Letter template

Appraisal Clause Demand Letter (Template)

Use this letter to formally invoke your auto policy's appraisal clause. Most US auto policies include an appraisal clause that lets you and the insurer each select an appraiser; the two appraisers then select a neutral umpire whose valuation is binding on both sides.

When to use this template

Send after you have already submitted a documented counter-valuation that the insurer rejected without itemized justification. Sending too early can be seen as bad-faith negotiation; sending after a documented stalemate is your strongest leverage.

How to fill it in

Replace each [BRACKETED] placeholder with your specific information:

Placeholder	Replace with
[YOUR FULL NAME]	Your full legal name as it appears on the policy.
[YOUR ADDRESS]	Your mailing address (street, city, state, ZIP).
[YOUR EMAIL]	An email you check regularly.
[YOUR PHONE]	Best phone number for the carrier to reach you.
[POLICY NUMBER]	Your auto policy number.
[CLAIM NUMBER]	The claim number assigned by the insurer.
[DATE OF LOSS]	Date the vehicle was damaged or totaled (MM/DD/YYYY).
[YEAR / MAKE / MODEL / TRIM]	Vehicle year, make, model, and trim (e.g. 2020 Toyota Camry XLE).
[VIN]	17-character VIN of the totaled vehicle.
[INSURER NAME]	Insurer's legal name (e.g. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company).
[INSURER ADDRESS]	Mailing address for the claim. Use the address shown on the offer letter.
[INSURER OFFER AMOUNT]	The most recent dollar amount the insurer offered.
[YOUR COUNTER OFFER AMOUNT]	The amount you believe is fair, supported by your counter-valuation.
[YOUR APPRAISER NAME]	The competent and disinterested appraiser you have selected. Leave blank if you have not yet retained one.
[TODAY'S DATE]	Date you are sending this letter (MM/DD/YYYY).

Template body

[YOUR FULL NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]
Email: [YOUR EMAIL]
Phone: [YOUR PHONE]

[TODAY'S DATE]

[INSURER NAME]
[INSURER ADDRESS]

Re: Demand for Appraisal — Policy [POLICY NUMBER], Claim [CLAIM NUMBER]
    Vehicle: [YEAR / MAKE / MODEL / TRIM] (VIN [VIN])
    Date of loss: [DATE OF LOSS]

To Whom It May Concern,

Pursuant to the appraisal provision of the policy referenced above, I hereby
formally demand that the question of the actual cash value of the vehicle
described above be submitted to appraisal in accordance with the policy.

I have reviewed your most recent offer of $[INSURER OFFER AMOUNT] and the
supporting valuation report. After conducting my own analysis of comparable
vehicles in my local market and verifying the per-line adjustments in the
report you provided, I have determined that the fair actual cash value of
the vehicle is $[YOUR COUNTER OFFER AMOUNT]. We have been unable to reach
agreement at the adjuster level, and the policy's appraisal process is the
appropriate mechanism to resolve this disagreement.

I have selected [YOUR APPRAISER NAME] as my competent and disinterested
appraiser pursuant to the policy. Please provide me, in writing and within
the time period specified by the policy, the name and contact information
of your selected appraiser so that the two appraisers may proceed to select
a neutral umpire as the policy contemplates.

Please confirm in writing within ten (10) business days that you have
received this demand and will participate in the appraisal as required by
the policy. Your refusal or unreasonable delay would constitute a breach
of the policy and may give rise to bad-faith claims under applicable state
law.

I look forward to a fair and timely resolution.

Sincerely,



[YOUR FULL NAME]
Policyholder

Related templates

Worksheet

Total-Loss Counter-Valuation Worksheet (Template)

Letter

Total-Loss Supervisor Escalation Letter (Template)

Letter

State Department of Insurance Complaint (Template)

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