Total-Loss Guides
Ten guides covering how U.S. insurers value a totaled vehicle, how to check the valuation report, state threshold laws, GAP insurance, and how to dispute it factually — each cites its sources and says plainly what it can't tell you.
How Insurers Value a Total-Loss Vehicle
Total-loss thresholds, ACV, and how comparable vehicles build a valuation.
How to Read Your Total-Loss Valuation Report
The sections in a typical CCC/Mitchell/Audatex-style report, explained.
Finding Your Own Comparable Vehicles
How to search well and what makes a comp strong or weak.
Common Valuation Report Errors to Check For
Vehicle-description, comp-selection, and adjustment mistakes to watch for.
ACV vs. Replacement Cost vs. Loan Payoff vs. Asking Price
Four different numbers people often confuse as one.
Sales Tax, Title, and Fees on a Total-Loss Settlement
Whether tax/fee reimbursement applies, and the common process.
Owner-Retained Total Loss & Salvage Titles
How the salvage-value deduction and title branding work.
How to Dispute a Total-Loss Valuation Factually
A step-by-step, evidence-based dispute process.
State Total-Loss Threshold Laws Explained
The two methods states use, and a full state-by-state comparison.
GAP Insurance After a Total Loss Explained
What GAP covers and doesn't when you owe more than the payout.