Car Accident ValuationCar Accident Valuation
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Total-loss claim

Don't let insurance lowball your totaled car.

After a total loss, insurers often offer less than your car is worth. We pull live listings from dealers near you so you can see what comparable cars really sell for — and back up a higher number.

See if I'm being lowballed See how it works

Free. No account needed.

Not totaled?
Your car was repaired after the crash?

A fixed car still sells for less. You may be owed that lost value — called Diminished Value.

Go to Diminished Value
Average of Comparables Selected
Sample
$24,348
Based on 3 selected comparable vehicles in your area.
2019 Honda CR-V EX-L
42,180 mi • Austin, TX • ~12 miles
$24,895
2019 Honda CR-V EX-L
38,540 mi • Round Rock, TX • ~24 miles
$25,400
2018 Honda CR-V EX-L
55,720 mi • San Antonio, TX • ~76 miles
$22,750
National dealer inventory feed — current listings + recent sales
Searches widen from your zip until enough comparable vehicles are found
Average market value computed from the vehicles you pick as comparable

How it works

Three steps. Designed to take a couple of minutes.

  1. 1
    Tell us about your car

    Enter your VIN — or just describe your year/make/model. We use AI to fill in the gaps.

  2. 2
    We pull comparable vehicles

    Live dealer listings and recent sales, starting in your zip and widening until we have enough.

  3. 3
    Pick the ones that match

    Mark the ones with similar mileage, trim, and condition. We'll email you a free report with prices, dealers, and the market range — usable evidence for your insurer.

Pay only for what you need

Start with the free Comparable Vehicles Report — emailed to you with prices, dealers, and the market range. Or connect with one of our vetted appraisers if you need them to handle the dispute.

  1. Free$0
    Comparable Vehicles Report
    • Live listings of similar cars in your area
    • AI-assisted year/make/model recognition
    • Pick which ones actually match your car
    • Emailed PDF with prices, dealer contacts, and the market range
    • No account needed
    Start your free search
  2. Free to be matched~$500
    Vetted appraiser
    • Independent appraiser handles the dispute directly with insurance
    • Appraisal Clause expertise — the contractual right to fight
    • Track record of successful settlements
    • Free to be matched; appraiser only charges if your case makes sense
    Available on your results page

Why CarAccidentValuation

Real cars, not algorithms

KBB and Edmunds publish algorithmic estimates. CarAccidentValuation shows you the actual cars currently for sale and recently sold — and lets you decide which ones are comparable.

Local, not national average

Prices vary by zip. We start in yours and widen until we have enough comparable vehicles. Big-city averages don't price a small-town car.

Built for vehicle owners, not dealers

Most comp tools exist to sell you something. This one exists to give you a number you can trust — at a price most people can afford.

Honest about its limits

CarAccidentValuation is research data. For a formal total-loss appraisal-clause dispute, you'll still need an appraiser. The data here can inform that conversation. And if you need a formal appraisal, we work with appraisers we've vetted who we can refer you to.

Frequently asked questions

What does ComparableCars do?+
ComparableCars searches dealer inventory and recent sale data to find used vehicles comparable to yours. You see real listings — not blue-book estimates — so you can understand what your car is actually selling for in your area.
How is this different from Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds?+
KBB and Edmunds publish algorithmic estimates. ComparableCars shows you the actual cars currently for sale (and recently sold) that are comparable to yours, then lets you compute an average. It's the underlying data, not a derived estimate.
Will my insurance company accept this in a total-loss settlement?+
ComparableCars is research data, not a formal appraisal. If you're invoking the appraisal clause on a total loss, you'll need a licensed appraiser. The data here can inform that conversation but does not replace a formal appraisal.
What if my insurance company sent me a low offer?+
Use ComparableCars to see what cars like yours are listed for in your zip. The data is informational — for a formal appraisal-clause dispute you'd still need a licensed appraiser, but seeing the spread can help you decide whether to accept the offer or push back.
What does the $25 Prices and Basic Valuation tier include?+
You unlock the listing price, dealer name, phone, and address for every comparable vehicle you select. We also compute the average price across your selected comps as a starting market-value figure.
What does the $25 Appraiser-Grade Valuation tier add?+
It adjusts each selected comparable for differences in mileage, package options, date of loss, and sales tax — refining the average so it reflects your specific vehicle and circumstances more closely.
What if I don't know my VIN?+
You can search by Year, Make, Model and Trim instead. We use AI to help parse a free-text description of your vehicle (for example "a 2018 Honda CR-V EX-L") and pre-fill the form.
Where does the data come from?+
We pull current and recently-sold listings from a national feed of dealer inventory across the United States.
How long does a search take?+
Most searches return results in 5–30 seconds. We probe widening radii from your zip until we find enough comparable vehicles.
Do I need to create an account?+
No. You can search and view comparable vehicles without creating an account. We only ask for an email when you proceed to payment.
Is this useful if I just want to know what my car is worth?+
Yes. Run the free search to see comparable vehicles in your area, then unlock the prices and average value for $25 if you want a number.
Can I get a refund?+
Because each search uses paid third-party data and (for the Appraiser-Grade tier) generates customized calculations, refunds are handled case-by-case. Reach out if something didn't work as expected.
Start your free search

Learn how it works

Plain-English guides to getting back what your car lost after an accident.

What Is Diminished Value After a Car Accident?

Diminished value is the money your car loses in resale value after an accident — even once it's fully repaired. Here's what it is, why it happens, and who owes it to you.

How Is Diminished Value Calculated?

How diminished value is calculated — the insurance industry's 17c formula, why it lowballs you, and the market-comparison method that reflects what your car is actually worth.

How to File a Diminished Value Claim

A step-by-step guide to filing a diminished value claim after a car accident: the evidence you need, who to send it to, and how to handle a lowball response.

Totaled Car? How to Dispute a Low Total-Loss Offer

If your car was totaled and the insurance offer feels low, here's how actual cash value is determined, why offers come in low, and how to push back with real comparable listings.

How Much Is My Diminished Value Claim Worth?

What a diminished value claim is typically worth, the factors that raise or lower it, and how to find your car's actual number instead of accepting a lowball offer.

What Is the Appraisal Clause (and How to Use It)?

The appraisal clause lets you resolve a car value dispute with your insurer without going to court. Here's how it works, when to use it, and what it costs.

How Accident History Affects Your Car's Resale Value

Why a reported accident lowers your car's resale value even after perfect repairs — how vehicle history reports work, how much value is lost, and what you can do about it.

Diminished Value vs. Total Loss: Which One Applies to You?

Repaired or totaled? The two situations lead to very different claims. Here's how to tell which one applies to your car and what to do next.