10/09/2026
Your insurance company says your totaled car is worth $38,000.
But what if it was actually worth $45,000?
Here’s what a lot of people don’t realize: you don’t necessarily have to assume the insurance company’s first valuation is the final number.
Start by looking at HOW they valued your vehicle.
What comparable cars did they use? Did they get the mileage right? The trim level? Options? Condition? Upgrades?
If you believe your vehicle has been undervalued, an independent appraiser may be able to provide another opinion of its pre-loss value. And depending on your insurance policy, there may also be an appraisal provision or another process for disputing the valuation.
So before you accept the settlement because you assume you have no other option, review the valuation report and check your policy.
That $38,000 offer may—or may not—accurately reflect what your car was worth.
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