If your vehicle is destroyed in an accident or by another covered peril, your insurer will send you a check for your vehicle’s actual cash value, or ACV. The actual cash value takes depreciation into account when determining a value for your car, which can lead to a smaller payout check than you might expect.
Further, you’ll have to consider your deductible as it will be deducted from the payout as well. If you’re not sure how to determine the actual cash value of your car – or why it matters – read on.
- Your vehicle’s actual cash value represents what the vehicle is worth in its current condition.
- A vehicle’s actual cash value (ACA) takes depreciation into account.
- A vehicle’s ACA is usually less than you paid for it.
What is actual cash value, or ACV?
The actual cash value of your vehicle is its pre-collision value as calculated by your insurer. This is the amount your insurance company will pay if it is stolen or totaled after subtracting your deductible.
So, how do you determine actual cash value? Insurers take a variety of factors into account when determining the insurance valuation of cars. They look at the vehicle’s age, mileage, and any past accidents it has been in or unrepaired weather issues such as hail damage.
They are taking depreciation into account and trying to determine the car’s fair market value, what you would have been able to sell it for before it was destroyed.
The ACV will usually be dramatically less than you paid for the car. This is true even if the wrecked car is only a few years (or months) old. While cars are necessary for everyday life, they are not a significant investment.
According to Edmunds, on average new cars lose 23.5% of their value after a year, and by the time you have owned it for five years, it has lost 60% of its value.
How do you determine actual cash value?
A few different ways to answer the question, “What is my car’s actual cash value?” Here are a few tips to help you calculate your vehicle’s ACV:
Calculate the actual cash value of your car
How to calculate actual cash value? The first step in calculating actual cash value is to research your vehicle online and determine what you must pay to replace your vehicle with a similar one. Look for the same year, make, model and trim level at dealership sites and direct sell sites such as eBay, Autotrader or Facebook.
Once you have determined what it would cost to replace your vehicle, deduct for wear and tear on the vehicle and any past claims or damage that has not been repaired.
Online depreciation calculators for ACV
Most major insurance companies have depreciation calculators on their sites, like most car-selling or automotive-related websites. These calculators will gather information about your vehicle and then crunch the numbers.
As there is no exact formula for calculating depreciation, expect a variety of estimates. Average them out to get a more accurate number.
Here are a few vehicle actual cash value calculators to consider:
Actual cash value vs. replacement cost
While ACV is the standard in auto insurance, some insurers offer a replacement cost policy. Replacement cost policies are commonplace in homeowners insurance but not commonly used for auto insurance.
With homeowners insurance, a replacement cost policy replaces your damaged or destroyed item with a brand new one of similar quality, regardless of how old it is or how much depreciation it has suffered.
For example, if you paid $5,000 for a couch six years ago that was destroyed in a fire, an actual cash value policy would take depreciation into account, and you may get $1,000 for your couch.
A replacement value policy would put a brand-new couch of similar quality (or the same one if they are still selling them) in your home.
Regarding auto insurance, replacement value policies are not very common. When available, they are often called a new car replacement endorsement on your policy and usually come with requirements.
As an example, Liberty Mutual will only write a new car replacement endorsement for vehicles that are:
- Less than one year old
- Have less than 15,000 miles
- Not a lease
Details of these policies and their requirements vary by insurer, but this coverage will generally replace your car with the same model if it is deemed a total loss. In most cases, the vehicle has to be brand new or very close to it. To qualify for a replacement value policy, you must carry full coverage, including comprehensive and collision insurance.
Here are a few of the qualifiers required by major insurers:
- Allstate: Vehicle must be less than two model years old
- American Family: Can only be purchased for brand-new vehicles
- Farmers: Can only be written for vehicles insured with Farmers upon purchase of the car and the vehicle must be less than two years old and have 24,000 or fewer miles.
- The Hartford: Will replace a totaled car that is 15 months or less old or has 15,000 or fewer miles before the accident.
How does actual cash value work?
The big question most drivers have is, how is actual cash value determined by insurance companies? Most insurance companies use proprietary formulas to calculate a vehicle’s ACV, meaning no two insurers will likely give you the same figure.
If you are in an at-fault accident, you will only be paid out on your vehicle if you carry collision or comprehensive coverage. If you only carry liability coverage and are in an at-fault accident, the cost to repair or replace your vehicle will fall on you.
Remember, collision insurance only repairs your vehicle if it is damaged in an accident, while comprehensive picks up the tab if the vehicle is stolen or damaged by the following:
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Fire
- Natural disasters (like a hurricane or a tornado)
- Falling objects
- Damage from animal strikes
- Damage caused during a civil disturbance, like a riot
Insurance companies will look at the car’s condition, age, mileage and any documented damage to the vehicle. They will also look at what comparable vehicles (comps) in your area are selling to help them determine a fair market value for your car. If you ask, your insurer will usually show you the comps they use to develop their valuation.
