Insurance Claim Disputes
They lowballed the claim. Don't cash that check. Your policy has an appraisal clause — we invoke it, build your value file, and serve as your independent appraiser. All 50 states.
When your insurer's offer doesn't match what your vehicle is actually worth, you have rights — and a process. We step in as your independent appraiser under the policy's appraisal clause, build the documented value file the adjuster has to answer, and fight for the number your vehicle deserves.
We confirm the clause is in your policy and walk you through exactly how to invoke it — in writing, before you sign anything.
Comparable sales, condition documentation, options, provenance, and market data — assembled into a certified appraisal the carrier must respond to.
Under the clause, you appoint us. The carrier appoints theirs. If the two appraisers disagree, a neutral umpire decides. You never negotiate alone.
If your vehicle was repaired after an accident, you may be owed additional compensation for the permanent loss in market value — even after a perfect repair.
Numbers beat adjectives. Here's what the appraisal clause actually moved.
1970 Chevelle SS 454
Major national carrier
Resolved in 4 weeks
1967 Ford Mustang Fastback
Agreed-value policy
Resolved in 3 weeks
1969 Camaro Z/28
Regional farm bureau
Resolved in 5 weeks
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
Specialty collector carrier
Resolved in 3 weeks
1972 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead
Major national carrier
Resolved in 2 weeks
2025 Cadillac Escalade CT5-V
Major national carrier
Resolved in 4 weeks
Every case below is anonymized and real. Carrier names are withheld per standard practice. Numbers are not rounded.
All figures are actual settlement amounts. Vehicle details and carrier names are anonymized to protect client privacy.
September 2026
Texas
Client was purchasing out-of-state and needed a pre-purchase inspection before wiring funds. Carrier had issued a preliminary agreed-value quote that didn't reflect the truck's documented restoration. After our certified appraisal was submitted, the agreed value was revised upward before the policy was even bound.
Appraised value
$38,500
August 2026
Kentucky
Owner needed a certified appraisal to satisfy a bank refinance. The lender's internal valuation came in $9,200 below what comparables supported. Our report — prepared in substantial conformity with USPAP — was accepted by the lender and the refi closed at the correct loan-to-value ratio.
Appraised value
$24,750
July 2026
Ohio
Total loss claim after a garage fire. Carrier's adjuster used generic CPI-adjusted book values and ignored the documented numbers-matching drivetrain. Client called us before endorsing the check. We invoked the appraisal clause, submitted a certified value file with 14 comparable sales, and the umpire sided with our figure.
Carrier offer
$78,500
Settled at
$120,000
Resolved in
5 weeks
June 2026
Tennessee
Agreed-value policy dispute following a collision total loss. Carrier argued the agreed value was set too high at policy inception and attempted to renegotiate at claim time — a tactic we see regularly. We documented the original appraisal basis, confirmed the agreed value was properly supported, and the carrier paid the full policy limit.
Carrier offer
$58,000
Settled at
$85,000
Resolved in
3 weeks
May 2026
Indiana
Hail damage claim where the carrier declared a total loss at $72,000 — well below market for a documented SS 454 with matching numbers. Client had not yet signed the release. We built a 22-comparable sales file and served as independent appraiser. The umpire process was not needed; the carrier revised their offer after reviewing our certified report.
Carrier offer
$72,000
Settled at
$105,000
Resolved in
4 weeks
April 2026
Virginia
Estate appraisal for probate. The estate included a barn-find GTO that had been in the family for decades. The executor needed a defensible fair market value for the estate filing. Our certified appraisal documented condition, provenance, and comparable sales — accepted by the probate court without challenge.
Appraised value
$31,000
September 2026
Nationwide
Total loss claim on a low-mileage 2025 CT5-V. The carrier applied standard depreciation tables that failed to account for the vehicle's documented options package, dealer-installed accessories, and current market scarcity. Client contacted us before signing the release. We submitted a certified value file with 11 comparable retail sales and invoked the appraisal clause. The carrier revised their offer without requiring an umpire.
Carrier offer
$145,000
Settled at
$199,000
Resolved in
4 weeks
Facing a similar situation? Call before you sign anything.
(270) 790-7534It's a provision in most auto insurance policies that lets either party demand an independent appraisal when there's a dispute over value. You appoint your appraiser. The carrier appoints theirs. If they disagree, a neutral umpire decides. Most carriers hope you never know it exists.
Any time the carrier's offer doesn't match what your vehicle is actually worth — especially on agreed-value policies, classic and collector vehicles, modified vehicles, or any car with documented provenance. Don't wait. Invoke it before you sign anything.
You pay for your appraiser. The carrier pays for theirs. If an umpire is needed, that cost is split. Call us and we'll tell you honestly whether it's worth invoking for your specific situation — no charge for the conversation.
Once you endorse the settlement check, the claim is typically closed and the clause can no longer be invoked. This is why the most important step is calling before you accept anything.
Once you cash the check, the claim is closed. A five-minute call costs nothing. We'll tell you honestly whether the appraisal clause is worth invoking — and what it's likely to move.
Available 7 days a week. Text or call anytime.