What Is the “Right to Appraisal” Clause, and When Should You Use It?

If you’ve ever been in a car accident and felt like your insurance company didn’t offer enough to cover your pre-loss repairs, you’re not alone. One clause on your insurance policy that many people don’t know about is something called the Right to Appraisal clause. It’s hidden in most insurance policies, but it can be really useful if you and your insurer can’t agree on the cost of repairing your car back to pre-loss condition. 

So what is it, exactly?

Right to Appraisal gives you the right to challenge your insurance company if you think they’re undervaluing your repair estimate.

What is it?

The Right to Appraisal is a part of your insurance policy that lets you challenge the amount your insurer is willing to pay for your car repairs (or sometimes the value of the car if it’s totaled). It’s not for arguing who’s at fault, it’s only for when you and your insurance company disagree on the cost of repairs or the value of the vehicle.

How does it work?

1. You and the insurance company each choose an independent appraiser.

2. Those two appraisers then choose a third neutral party, called an umpire.

3. The three of them review the evidence and come to a decision on the value.

4. If two out of three agree, that decision is final and binding.

   
   

When to Use It:

• Your shop’s estimate is higher than what insurance approved

• The disagreement is about the cost to restore your car to pre-loss condition

• You’ve already tried to work it out with the adjuster and hit a wall

  
  

It’s not the right move if the issue is about things like fault or coverage. Appraisal only applies to disputes over value.

If that’s the situation you’re in, you don’t have to handle it alone. Talk to your shop, they can help you understand the next steps, and whether using the Right to Appraisal is the right path forward.

Why It Matters

Most people just assume the insurance adjuster has the final say. That’s not always true. The Right to Appraisal clause puts some power back in your hands, especially if you’re working with a reputable shop that knows what proper repairs should really cost.

Talk to Your Shop First

If your insurance estimate seems too low to cover proper repairs, don’t panic, start by talking to your repair shop. Here's why:

✅ Shops Understand the Process

A trusted shop (like ours) sees this all the time. We know what repairs should really cost, and we can spot when an insurance estimate is missing key items. We can help you compare estimates and explain the gap clearly.

✅ We Can Guide You

Many customers don’t know about the Right to Appraisal clause in their policy. We’ve helped customers successfully challenge low insurance offers by walking them through how the appraisal process works—and what to expect.

✅ You Might Not Need to Do It Alone

In some cases, we can help coordinate with appraisers or give you documents to support your case. This makes the process smoother and less stressful.

Real Talk

Insurance companies don’t always get it right, but the Right to Appraisal gives you a way to push back without going to court. At the end of the day, we want your car repaired the right way, back to its pre-loss condition, not just the cheapest repair the insurance company will pay for.

So, before you accept a low estimate, come talk to us. We’ll walk you through your options and help you decide if the appraisal process makes sense for your situation.Your safety, your car, and your peace of mind matter, and we’re here to stand with you.