Autoloss: Vehicle Appraisals, Costs and Process

What is Autoloss?

Autoloss is a vehicle-appraisal company that works for the vehicle owner rather than the insurance company. Its own summary: insurers hire their own appraisers and valuation vendors, and Autoloss "works for the vehicle owner, or for the owner's attorney, and prepares an independent valuation supported by comparable vehicles rather than price-guide figures alone."

Most of its work falls into two kinds of claim:

• Diminished value. Your car was repaired after an accident that wasn't your fault, but it now has an accident on its history report, so buyers and dealers will pay less for it. Autoloss measures that lost market value and writes a demand letter you send to the at-fault driver's insurer.
• Total loss. Your insurer declared the car a total loss and offered what it calls actual cash value. If that offer looks low, Autoloss prepares an independent valuation you can use to dispute it, or in your policy's appraisal process if it has one.

It also appraises vehicles for stated-value insurance and lenders, loss-of-use claims, lease returns, luxury and collector vehicles, and charitable donations, and it provides reports and expert testimony for attorneys. The company says it will look at "anything with wheels," and lists motorcycles, RVs and motorhomes, food carts and fleet vehicles among the things it appraises.

Its customers are mainly individual drivers, plus the attorneys, lenders, credit unions, insurers and government agencies that need an independent vehicle value. The site says past matters have involved federal agencies, a state government, auto finance companies, insurers and claims administrators, and adds that naming an organization "describes past work only and does not imply its endorsement."

Who owns and runs Autoloss?

Monica Fisher owns Autoloss and its parent company, Appraisal Group of America. The site describes her as a licensed auto appraiser and court expert witness and says she personally reviews every appraisal before it goes out. Her profile lists:

• Owner and appraiser, Appraisal Group of America; owner of Autoloss; owner of United States Claims Advisors
• National total-loss umpire since 2008
• Formerly a licensed public adjuster
• Approved for lease-termination appraisals for three named automaker finance companies
• Expert appraisal services, depositions and testimony in Texas, Washington, Florida, Idaho, Oregon, Ohio and Arizona, in arbitrations, municipal courts and federal bankruptcy court
• Licenses: Oregon DMV vehicle appraiser certificate V26-105 and North Carolina appraiser license 7941001
• Education: Oregon State University graduate, with graduate study at Marylhurst

The site is clear that she is an appraiser, not an attorney. She also reviews the court decisions cited on the site "from an appraisal perspective."

The company says it was founded in 1996 by Terry M. Fisher, who had more than thirty years in the wholesale and retail automotive business and was often called as an automobile expert in arbitrations, municipal courts and bankruptcy court. He died in 2013, and Monica Fisher has run the company since.

The site also mentions appraisers and a support staff you can call during your claim, but it does not publish a staff list.

Is Autoloss legit?

People usually ask this before paying a few hundred dollars to a company they found online. Here is what can be checked:

• BBB accredited. The Better Business Bureau lists AutoLoss.com as a BBB Accredited Business since 24 March 2015.
• Review figures the company shows. The Autoloss home page shows "4.73" from "133 customer reviews on BBB" and quotes recent BBB reviews from 2026. Its testimonials page also shows reviews collected through a review service. Those are the company's own selections, and the site notes that client comments "describe individual experiences, not typical results."
• Published license numbers. The site lists an Oregon DMV vehicle appraiser certificate and a North Carolina appraiser license, with numbers. We did not look them up in a state registry, so treat them as the company's statement. You can ask for copies; the lease-termination page says each report includes the appraiser's license information.
• A named owner who signs off. A named person, with stated court experience, takes responsibility for every report.
• Clear limits. The site repeatedly says it is not a law firm or public adjuster, that it does not negotiate for you, and that "an appraisal is evidence supporting your claim, not a promise of payment." It also says its fee does not depend on the value in the report.
• Contact details. A toll-free number, an email address and posted hours. The site does not publish a street address; it says the company is based in Oregon and asks you to call first if you need to come to the office.

