’s a good idea to verify those numbers—do your own research to make sure the values used actually reflect your vehicle.

Things get a little trickier, however, with vehicles that have custom work, aftermarket add-ons, luxury trim levels, or are classic or collector cars, because KBB and other generic valuation tools can't account for special features, upgrades, or vehicles over 20 years old. In these cases, there's a good chance you’ll disagree with what the adjuster says your vehicle was worth before the accident.

What Can You Do in Cases Like This?

The good news? You don’t have to accept the insurance company’s word for it. You have the right to invoke the appraisal clause in your policy. This allows you to hire an independent auto appraiser to assess the true value of your vehicle.

While your insurance company may offer to send out one of their appraisers, that’s not always in your best interest. Choosing a third-party appraiser—someone unaffiliated with the insurance company—helps ensure a fair, unbiased valuation.

Total Loss

If your vehicle is declared a total loss and the insurance settlement seems low, you can challenge the offer. This also requires hiring an independent, qualified auto appraiser to determine the actual cash value (ACV) of your vehicle before the accident occurred.

When a car has been customized or is part of a collector market, those unique features must be factored into its value—something insurance companies often overlook.

Finding a Qualified Auto Appraiser

Since this probably isn’t something you do every day, here’s what to look for when choosing a qualified auto appraiser:

• Local – Familiar with your market
• Experienced – Especially with classic, custom, or rare vehicles
• Independent – Not affiliated with any insurance company
• Certified – Ensures professional standards are met
• Responsive – Communicates clearly and promptly

Let Auto Appraisal Network of Cincinnati Help

Auto Appraisal Network of Cincinnati is your local, independent auto appraisal expert. We specialize in diminished value and total loss claims, and we know how to document what truly matters—from custom upgrades to market-specific comps. Our appraisal reports are certified, professionally bound, and tailored to give you the strongest foundation to challenge an unfair settlement.

Don’t leave money on the table. Contact Auto Appraisal Network of Cincinnati to schedule your independent appraisal today and get the compensation you actually deserve.

Auto Appraisal Network - Cincinnati specializes in appraisals for classic, custom and collector vehicles, including cars, trucks, SUV's, motorcycles, boats and personal watercraft.  We do appraisals for insurance policies and claims, such as diminished value and total loss, probate, bankruptcy, divorce, financing, fair market value and pre-purchase inspections. 

Our appraisals are certified and accepted by the legal system, insurance companies and financial institutions. When you need an accurate, fair assessment of the value of your ride, you need Auto Appraisal Network - Cincinnati. Call (513) 957-4080 to schedule your appraisal today.