Your Vehicle's
Value?

The Complimentary Assessment is a no-cost preliminary review of your carrier's total loss valuation report. IAS analyzes the report and delivers a clear finding — Green, Yellow, or Red — with a plain-language explanation of what it means for your settlement. No account required. No obligation.

You will need to upload your carrier's valuation report and settlement offer letter, along with your basic contact information. The more documentation you can provide, the more accurate our preliminary review will be.

Standard passenger vehicle assessments are typically completed within 1 business day after your submission has been verified. Specialty and commercial vehicles may require additional time depending on complexity.

Green — Your carrier's valuation appears reasonable based on IAS's preliminary review. No further action is recommended at this time.

Yellow — Concerns have been identified. The settlement may warrant further review before you make a final decision.

Red — Significant valuation concerns have been identified. Additional review is strongly recommended before accepting the settlement offer.

No. The Complimentary Assessment is a preliminary review designed to identify whether valuation concerns may exist. An IAS ACV opinion is provided beginning with the Executive Settlement Summary service.

Complimentary Assessments are available for standard passenger vehicles, light trucks, SUVs, and vans. Commercial vehicles, heavy equipment, specialty vehicles, exotic vehicles, and other non-standard assignments are subject to review and may require a custom quote before analysis begins.

Certain vehicle types require additional research, market expertise, and analysis time that exceeds the scope of a standard complimentary review. In these cases, IAS will contact you with a custom quote before proceeding.

Your assessment result reflects IAS's preliminary findings based on the documentation provided. If you believe additional review is warranted, the Executive Settlement Summary provides a more detailed IAS opinion and findings. A complimentary consultation is included with all paid services.

The Executive Settlement Summary is a paid professional written assessment that provides a clear IAS opinion on your total loss settlement. It is designed to help you determine whether your carrier's offer appears reasonable and whether pursuing a formal dispute may be economically worthwhile.

Independent ACV Opinion, Estimated ACV Range, Estimated Gap Range, Executive Findings Summary, General Interpretation of Major Findings, Option Audit Review, and a Complimentary Consultation.

Yes. The Executive Settlement Summary includes an Independent ACV Opinion based on IAS's preliminary market analysis.

Yes. The Executive Settlement Summary includes an estimated gap range to help you understand the potential difference between your carrier's offer and IAS's assessed value.

The Executive Settlement Summary is a decision-support document and does not include a formal comparable vehicle analysis. Comparable vehicle analysis is provided as part of the Independent Valuation Analysis.

The Executive Settlement Summary is designed as a decision-support document, not a carrier submission package. If you wish to formally present an independent valuation to your carrier, the Independent Valuation Analysis or Full Engagement services are designed for that purpose.

Yes. The amount paid for the Executive Settlement Summary is fully credited toward the Independent Valuation Analysis or Full Engagement if you choose to upgrade.

The Executive Settlement Summary provides an IAS opinion and findings at a summary level. The IVA adds professional supporting documentation, comparable vehicle analysis, and a defensible methodology designed for carrier submission and formal dispute purposes.

The Independent Valuation Analysis is a comprehensive professional valuation report documenting IAS's independent opinion of your vehicle's Actual Cash Value. It is designed to support a formal dispute of your carrier's total loss settlement offer.

Professional ACV Opinion, Supporting Documentation, Defensible Methodology, Comparable Vehicle Analysis, and a Complimentary Consultation.

The IVA provides the full supporting documentation, comparable vehicle analysis, and defensible methodology that the Executive Settlement Summary does not include. While the Executive Settlement Summary helps you decide whether to pursue a dispute, the IVA provides the documented foundation to support one.

Yes. The IVA includes a comparable vehicle analysis as part of the documented valuation methodology.

Yes. The IVA documents the methodology used to arrive at the IAS ACV opinion, including relevant market adjustments.

Yes. The IVA is designed to support a formal total loss valuation dispute. However, IAS does not provide legal advice, coverage analysis, or public adjusting services. If your dispute involves legal or coverage matters, you should consult with a qualified attorney or public adjuster.

IAS Independent Valuation Analysis reports are prepared in accordance with recognized appraisal principles and industry standards for vehicle valuation.

Full Engagement includes everything in the Independent Valuation Analysis, plus direct carrier engagement, document preparation to formally engage the carrier, appraisal clause support, and loan payoff clause assistance. IAS manages the valuation dispute process on your behalf through resolution. In certain cases, IAS may request the vehicle owner's direct participation in the process when doing so is determined to be beneficial in accelerating the resolution of the file.