Diminished value appraisals

This is the service most people call about. Autoloss defines diminished value as "the market value a vehicle loses because it now has an accident history, even after good repairs." Your repair payment covers fixing the car; it usually does not cover that lost resale value. A diminished value claim asks the responsible driver's insurer to pay the difference as part of your property damage claim, where state law allows it.

The site explains three types:

What the report includes, according to the service page:

• Vehicle identification, mileage, trim and equipment
• A review of the repair estimate or final invoice and the damaged areas
• Pre-loss market value, supported by comparable vehicles
• Post-repair market value, supported by comparable vehicles that have accident history
• The diminished value figure and how it was reached
• A custom demand letter written for your claim, to send with the report
• Monica Fisher's review before release

If the insurer asks how the report was prepared, Autoloss answers those questions, and it will amend a report that contains an accidental error or omission. It does not negotiate the claim for you.

The site also offers a free diminished value calculator. It applies a simple percentage to a pre-accident value you enter, based on whether the damage was minor, moderate or extensive. The company is direct that this is "a starting point, not an appraisal" and not a figure to send to an insurer. It also explains the "17c" formula some insurers use, which it describes as an insurer method that "tends to produce low figures" and that a market-based appraisal does not use.

Total loss appraisals

When an insurer totals your car, it offers what it calls actual cash value, usually based on a valuation vendor's report of similar vehicles. Autoloss lists four places it says those valuations go wrong:

• Wrong trim or options: a base model priced instead of the trim you own, or factory packages left out.
• Condition marked down: generic deductions that don't match your car's condition and records.
• Weak comparables: vehicles from distant markets, with higher mileage, or a different trim.
• Upgrades ignored: aftermarket equipment, recent major repairs and new tires.

The total loss appraisal is an independent valuation of your car's market value just before the loss, built from comparable vehicles and your records. You can give it to the adjuster, or use it if your policy has an appraisal clause: a provision many auto policies include that lets either side demand an appraisal when you disagree on the amount, with each side hiring an appraiser and an umpire settling the difference. Autoloss's suggested sequence is to get the insurer's full valuation report (not just the offer), start a free claim review, have the appraisal prepared, then present it.

Two limits matter here. First, Autoloss does not take total loss claims in Alabama, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina or Wyoming; its diminished value and other appraisals are available everywhere. Second, the site warns that policies and states set time limits for disputing a valuation and for invoking an appraisal clause, so check them before waiting for a report. Total loss fees are not published; they are quoted after the free review.

Other appraisals: stated value, loss of use, lease, luxury, donation

The donation page is a useful read before you pay for anything: it explains that most donated cars don't need an appraisal, because if the charity sells the car your deduction is generally limited to the sale price. Per IRS Publication 4303, which the page cites, a written appraisal is needed when you claim more than $5,000 and the deduction is not limited to the sale proceeds, and it must be made no more than 60 days before the donation. Ask a tax professional whether yours qualifies.

Services for attorneys

Autoloss provides appraisal reports, depositions and expert-witness testimony for attorneys in diminished value, total loss and other vehicle-value disputes. It describes these as non-legal support services. The published terms:

Payment is not contingent on the outcome of the case, and engagements are subject to Autoloss's written engagement terms.

How much does Autoloss cost?

These are the figures published on the site when we checked on 19 October 2026.

The fee is flat. The site says report fees "are not contingent on any value shown in the report," and explains why: an appraiser paid more for a higher number has a reason to inflate it, and an insurer can say so. You pay before the report is delivered.

Can you get the fee back from the insurer? The company says insurers sometimes reimburse appraisal costs as part of a settlement and you can ask for it in your demand, but nothing requires it in most situations, so treat the fee as your own cost when deciding.

Is it worth it? That depends on the car and the claim. The site's own advice is that newer, lower-mileage, higher-value cars and cars with structural repairs lose the most, while older, high-mileage cars or cars with earlier damage may not justify the fee, and that the free review is where it tells you which applies. The calculator can give you a rough number to compare with the fee first.

The site does not mention financing or insurance coverage for its fees.