What is the actual cash value of my car? Your insurance company may also use a computerized evaluation process to help them determine your vehicle’s actual cash value.
Insurance companies purchase third-party computer systems (such as CCC) that help them estimate automotive claims and collision repair costs. Third-party software supplies insurers with software and a database that helps determine the value of a vehicle.
When it comes to the ACV of your specific vehicle, the figure your insurer comes up with may seem fair to you, it may be more than you expected or it could be a disappointment. The good news is that this number is not set in stone. You can dispute it.
What do I do if I am unhappy with my insurance company’s valuation?
If you feel the valuation of your vehicle is too low, you can dispute their number. You must find comps supporting your argument for a more significant claim check. Look for vehicles for sale in your area: The same make, model and trim level and in roughly the same condition as yours.
Here are a few other tips when disputing your insurer valuation:
- Search for cars at dealerships that match your vehicle.
- Check online marketplaces as well Craigslist, Nextdoor and Facebook.
- Check Kelley Blue Book for a valuation of your car.
- Pull a Carfax report on your specific vehicle.
If the numbers support your argument, present your documentation to your insurer and ask them to reevaluate their claim valuation.
What if the actual cash value isn’t enough?
There are a few options to help soften the blow of an actual cash value claim check. Gap insurance or a new car insurance endorsement will help ensure you have enough money to put a new car in the garage if your ride is totaled.
Gap insurance
Gap insurance can help you cover the gap between your vehicle’s actual cash value and the outstanding balance on your loan or lease.
Gap insurance is very affordable for the coverage it provides. According to the Insurance Information Institute, you can expect to pay around $20 a year for this coverage.
“Purchasing gap insurance makes practical sense if your vehicle is significantly financed or leased,” says John Crist, founder of Prestizia Insurance. “Especially for newer cars, where depreciation is steep, gap insurance can be invaluable.” But you’ll have to decide for yourself if gap insurance is worth it.
Read more about the cost of gap insurance — how much can you expect to pay?
New car replacement insurance
New car replacement coverage is only available for people driving new vehicles. If you fall into that category, you must decide if the additional premium is worth it to cover the risk of you totaling your vehicle.
While the cost for this coverage will vary depending on your insurer, generally expect to spend about five percent more than you would on a standard auto insurance policy.
What is the difference between stated-value policies and agreed-value policies?
These policies are typical for classic and other collectible cars, but there are significant differences:
Stated-value coverage
With this type of coverage, you decide how much insurance you can afford for a specialty vehicle. These policies are designed to help people who own a car worth more than they can afford to insure.
Agreed-value coverage
With an agreed-value policy, you and your insurer will agree on the vehicle’s value and if the vehicle is totaled, you will be paid the agreed-upon amount. These policies have no actual cash value clause; depreciation will not factor into the valuation; you will be paid the agreed value.
While these policies offer more robust coverage than a stated value policy, they are also more expensive.
Frequently asked questions
You have questions about the actual cash value of your car. We have answers.
What happens if the ACV doesn’t cover my car loan balance?
If your car is totaled and the insurance company sends you a check for the ACV, it might not cover the remaining auto loan balance. But you’ll still be on the hook to cover the remaining balance.
If you have gap insurance, this coverage can pay for the difference between the ACV and your auto loan balance. Without gap insurance, you’ll be stuck making payments on a vehicle you can’t drive.
How does the make and model of my car affect ACV?
The type of vehicle you drive can have an impact on its rate of depreciation. Since some cars depreciate faster than others, actual cash values vary from vehicle to vehicle. For example, Jeep Wranglers tend to hold their value better than luxury sedans.
Do improvements or modifications to my car affect its ACV?
In general, improvements or modifications you make to a vehicle do impact its actual cash value. If a particular modification will increase the amount a dealership could sell the car for, it increases your actual cash value.
The bottom line
The actual cash value of your vehicle is an important number to get familiar with. If your car is totaled in an accident, drivers with the right insurance coverage can expect to get a check for the ACV. Depending on your situation, this check might not be enough to get back on the road in another vehicle.
Resources & Methodology
- Kelley Blue Book. “Actual Cash Value.” Accessed June 2024.
- Insurance Information Institute. “Determining your car’s value and cost of repair.” Accessed June 2024.
- Insurance Information Institute. “Understanding the insurance claims payment process.” Accessed June 2024..
- Insurance Information Institute. “How is the settlement amount determined?” Accessed June 2024.
- Liberty Mutual. “Better Car Replacement.” Accessed June 2024.
- Farmers Insurance. “FAQs.” Accessed June 2024.
- Allstate. “Car replacement.” Accessed June 2024.
- The Hartford. “Replacement Value in Business Insurance.” Accessed June 2024.
- Insurance Information Institute. “What is gap insurance?” Accessed June 2024.
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