1. Get the valuation report, not just a number
A fair settlement starts with a real valuation report — the document showing which comparable vehicles the insurer used, what adjustments they made for mileage and condition, and how they arrived at the final figure. If you've only been given a dollar amount so far, ask for the full report before you agree to anything.
2. Verify your vehicle's details
Check that the year, make, model, trim, mileage, and factory options on the report match your actual vehicle. A wrong trim level or missing option package can quietly shave hundreds or thousands of dollars off the value.
3. Decide how you feel about the offer
If the number looks reasonable against real comparable listings, you can move toward settlement. If it looks low, it's worth slowing down before you sign — disputing a value gets harder once a settlement is finalized.
4. Sort out the loan, lease, or lack thereof
Your settlement and your loan balance are two different numbers that don't automatically reconcile. If there's a loan or lease, get your exact payoff figure and compare it to the settlement before assuming what you'll walk away with.
5. Decide whether keeping the vehicle makes sense
Some owners choose to keep a totaled vehicle rather than surrender it. That usually means a salvage deduction from the settlement and a branded title — worth understanding before you decide either way.
6. Handle the loose ends
Rental coverage, taxes and registration, and any dispute or appraisal rights available under your policy are the pieces that often get missed in the rush to close a claim.
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