After engagement, IAS will review your documentation, prepare the Independent ACV Report, and initiate direct contact with your carrier's appraiser on your behalf. You will be kept informed throughout the process.

Yes. Full Engagement includes direct carrier engagement and negotiation as part of the service.

If both appraisers cannot reach an agreement, the appraisal clause in your policy may allow for the appointment of an independent umpire to resolve the dispute. IAS will advise you on appropriate next steps.

The appraisal clause is a provision found in most auto insurance policies that allows a policyholder to invoke a formal appraisal process when there is a disagreement over vehicle value. Each party selects a competent appraiser, and if agreement cannot be reached, an umpire is appointed to resolve the dispute.

The appraisal clause is typically considered when a carrier's settlement offer is significantly below the vehicle's fair market value and direct negotiation has not produced a satisfactory result. IAS will advise you on whether invoking the appraisal clause may be appropriate based on your valuation findings.

No. Umpire fees are not included in IAS service pricing. Responsibility for umpire compensation is governed by the applicable insurance policy, appraisal agreement, and any arrangements reached between the parties.

If an umpire is required, IAS will coordinate the process in accordance with your policy's appraisal provisions. Umpire fees may apply and are separate from IAS service fees.

Insurance carriers typically use proprietary valuation tools and third-party software platforms to determine a vehicle's Actual Cash Value. These tools use comparable vehicle data, condition adjustments, mileage adjustments, and regional market data to calculate a settlement offer. The accuracy of these calculations can vary.

Actual Cash Value is the fair market value of your vehicle at the time of the loss — what a willing buyer would pay a willing seller in an arm's-length transaction. ACV is the standard measure used by insurance carriers to calculate total loss settlement offers.

Carrier valuations may reflect condition adjustments, mileage adjustments, or comparable vehicles that do not accurately represent your vehicle's market value. In some cases, equipment or features may have been omitted, or the comparables selected may not be truly equivalent to your vehicle.

Condition adjustments are modifications applied to a vehicle's base value to reflect its actual physical and mechanical condition at the time of loss. These adjustments can significantly affect the final settlement offer and are one of the most common sources of valuation disputes.

Comparable vehicles are similar vehicles used as reference points to establish market value. They should be reasonably equivalent to your vehicle in year, make, model, trim, mileage, condition, and geographic market. Errors in comparable selection are a common source of valuation disputes.

Yes. Valuation reports can contain errors in condition ratings, mileage adjustments, equipment identification, and comparable selection. These errors can result in a settlement offer that is lower than your vehicle's actual market value.

If your vehicle was equipped with features or options not reflected in the carrier's valuation, this may represent a basis for dispute. IAS reviews the carrier's report for missing or incorrectly valued equipment as part of its assessment process.

If the vehicles used in your carrier's valuation are not reasonably equivalent to your vehicle, this may represent a basis for dispute. Comparable vehicle analysis is a core component of the IAS Independent Valuation Analysis.

Yes. Condition ratings have a direct impact on settlement value. If your vehicle's condition was rated lower than its actual condition at the time of loss, this may result in an undervalued settlement offer.

Yes. Mileage adjustments are applied to comparable vehicles to account for differences in odometer readings. Inaccurate mileage adjustments can distort the final settlement calculation.

On higher-mileage vehicles, carrier mileage adjustments may not accurately reflect actual market depreciation, which tends to flatten at higher odometer readings — meaning a vehicle going from 80,000 to 100,000 miles loses proportionally less value than one going from 20,000 to 40,000 miles. When a carrier applies a flat per-mile deduction without accounting for this curve, the result can be an understated vehicle value.

No. You are not required to accept the first settlement offer. If you believe your carrier's valuation does not accurately reflect your vehicle's fair market value, you have the right to request a review and, in most cases, to invoke the appraisal clause in your policy.

A carrier's stated "final offer" does not necessarily close your options. Most auto insurance policies contain an appraisal clause that provides a formal process for resolving valuation disputes. Contact IAS before signing any settlement documents.

In most cases, verbal acceptance is not binding. The document that typically closes a total loss settlement is the signed settlement offer. If you have not signed, your options may still be open. Contact IAS before signing anything.

