Have you ever read through your entire auto insurance policy? No? Well join the club, most of us haven’t. The idea of reading through countless pages of insurance jargon is enough to put anyone to sleep. Today I am here to tell you about one section you may want to be privy to though. It is known as the Appraisal Clause. Here is the definition of the Appraisal Clause taken from the policy I have on my 1970 Chevrolet 3 Door Suburban and my 2014 Silverado, both of which I consider to be my “daily” drivers. This was found in PART D – COVERAGE FOR DAMAGE, section of my policy:
APPRAISAL CLAUSE A. If we and you do not agree on the amount of loss, either may request an appraisal of the loss. Both parties must agree to the appraisal. Upon notice of request for an appraisal, the opposing party may, prior to appraisal, request mediation of the dispute in accordance with the Mediation provision. The mediation must be completed before a request for appraisal can be made.
B. In the event of an appraisal, each party will select a competent and impartial appraiser. The two appraisers will select an umpire. The appraisers will state separately the actual cash value and the amount of loss. If they fail to agree, they will submit their differences to the umpire. A decision agreed to by any two will be binding. Each party will: 1. Pay its chosen appraiser; and 2. Bear the expenses of the appraisal and umpire equally
C. We do not waive any of our rights under this policy by agreeing to an appraisal.
In June of 2022, CFL Auto Appraise put over $140,000 back into the pockets of Vehicle Owners that exercised their Appraisal Clause right. Don’t be bullied by the insurance company, it is your right to have a 3rd party appraiser assess the value on your behalf.
Where can you get more information on a Prior to Loss/Total Loss Appraisal? Contact Us for a FREE Consult.
Written by:
Jim Berger –
Licensed Independent Adjuster & Appraiser
Florida License #W694344
Certified Auto Appraiser
ASCAA #10952837
