Valuation review
Use the parts that fit your situation. Safety, medical care and official instructions take priority over completing the list.
- Request the complete written valuation and settlement breakdown
- Check VIN, year, trim, options, mileage and prior condition
- Review each comparable vehicle and adjustment
- Document recent major maintenance or upgrades without assuming reimbursement
- Confirm salvage, title and vehicle-release instructions
- Request correction of factual input errors in writing
Total-loss file
Keep original records together and use copies when you need to annotate, share or sort them.
- Valuation report and settlement letters
- Pre-crash and post-crash vehicle photos
- Registration, purchase and loan or lease records
- Maintenance and option documentation
- Comparable vehicle listings with capture dates
- Tow, storage, rental and replacement records
Why this matters
California's insurance regulator publishes total-loss and automobile-claim guidance. Confirm each proposed amount against the written policy and insurer explanation.