RIGHT TO APPRAISAL
When You and Your Insurer Can't Agree, the Appraisal Clause Breaks the Tie
If your auto policy contains an appraisal clause, you can force a formal valuation process when you and your carrier cannot agree on the amount of loss — no attorney, no courtroom. Before you invoke anything, talk to us first. The appraisal process has real costs, real rules, and real consequences, and we want you going in with your eyes open.
WHAT IT IS
What Is the Right to Appraisal?
The appraisal clause is a provision written into most traditional first-party auto insurance policies. When you and your carrier cannot agree on the amount of a covered loss — whether that is the cost to repair, the ACV of a total loss, first-party diminished value, or post-repair condition — either side can invoke the clause in writing. Once invoked, the process is contractually binding on both parties.
It Is Contractual, Not Legal
The appraisal clause is a remedy built into your insurance contract. It is not a lawsuit. You do not need an attorney to invoke it, and it does not require going to court. The process is handled privately between appraisers.
First-Party Only
The appraisal clause applies only to claims against your own policy. It does not apply when you are pursuing the at-fault driver's insurance, because there is no contract between you and their carrier.
Not in Every Policy
Some carriers have quietly removed the appraisal clause from newer policy forms. Before anyone invokes it, we always confirm that the clause is present in your specific declarations page and policy language.
INDEPENDENT & UNBIASED
We Work the Facts — Whichever Side Hires Us
Most of our appraisal work is for vehicle owners and the shops that serve them — because that is where the imbalance usually lives. But the appraisal clause is a two-way street, and so are we. If an insurance company retains us as their appointed appraiser, we take that assignment just as seriously and reach our conclusion the same way: with real data and defensible methodology. Our job is to be right, not to be loyal. Facts are facts.
Defensible Methodology
Every appraisal we produce is USPAP-compliant, market-based, and documented so it can withstand review by the other side's appraiser or an umpire. We build the case to the same standard no matter who retained us.
No Predetermined Numbers
We don't anchor to a target figure. We pull real comparables, verify options and condition, and let the data drive the number. If the number supports the party who hired us, great. If it doesn't, we say so.
Carrier Assignments Welcome
Insurance companies, independent adjusters, and claims departments can retain us as their appraiser or for a second-opinion valuation. Reach out through the consultation link and we will walk through scope and engagement.
THE PROCESS
How the Appraisal Process Works
Structured. Binding. Designed to resolve valuation disputes without litigation.
You Invoke the Clause in Writing
Once we review your policy and confirm the clause is present, you invoke it in writing to your carrier. The carrier is then contractually required to participate in the process.
Each Side Appoints an Appraiser
You're required to hire your own appraiser — that's where we come in. The carrier appoints theirs. The two appraisers then confer and attempt to agree on the amount of loss based on the facts and market data.
Umpire Decides Any Disagreement
If the two appraisers cannot agree, they jointly select an umpire. The umpire reviews the evidence and makes a binding decision. The final award is enforceable as a matter of contract.
WHEN TO USE IT
When the Appraisal Clause Is the Right Tool
The clause resolves disputes about the amount of loss — not coverage disputes.
- Total loss ACV disagreement. Your carrier offered a settlement amount you believe is well below market value.
- Repair cost disputes. Your shop and your carrier cannot agree on the cost to restore the vehicle to pre-loss condition, including not-included operations and OEM procedures.
- First-party diminished value. Where state law and policy language permit, the appraisal clause can be used to establish first-party DV recovery.
- Post-repair condition disputes. When a carrier insists repairs are complete but the vehicle was not restored to pre-loss condition.
- Supplement denials. When the carrier refuses to approve legitimate supplement items that a proper repair requires.
BEFORE WE ENGAGE
What You Should Know Before Invoking the Clause
We want every client to go into the appraisal process with clear expectations. Here's how we work — and what we need from you up front.
