When to send an appraisal clause letter
Send the letter after you have tried to resolve the dispute and the insurer's number has stopped moving. In most cases that means:
- The insurer has accepted coverage and made a written offer.
- You have countered in writing with evidence.
- The disagreement is about value or repair cost, not about whether the loss is covered.
The letter is not the place to argue your case in full. Its job is to start a process your policy already describes. Your evidence goes to your appraiser, who presents it.
What to check in your policy first
Before you write a word, find the "Appraisal" section of your own policy and any state endorsement. Note:
- Whether either party can demand appraisal, or whether both must agree
- Any time limit for naming your appraiser after the demand
- How appraiser and umpire costs are split
- Any requirement about how written notice must be given
Match your letter to that wording. If the policy says the demand must be in writing to a particular address, use it.
What the letter must include
Keep it to one page. Include:
- Your name, policy number and claim number
- The vehicle (year, make, model, trim) and VIN
- The date of loss
- The insurer's figure and your figure for the amount of loss
- A clear sentence that you are invoking the appraisal provision of your policy
- Your appraiser's name and contact details
- A request that the insurer name its appraiser in writing within the time your policy allows
- A request for a complete copy of the policy and endorsements, if you do not already have them
Appraisal clause letter template
Copy this into an email or document and replace each bracketed item. Remove any line that does not fit your policy.
[Your full name] [Mailing address] [Phone] | [Email] [Date] [Insurer name] Attn: [Adjuster name], Claims Department [Insurer claims mailing address] Re: Demand for appraisal Policy number: [policy number] Claim number: [claim number] Insured vehicle: [year make model trim], VIN [VIN] Date of loss: [date] Dear [Adjuster name], We agree this loss is covered. We disagree on the amount of loss. Your figure is [insurer's amount]. Based on the enclosed market evidence, our figure is [your amount]. Under the appraisal provision of my policy, I am demanding appraisal to determine the amount of loss. My appraiser is [appraiser name], [company], [phone], [email]. Please name your appraiser in writing within the time my policy provides. Please also send a complete copy of my policy, including all endorsements in effect on the date of loss, if not already provided. This letter does not waive any of my rights under the policy or applicable law. Please confirm receipt in writing. Sincerely, [Signature] [Printed name] Enclosures: [list, for example valuation review, comparable sales]
A shorter email version
If you have already been emailing the adjuster, a short reply in the same thread can work, as long as it still contains the key facts. Check that your policy allows email notice, and send the full letter by certified mail too.
Subject: Claim [claim number] - Demand for appraisal [Adjuster name], We agree the loss on my [year make model], VIN [VIN], is covered, but we disagree on the amount of loss. Your figure is [amount]; mine is [amount]. I am invoking the appraisal provision of my policy. My appraiser is [name], [phone], [email]. Please name your appraiser in writing within the time the policy allows and confirm receipt. [Your name] [Policy number]
What to leave out of the letter
A demand letter works best when it is calm and narrow. Leave out:
- Accusations or threats. They do not help, and they can make the process harder.
- Statements about coverage you are not disputing. You want the letter to read as a value dispute only.
- Long arguments about each comparable. That is your appraiser's job.
- Any promise to accept a specific number. Let the process run.
How to send it and what to keep
- Email it to the adjuster and keep the sent copy.
- Also send it by certified mail with return receipt, or upload it to the claim portal if your insurer uses one.
- Save a PDF of the final signed letter and every enclosure.
- Log the date sent and the date your policy deadline would run.
- Keep all later exchanges in writing, and follow phone calls with a short recap email.
What usually happens next
The insurer typically acknowledges the demand and names its appraiser. The two appraisers then review the loss and try to agree on a figure. If they cannot, they choose a neutral umpire, and an agreement signed by two of the three generally sets the amount of loss.
If the insurer refuses or does not answer within the time your policy sets, ask for its position in writing. Your state's Department of Insurance or an attorney can explain your options from there.
Common mistakes in appraisal demand letters
These small errors cause most of the back and forth:
- A wrong claim number or VIN. Copy them from the insurer's own letters.
- No clear demand sentence. Saying you are "unhappy with the offer" is not the same as invoking appraisal. Use the words "I am demanding appraisal."
- Missing figures. Without both numbers, it is harder to show a real disagreement about the amount of loss.
- No appraiser and no plan to name one. This can let your own deadline pass.
- Sending it only by phone or chat. Verbal requests are hard to prove. Put it in writing.
- Mixing in coverage complaints. If you also have a coverage issue, address it in a separate letter.
Choosing who goes on the "appraiser" line
The person you name should be independent, experienced with vehicle valuations, and paid in a way that does not depend on the result. Anchor Auto Appraisals works for a flat fee, never a cut of the settlement, and we can serve as your appraiser in the process. We are not a law firm or a public adjuster and do not represent you in negotiations. Appraisal decides the amount of loss, not coverage.