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Total Loss Appraisals
At Auto Praise, our expert team is dedicated to guiding you through the appraisal process, ensuring your rights are protected and maximizing your claim.
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Understanding Total Loss Vehicle Criteria
In Florida, a vehicle is deemed a total loss when the cost of repairs reaches 80% its current market value. This determination can arise from accidents, theft, fire damage, flood damage, wind damage, hail damage, lightning strikes, or vandalism.
Key Factors
Insurance companies assess repair costs versus vehicle value to declare a total loss.
Who can use our service?
If you are filing a total loss claim against your own insurance, then you can invoke the appraisal clause in your policy to challenge the insurance company’s offer. This does not apply if you are fighting the offer from someone else’s insurance company that caused the damage to your vehicle.
Mastering the Art of Negotiating with Insurance Companies for Total Loss Claims
Navigating the insurance landscape during a total loss can be challenging. Our experts will negotiate for you with the insurance appointed appraiser, ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve.
Real Stories of Total Loss Success
Discover how we’ve helped clients navigate total loss appraisals. Our case studies highlight the significant impact of our expert evaluations.
Before: Insurance company valued the vehicle at $15,274
After: Actual cash value determined to be $18,953
Client saved $3,679 through our appraisal services
Florida Total Loss Appraisals: The Complete Guide to Understanding Your Options
What is a Total Loss Appraisal?
A total loss appraisal is an independent certified valuation of your vehicle’s Actual Cash Value (ACV), the fair market value of your car immediately before it was damaged in an accident. When an insurance company declares a vehicle a total loss, it means the cost to repair the vehicle is close to or exceeds the percentage of its value defined by law or company policy. In Florida, that percentage is critical to understand because if your car’s repair costs exceed 80 percent of its pre loss value, it can legally be deemed a total loss under Florida Statute §319.30(3)(a). At Auto Praise, we perform certified total loss appraisals that protect vehicle owners from undervaluation. Our reports are USPAP compliant, supported by market data, and prepared by experts who understand collision damage, vehicle construction, and insurance valuation standards.
The 80 Percent Total Loss Threshold in Florida
Florida law defines a total loss when the cost to repair the vehicle equals or exceeds 80 percent of its Actual Cash Value before the loss. Example: If your vehicle was worth 20,000 dollars before the accident and the repair estimate is 16,000 dollars or higher, it is legally considered a total loss. However, insurance companies often total vehicles before reaching that 80 percent mark. Here is why.
Why Insurance Companies Often Total Vehicles at 65 to 70 Percent of ACV
Insurance companies understand that repair estimates written at 65 to 70 percent of the vehicle’s value rarely reflect the true cost of repairs once work begins. When a body shop disassembles the vehicle, additional hidden damage is almost always discovered, including structural issues, bent suspension components, or internal frame misalignment that was not visible during the initial inspection. In addition: Labor times and rates may increase depending on the shop’s location and workload. Parts availability and pricing can change. Original equipment parts may be required if aftermarket components are not available or do not fit properly. Supplemental estimates are almost always added once repairs begin. These factors can easily push the repair costs beyond the 80 percent threshold, which is why insurers often choose to total vehicles once the estimate approaches 65 to 70 percent.
Understanding the Appraisal Clause
The appraisal clause is a standard provision found in most auto insurance policies that allows either the insurer or the policyholder to dispute the value of a total loss settlement. This clause gives both parties the right to hire independent appraisers to determine the vehicle’s fair market value when there is a disagreement. You will typically find this section under headings such as: Right to Appraisal, Appraisal Provision, or Dispute Resolution. It ensures that vehicle owners are not forced to accept an insurer’s valuation without the opportunity for an independent review.
Invoking the Appraisal Clause in Florida
Learn how to use the appraisal clause process to challenge a total loss valuation and protect your rights as a policyholder.
Learn how to use the appraisal clause process to challenge a total loss valuation and protect your rights as a policyholder.