How it works, step by step

1. Free claim review. Fill in the online form or call. The form asks for the state where the car is registered, the type of appraisal, year, make, model, mileage, ownership (owned, financed, leased), fault, prior damage, repair status, insurer, any offer and repair cost. You can attach repair invoices, photos and the insurer's valuation (JPG, PNG, HEIC or PDF, up to 15 MB each). Autoloss says it usually replies within one business day and will tell you if an appraisal is unlikely to be worth the fee.
2. Get a quote and decide. If an appraisal makes sense, it quotes the fee. There is no obligation.
3. Order and send documents. You pay and upload photos and records (checklist below).
4. Research. The appraiser finds comparable vehicles and reviews the damage, repairs, mileage, equipment, condition and your local market.
5. Owner review. Monica Fisher reviews the report before release.
6. Delivery. Typically 24 to 48 hours after all required information is received. The clock starts once Autoloss has what it needs.
7. You present the claim. You send the report and demand letter to the insurer. If the insurer questions it, Autoloss explains how it was prepared, and its support staff can be reached by phone throughout.

No inspection appointment is needed. The site says physical inspections are "no longer normally required" and reports are prepared from the repair order, photos and records. Its own guide notes that an in-person inspection adds something mainly when repair quality is in doubt, records are missing, the vehicle is unusual, or a court asks for it.

What to send

For photos, the site suggests daylight shots of all four sides, close-ups of each damaged or repaired area, the odometer and the VIN plate, plus any visible repair problems such as paint mismatch or panel gaps. If you're missing something, send what you have and it will tell you what's needed.

How the value is worked out

Autoloss publishes its method. In short, it values the vehicle "from market evidence," not "a formula applied to a price guide":

• Comparables. Vehicles of the same year, make, model and trim with similar mileage and equipment, in markets relevant to the owner. For diminished value it compares vehicles with and without accident history. It prefers current retail listings and actual sale data over price-guide values alone.
• Adjustments. Mileage, equipment and options, condition, the type and severity of damage (structural and frame damage weigh more than cosmetic), repair quality, prior damage and local market.
• The figure. Diminished value compares pre-loss and post-repair market value. Total loss establishes market value just before the loss. Every adjustment is written into the report so a reader can follow it.
• Sources. Public vehicle listing sites, a dealer retail chain, a vehicle-history report service and a price guide, together with your photos and records. The site notes these sources do not sponsor or endorse Autoloss.
• Review. Monica Fisher checks the vehicle identification, the comparables, each adjustment and the final figure, and reports "that don't hold up are revised before delivery."

Where Autoloss works

Autoloss serves vehicle owners and attorneys in every U.S. state. Because reports are built from records and photos, there is no need to bring the car anywhere, and comparables come from the market where your vehicle would actually be sold. It does not serve Canada.

• Office: in Oregon. The site does not publish a street address; the contact page asks you to call first if you need to come in.
• Total loss exclusions: no total loss claims in Alabama, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina or Wyoming.
• State pages: the site has a diminished value page for each state and DC, showing whether claims against the at-fault driver's insurer and your own insurer are allowed and the deadline to sue, plus city guides for 16 metro areas from Atlanta to Tucson.
• Hours: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific, Saturday 7 to 10 a.m. Pacific. If you're on the East Coast, that's 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.

Do you have a diminished value claim?

Autoloss's eligibility page lists eight factors. In its words, you "likely have a claim worth checking" if another driver caused the accident, your vehicle needed significant repairs, and it is newer or valuable enough that an accident history hurts its resale price.

The site also explains the difference between a third-party claim (against the at-fault driver's insurer, the usual route) and a first-party claim (against your own insurer, which many standard policies exclude). Its state-by-state table sorts states into first-party claims recognized, depends on policy wording, usually excluded, and unsettled. This is general information; for your own claim, the site says to consult a licensed attorney in your state.

What happens after you get the report

The company's guide describes four steps:

1. Send it. Email or mail the appraisal and demand letter to the adjuster with the claim number, and ask for written confirmation of receipt. Keep copies.
2. Expect one of four responses. The insurer accepts, counteroffers (sometimes using its own formula), asks questions about the report (call Autoloss's support staff), or denies the claim.
3. If you can't agree, options depend on your state and the amount, and can include small claims court, an attorney, or a complaint to your state insurance department. The deadline to sue keeps running.
4. Before signing anything, make sure a release covers only what you mean to settle.

