Where to look
Search major used-vehicle marketplaces and dealer inventory sites for your exact year/make/model, then widen or narrow by trim as needed. Include both dealer and private-party listings if you can — the calculator lets you record which is which, since dealer prices typically run higher than private-party prices for the same vehicle.
What makes a comp strong
- Same or adjacent model year. A 2-3+ year gap is a real difference, not a rounding error.
- Similar mileage. Tens of thousands of miles apart changes value meaningfully.
- Matching trim and major options (engine, drivetrain, packages) — a base trim isn't comparable to a loaded one.
- Reasonably close geographically. Regional price differences are real; a comp from across the country is weaker evidence.
- Currently listed or very recently sold/removed. A stale listing that's been up for months may reflect an asking price nobody paid.
What makes a comp weak (but still worth noting)
A comp doesn't have to be thrown out just because it's imperfect — but its differences should be written down, not ignored. That's exactly what the calculator's comparable-quality review does: instead of guessing a dollar adjustment for a mismatch, it lists the specific difference (mileage gap, trim mismatch, distance, listing status) as a fact to raise with your adjuster.
Worked example. You find four listings for your exact trim within 50 miles, two dealer and two private-party, all within 8,000 miles of your car's mileage. That's a solid comp set. Entering all four into the Total-Loss Offer Audit calculator alongside the insurer's own comps shows both groups' mean, median, and range side by side — with at least 3 comps per group needed before the tool treats a comparison as more than "limited."
Keep a record as you go
For each listing, save: the URL, the date you checked it, the price, mileage, trim, and whether it's a dealer or private-party listing. If a listing disappears later, your saved screenshot or note is what makes the comp usable in a letter to your insurer.
What this guide cannot tell you
It can't tell you how many comps are "enough" for your specific state or insurer's process — some processes expect more, some fewer. Two or more solid comps is a reasonable starting point; three or more starts to look like a real sample rather than an outlier.