Start With a Consultation
Unless you've already been advised by us or by another qualified appraiser or attorney, your first step should be a free consultation. We'll review your situation, flag risks, and tell you honestly whether the appraisal clause is the right path for your claim.
We Need Your Full Policy
To move forward with an RTA, we need a complete copy of your insurance policy — not just the declarations page. Policy language varies carrier to carrier, and the specific wording of the clause controls what is and isn't possible.
No Guaranteed Outcomes
The appraisal clause is a process, not a verdict. We bring strong methodology, real data, and experienced advocacy — but we cannot guarantee a specific outcome. Any appraiser or attorney who promises you a number up front is not being honest with you.
If We Can't Agree, It Goes to Umpire
When our appraiser and the other party's appraiser can't reach agreement, the dispute is referred to a neutral umpire. Umpires charge additional fees (typically split between the parties), and the final award is based on whatever the umpire determines from the facts presented. That decision is binding.
Fees & Cost Structure
Standard policy language says each side pays its own appraiser, and the umpire's fee is split. We quote flat-fee pricing for our appraiser role and give you a realistic range on umpire costs before anything is invoked. If you already purchased the $99.95 Total Loss Lite Appraisal, that cost is credited toward your RTA fees.
We Tell You If It's Not Worth It
Sometimes the gap isn't big enough to justify the cost. Sometimes your policy doesn't support the strategy. If that's what the facts show, we'll tell you before you spend a dollar. An honest "no" protects you better than a hopeful "maybe."
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
We strongly recommend it. Unless you've already consulted with a qualified appraiser or attorney about your specific situation, starting with a free consultation protects you. The appraisal clause has real costs and real rules, and we'd rather tell you up front whether it's the right tool for your claim than watch you spend money invoking something that won't help.
Because the language of the appraisal clause controls everything. Different carriers write it differently — who can invoke it, what kinds of disputes it covers, how fees are allocated, what happens if one side refuses to participate. Your declarations page alone does not include that language. Before we engage on an RTA, we need the complete policy booklet so we can tell you exactly what your clause allows.
No — and anyone who tells you they can is not being honest. The appraisal clause is a process, not a verdict. We bring strong methodology, real comparables, and experienced advocacy, and we believe in the work. But the final number depends on the facts, the other appraiser, and (if it reaches that stage) the umpire's judgment. What we can promise is that we'll give you an honest assessment of your odds before you engage us.
If our appraiser and the other party's appraiser can't reach agreement, they jointly select a neutral umpire. The umpire reviews the evidence both sides put forward and issues a binding decision on the amount of loss. Umpires charge their own fees — typically split between the parties — and the outcome is whatever the umpire determines is supported by the facts presented. It is not a second chance to argue; it is a final, binding decision.
Standard policy language says each party pays its own appraiser, and the umpire's fee is split 50/50 between you and the carrier. Our flat-fee pricing covers the appraiser role. Umpire costs vary by market and complexity — we give you a realistic range before anything is invoked so you can decide whether the math makes sense for your situation.
No. Most of our work is for vehicle owners and the shops that serve them, but we take appraisal assignments from insurance companies, independent adjusters, and claims departments as well. Our job is to work the facts. Whoever hires us gets the same defensible, market-based methodology — we don't bend a number because of who signed the engagement.
Read your full policy booklet — the clause is usually found under "Loss Settlement" or "How We Settle a Loss." Many traditional carriers still include it; several newer direct-to-consumer carriers have quietly removed it from their current forms. If you are not sure, send us a copy of your policy during your consultation and we will tell you before you engage us.
Most appraisal matters resolve in 30–90 days from invocation to award. Straightforward cases move faster; complex ones with disputed comparables or condition questions can take longer, especially if the dispute reaches an umpire. We keep you updated at every stage.
In most states, yes. The appraisal award is binding on both parties as to the amount of loss. Courts generally enforce appraisal awards unless one side can show fraud, corruption, or a clear departure from the scope of the clause. That finality is the entire point — it puts an end to the valuation dispute without litigation.