How This Breakdown Is Built
An insurer's total-loss check rarely equals the "vehicle value" number by itself. Between the stated actual cash value (ACV) and the number that actually lands in your account, several line items can apply — some that reduce the check, and some, like a loan payoff, that redirect part of it entirely. This tool walks through them in a fixed order: ACV, plus any tax or fees the insurer added, minus your deductible (first-party claims only), giving a gross settlement. From there, if you have a loan or lease, the lienholder is generally paid first — up to the payoff amount — before anything comes to you. Any GAP coverage, salvage retention, or prior partial payment are each shown as their own line, not blended into a single mystery number.
Plain-Language Definitions
ACV (Actual Cash Value)
The insurer's estimate of what your vehicle was worth immediately before the loss — not what it would cost to buy a brand-new replacement, and not necessarily what you paid for it.
Deductible
The amount you agreed to absorb yourself under your own policy before your insurer pays out. It generally applies to first-party claims (your own insurer paying under your own coverage), not to a claim against another driver's insurer.
Lienholder
The bank, credit union, or leasing company with a legal financial interest in the vehicle because you still owe money on it. Insurers typically pay the lienholder directly, up to the loan or lease payoff amount, before releasing any remainder to you.
GAP coverage
A separate, optional coverage (often sold through a dealer or lender) meant to cover the difference when your loan balance is higher than the insurer's settlement. It is usually a separate claim to a separate provider, with its own terms and possible exclusions — this tool shows a potential shortfall, not a guaranteed GAP payout.
Owner-retained salvage
If you choose to keep the wrecked vehicle instead of surrendering it to the insurer, the insurer typically deducts an estimated salvage value from your settlement to account for the vehicle you're keeping.