Navigating a Total Loss Valuation Dispute: Seeking Fair Compensation After an Accident

On April 26th, I experienced a challenging situation when I was involved in a car accident in Austin, Texas. A young driver, seemingly in a hurry, collided with my 2022 Kia Telluride SX while I was stopped, causing significant damage. To complicate matters further, I spent a frustrating 24 days waiting for her insurance company, Progressive, to issue a rental car while they deliberated over the claim.

Now, after their assessment, Progressive has deemed my vehicle a total loss and is offering me approximately $31,000 for it, plus taxes and title fees. With 60,500 miles on the odometer, I find this offer lacking, as I believe the fair market value should be closer to $34,000 to $35,000 based on my research and comparable listings. While I’ve attempted to approach the claims evaluator with an understanding that he is there to assist, our perspectives on the vehicle’s worth diverge significantly.

Initially, I provided six comparable listings to the evaluator, but they were dismissed on the basis of higher mileage, despite the fact that several of his own comparables also had more miles. After some negotiation, he did consider two additional comparables I supplied—one from Carvana and another from a local Kia dealership. Unfortunately, both were rejected by Progressive, one simply because it was sourced from Carvana, and the other despite being closely matched in terms of year, model, color, and mileage, as well as located just five miles away.

This raises a critical question: if Carvana is recognized as a legitimate used car retailer, how can my listed comparables be disregarded?

Now, I’m weighing my options. Should I file a claim with my own insurance, Liberty Mutual, to see if they might provide a more favorable evaluation? This could allow for subrogation with Progressive for any difference in valuation, and I’m also hoping to secure rental car coverage from the day of the accident until the day I finally obtained a rental car.

Additionally, I am considering invoking a third-party evaluation clause, which would cost around $500 for a local service. However, I worry about the process—would the findings of an independent evaluator hold enough weight with Progressive to change their assessment, or could they easily counter my argument based on their own report?

Although the discrepancy in valuation is approximately 10%, it represents a significant financial burden for