Appraisal Clause Demand Letter (Template)
Use this letter to formally invoke your auto policy's appraisal clause. Most US auto policies include an appraisal clause that lets you and the insurer each select an appraiser; the two appraisers then select a neutral umpire whose valuation is binding on both sides.
When to use this template
Send after you have already submitted a documented counter-valuation that the insurer rejected without itemized justification. Sending too early can be seen as bad-faith negotiation; sending after a documented stalemate is your strongest leverage.
The interactive form below is the same playbook we run for clients — given away free. If you'd rather we just do it (counter-valuation, letters, negotiation), our service is $199 for the valuation report plus $149/hour for research and negotiation, capped at 2 hours. Our clients average $3,260 in additional settlement value, and we only proceed when we believe we can secure at least $1,000 more — no charge upfront, and if we agree to be your appraiser and can't deliver that minimum, you pay nothing.
What this involves, honestly
This is the appraisal-clause demand letter that works. We use the same letter structure when we serve as the policyholder's appraiser. Sending one starts a 30-90 day binding appraisal process; cases that go through it historically settle 20-40% above the initial offer when there's a defensible counter-valuation behind the number. Two of the fields below are genuinely hard work; they're flagged.
Fill it in
Saved automatically as you type. The preview below updates live. A couple of these fields are genuinely hard work — we've flagged them with what's actually involved.
[YOUR FULL NAME]Your full legal name as it appears on the policy.
[YOUR ADDRESS]Your mailing address (street, city, state, ZIP).
[YOUR EMAIL]An email you check regularly.
[YOUR PHONE]Best phone number for the carrier to reach you.
[POLICY NUMBER]Your auto policy number.
[CLAIM NUMBER]The claim number assigned by the insurer.
[DATE OF LOSS]Date the vehicle was damaged or totaled (MM/DD/YYYY).
[YEAR / MAKE / MODEL / TRIM]Vehicle year, make, model, and trim (e.g. 2020 Toyota Camry XLE).
[VIN]17-character VIN of the totaled vehicle.
[INSURER NAME]Insurer's legal name (e.g. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company).
[INSURER ADDRESS]Mailing address for the claim. Use the address shown on the offer letter.
[INSURER OFFER AMOUNT]The most recent dollar amount the insurer offered.
[YOUR COUNTER OFFER AMOUNT]Hard• 5-10 hours of researchThe amount you believe is fair, supported by your counter-valuation.
Defending a number at appraisal means 5+ comparable listings within ~100 miles, each normalized for trim, options, mileage, and condition, plus a line-by-line rebuttal of the carrier's adjustments. It is hours of careful work — doable, but not quick.
[YOUR APPRAISER NAME]Hard• Same-day if you retain SecondAppraisal; 1-3 days if you're sourcing your ownThe competent and disinterested appraiser you have selected. Leave blank if you have not yet retained one.
The policy requires a competent, disinterested appraiser. Most policyholders don't have one in their network. Sourcing one yourself usually means contacting two or three independent appraisers, checking references, and confirming availability — that's where the 1-3 days comes from. If you'd rather skip that step, retaining SecondAppraisal is same-day; you can drop our name into this field as soon as you decide.
[TODAY'S DATE]Date you are sending this letter (MM/DD/YYYY).
Live preview
Loading…Anything still wrapped in [BRACKETS] you haven't filled in yet — that's how you can spot what's left.
[YOUR FULL NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]
Email: [YOUR EMAIL]
Phone: [YOUR PHONE]
[TODAY'S DATE]
[INSURER NAME]
[INSURER ADDRESS]
Re: Demand for Appraisal — Policy [POLICY NUMBER], Claim [CLAIM NUMBER]
Vehicle: [YEAR / MAKE / MODEL / TRIM] (VIN [VIN])
Date of loss: [DATE OF LOSS]
To Whom It May Concern,
Pursuant to the appraisal provision of the policy referenced above, I hereby
formally demand that the question of the actual cash value of the vehicle
described above be submitted to appraisal in accordance with the policy.
I have reviewed your most recent offer of $[INSURER OFFER AMOUNT] and the
supporting valuation report. After conducting my own analysis of comparable
vehicles in my local market and verifying the per-line adjustments in the
report you provided, I have determined that the fair actual cash value of
the vehicle is $[YOUR COUNTER OFFER AMOUNT]. We have been unable to reach
agreement at the adjuster level, and the policy's appraisal process is the
appropriate mechanism to resolve this disagreement.
I have selected [YOUR APPRAISER NAME] as my competent and disinterested
appraiser pursuant to the policy. Please provide me, in writing and within
the time period specified by the policy, the name and contact information
of your selected appraiser so that the two appraisers may proceed to select
a neutral umpire as the policy contemplates.
Please confirm in writing within ten (10) business days that you have
received this demand and will participate in the appraisal as required by
the policy. Your refusal or unreasonable delay would constitute a breach
of the policy and may give rise to bad-faith claims under applicable state
law.
I look forward to a fair and timely resolution.
Sincerely,
[YOUR FULL NAME]
Policyholder
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What would you like help with?
Made it through? You're set — send it. Stuck on a flagged field? You can hand it off and we'll take it from there.