Vehicle pickup does not constitute settlement acceptance. Carriers routinely take possession of a total loss vehicle while the settlement is still being negotiated, primarily to mitigate storage charges. If you have not signed the settlement offer, your case may still be disputable. Contact IAS before signing.

Yes. Having an outstanding loan does not prevent you from disputing the settlement value. If the settlement offer is less than the outstanding loan balance, a dispute may be particularly important to minimize the remaining deficiency. IAS provides loan payoff clause assistance as part of the Full Engagement service.

This is a legitimate concern and timing matters. For a more detailed discussion of how loan obligations may relate to your settlement situation, visit the IAS Resource Center.

This is a legitimate concern. For more information on how rental reimbursement may be affected during a total loss dispute, visit the IAS Resource Center.

If your vehicle is accruing storage charges, you should actively contact your insurance carrier and request that they take possession of the salvage vehicle as soon as possible. Do not assume the carrier is managing this on your behalf — follow up directly and document every contact attempt.

If pickup is delayed, make sure it is on record that the delay is due to carrier inaction, not yours. This distinction matters because carriers sometimes attempt to deduct storage charges from the settlement offer.

However, such deductions are generally not appropriate unless the carrier issued a formal storage mitigation letter and the vehicle owner disregarded it. If no mitigation letter was issued, a storage deduction in your settlement may be challengeable. State laws vary on this issue, so the specific rules that apply to your situation may differ depending on your location.

The Executive Settlement Summary is specifically designed to help answer this question. It provides an IAS opinion and estimated gap range to help you evaluate whether the potential recovery justifies the cost and time of a formal dispute. A complimentary consultation is included.

No. IAS provides independent vehicle valuation and appraisal services only. We do not provide legal advice of any kind. If your situation involves legal matters, please consult with a qualified attorney.

No. IAS specializes in vehicle valuation and appraisal-related matters only. We do not provide insurance coverage analysis or advice.

No. Policy coverage questions should be directed to your insurance carrier or a qualified insurance professional. IAS evaluates valuation-related matters only.

No. IAS is an independent vehicle valuation and appraisal services firm. We do not provide public adjusting services.

No. IAS does not evaluate liability matters. Liability disputes should be addressed with your carrier, attorney, or other qualified professional.

No. Rental reimbursement is a coverage matter and falls outside IAS's scope of services. For rental reimbursement questions, please contact your insurance carrier or a qualified professional.

No. GAP coverage matters fall outside IAS's scope of services. For GAP-related questions, please contact your GAP provider, insurance carrier, or lienholder directly.

IAS evaluates vehicle valuation and appraisal-related matters, including Actual Cash Value disputes, comparable vehicle analysis, condition and equipment reviews, and appraisal clause support in total loss settlement cases.

Published fees reflect typical starting prices for standard passenger vehicle assignments. Final pricing may vary depending on vehicle type, assignment complexity, specialty equipment, required research, or other factors affecting the scope of work. A final fee quote will be provided before engagement begins.

Certain assignments — including commercial vehicles, heavy equipment, specialty vehicles, exotic vehicles, and complex appraisal matters — require additional research, market expertise, and analysis time. In these cases, IAS will review your submission and provide a custom quote before proceeding.

Not automatically. Most assignments can be completed through documentation review, market research, and valuation analysis. However, some cases may require a physical vehicle inspection to verify disputed condition issues, equipment, damage, prior repairs, or other valuation-related factors. When required, inspection services are quoted separately.

Commercial vehicles are subject to review and may require a custom quote before analysis begins due to the additional complexity involved in commercial vehicle valuation.

Specialty vehicles — including exotic vehicles, custom builds, RVs, and other non-standard assignments — are subject to review and may require a custom quote before analysis begins.

IAS accepts credit cards, debit cards, ACH bank transfers, Apple Pay, PayPal, and Venmo through QuickBooks Payments. Financing options are also available through Affirm, allowing clients to pay over time in installments while IAS receives payment upfront. Affirm financing is available on eligible transactions from $50 to $20,000, subject to credit approval.

Yes. Amounts paid for any IAS analysis service are fully credited toward the next service tier if you choose to upgrade.

Standard passenger vehicle assignments are typically completed within 1 business day after your submission has been verified. Specialty vehicle assignments may require 24 to 48 business hours depending on complexity. Commercial vehicle and heavy equipment assignments are handled on a case-by-case basis. A timeline will be provided upon review of your submission.