“Fair market value” is the estimated price a vehicle would sell for in the open market between a willing buyer and seller who both have reasonable knowledge of the facts. In auto insurance, fair market value may help determine the payout when a vehicle is declared a total loss.
How is fair market value used in auto insurance?
When a vehicle is damaged in a covered accident and repair costs exceed its value or a state’s total loss threshold, an insurer may declare it a total loss. The insurer may then pay the car’s fair market value at the time of the loss, minus the applicable deductible. This amount may differ from the vehicle’s original purchase price or the balance remaining on a loan.
Drivers wondering how fair market value is determined for a totaled car should consider the vehicle’s age, mileage, condition, make, model and optional equipment. According to the Insurance Information Institute, insurers may use valuation sources and market data to estimate a vehicle’s current value. Comparable vehicles available in the local market may also influence a car fair market value calculation.
What if a driver disagrees with the valuation?
If a driver believes the insurer’s total loss fair market value estimate is too low, they may be able to submit documentation supporting a different amount. Evidence could include maintenance records, receipts for upgrades, comparable vehicle listings or an independent appraisal.
Some policies include an appraisal clause that describes how valuation disputes may be handled. Drivers should review their policy and ask the insurer what documentation it accepts.
Fair market value versus actual cash value
Fair market value and actual cash value are closely related terms and may be used similarly in some insurance valuation discussions. Their precise meanings can vary by policy or state. In general, both reflect a vehicle’s depreciated value immediately before a covered loss rather than its original price.
To learn more about the total loss process, read what happens if your car is totaled in the Infinity Insurance Agency, Inc. (IIA) Knowledge Center.
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Your vehicle’s value may change over time, and your insurance needs can change with it. IIA works with more than 20 insurance carriers, giving you an opportunity to compare coverage, prices and flexible payment options in one place. Spanish-bilingual agents are available to help you explore policies from carriers that may accept alternative forms of identification, such as a matrícula consular or foreign driver’s license, depending on the carrier and state.
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