Accidents are a reality of driving in Indiana, which is why carrying proper insurance coverage is essential. However, unless your policy includes an Agreed Value provision, the amount you receive for a total loss is determined by the insurance company. So how do insurers calculate the value of your vehicle?
Telephone consultations are always free of charge.
Most major insurers rely on third-party valuation services such as CCC, Carfax, Autosource, or Mitchell. These platforms compile details about your vehicle—year, make, model, mileage, engine type, and options—while also allowing the appraiser to make adjustments for mileage, condition, prior damage, and equipment. The final valuation is largely based on comparable vehicle sales and auction data.
However, the selection of comparable vehicles is not always objective. In many cases, the chosen comparables may not accurately reflect your vehicle. For example, appraisers may use vehicles with significantly higher mileage and apply broad adjustments, which can undervalue a well-maintained, low-mileage car. Limiting the geographic search area can also reduce the number of relevant comparables, further skewing results. Additionally, using dissimilar vehicles—or failing to account for specialty vehicles like diesel trucks that often retain higher value—can lead to an inaccurate assessment.
Total Loss Valuation Disputes in Indiana
When faced with a low settlement offer, Indiana vehicle owners have several options. You can accept the insurer’s valuation, or you can hire an independent appraiser to produce a fair, well-supported appraisal that reflects your vehicle’s true pre-accident value. Before hiring, it’s important to research the firm carefully. Look for unbiased professionals with strong reputations, and avoid companies that also perform significant work for insurance carriers, as conflicts of interest can impact the outcome.
Many policies include an Appraisal Clause, which allows both parties to resolve disputes through a structured process. Each side selects an appraiser, and those appraisers attempt to reach an agreement. Often, a compromise is reached somewhere between the two valuations. If no agreement is possible, an umpire may be selected—either mutually or by a local magistrate—to help resolve the dispute. While this adds cost, it can help move the process forward. In some cases, policyholders may still choose to pursue litigation.
It’s also important to understand the broader context: insurance companies are businesses focused on managing payouts. Keeping this in mind can help you better evaluate any settlement offer you receive.
Additional fees may apply for professional representation during Appraisal Clause negotiations, as well as a shared portion of any umpire fee if one is required. On average, only a small percentage of cases proceed to the umpire stage.
Please email the insurance company CCC or other work sheet to contact@stlucieappraisal.net
Brett S (Indiana)-I am an independent insurance agency operator who had a client’s high-end vehicle stolen and recovered with roughly $20,000 in damage to the vehicle. The insurance company offered roughly $26,000 to buy the vehicle in a total loss scenario… Due to the mileage and customization to the vehicle, we found their offer to be significantly below the current value of the vehicle… We provided Kelly Blue Book, JD Power, Car Dealership and Cars.Com estimates on the vehicle showing nearly 40% difference in the offer and what our numbers were supporting. The insurance company however would not accept any of those items as a credible source.
We reached out to Franklin Colletta and St. Lucie Appraisals to assist our agency in providing an acceptable valuation and appraisal of the vehicle in question. Frank was able to find 3 other similar vehicles recent sales history as well as other supporting documents, that allowed our client to recover over $42,000 through arbitration, delivering over $16,000 in direct recovery value to our insured.
I would have no hesitation in recommending Frank Colletta and his team at St Lucie Appraisals, and will continue to use his services as these situations present themselves. Our agency offers a sincere thank you to Frank and his team for their support and results.
Sincerely,
Brett Slama, DeMulling and Slama Insurance
Service in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend, Carmel, Fishers, Bloomington, Hammond, Gary, Lafayette, Muncie, Terre Haute, Kokomo, Noblesville, Anderson, Greenwood, Elkhart and throughout Indiana
Adams, Allen, Bartholomew, Benton, Blackford, Boone, Brown, Carroll, Cass, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Crawford, Daviess, Dearborn, Decatur, De Kalb, Delaware, Dubois, Elkhart, Fayette, Floyd, Fountain, Franklin, Fulton, Gibson, Grant, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Harrison, Hendricks, Henry, Howard, Huntington, Jackson, Jasper, Jay, Jefferson, Jennings, Johnson,Knox, Kosciusko, La Porte, Lagrange, Lake, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Martin, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, Noble, Ohio, Orange, Owen, Parke, Perry, Pike, Porter, Posey, Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph, Ripley, Rush, St.Joseph, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, Starke, Steuben, Sullivan, Switzerland, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Union, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, Wabash, Warren, Warrick, Washington, Wayne, Wells, White and Whitley Counties