What Autoloss does not do

The site is unusually explicit about this, and it's worth knowing before you order:

• It is not a law firm and gives no legal advice or representation. It does not employ attorneys for clients.
• It does not act as a public adjuster and does not negotiate your claim. You (or your attorney) present the claim.
• It gives no tax advice on donation appraisals.
• It does not promise a result. "No specific settlement, full settlement or insurer payment is guaranteed, verbally or in writing." Insurers, arbitrators and courts make their own decisions.

Payment, cancellation and the money-back guarantee

• Payment: fees are paid before the report is delivered. A $10 processing fee is added to card payments.
• Cancellation: you can cancel any time before you receive the appraisal; a $75 cancellation fee applies. The site also says Autoloss can cancel a claim at any time and refund the client's fee.
• Corrections: Autoloss may amend a report that contains an accidental error or omission.
• Conditional Money-Back Guarantee: for diminished value appraisals only. In outline, you may be eligible for a refund if your final settlement is less than the appraisal fee after you follow Autoloss's instructions and pursue collection. The published conditions are strict: among them, the car must be four years old or newer, repaired, not leased, with no prior damage, you must not have been at fault, you must request it within 12 months, and you must show a small-claims filing and the court's result (unless the owner grants a written exception). It does not apply if you hire an attorney or sign a release, among other exclusions, and it does not apply at all in Massachusetts, Michigan, Rhode Island, New York or Tennessee. Read the full terms on the legal disclaimer page before ordering. Refund checks typically take 30 days.
• Governing law: the site's terms are governed by Oregon law.
• Uploads: the claim form says files are stored privately and deleted after they reach the company's inbox.

How it compares with other options

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

Questions to ask before you order

1. Based on my car, damage and state, is an appraisal likely to be worth the fee?
2. What exactly will my appraisal cost, including the card fee?
3. Does my state allow a claim against my own insurer, or only the at-fault driver's?
4. What deadlines apply to my claim or my policy's appraisal clause?
5. Does my situation meet the conditions of the money-back guarantee?
6. Who will prepare my report, and can I see the license information included with it?
7. What happens if the insurer challenges the comparables?

How to get started

1. Try the diminished value calculator for a rough number, or read do you have a claim?
2. Gather your repair invoice, photos and the insurer's claim or valuation details.
3. Submit the free claim review form, or call (877) 655-1661 during business hours.
4. If Autoloss recommends an appraisal, get the quote, decide, then pay and send your documents.

Visit Autoloss

Terms you'll see on the site

• Diminished value (DV): the market value a vehicle loses because it has an accident history.
• Actual cash value (ACV): what an insurer says a vehicle was worth just before the loss; the basis of a total loss offer.
• Total loss: when the insurer decides repairs would cost too much compared with the car's value.
• Comparables: similar vehicles for sale or sold, used as evidence of market value.
• Appraisal clause: a policy provision letting either side demand an appraisal when you disagree on the amount of a covered loss, with an umpire settling differences.
• Umpire: the neutral person who settles a disagreement between the two appraisers under an appraisal clause.
• First-party / third-party claim: a claim against your own insurer / against the at-fault driver's insurer.
• 17c formula: a formula some insurers use for diminished value that starts at 10% of the car's value and applies damage and mileage multipliers.
• Demand letter: the letter you send the insurer with the appraisal, setting out the amount you're claiming.
• Release: a document you sign when settling; a full release can end the rest of your property damage claim.
• Stated or agreed value: an insurance policy that covers a vehicle for a value set in advance, common for collector cars.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

All pages checked on 19 October 2026.

1. Autoloss home page: autoloss.com
2. About Autoloss: autoloss.com/about-us/
3. About the founders: autoloss.com/about-us/about-the-founders/
4. Monica Fisher profile: autoloss.com/about-us/monica-fisher/
5. Our clients: autoloss.com/about-us/our-clients/
6. Client testimonials: autoloss.com/about-us/client-testimonials/
7. Appraisal methodology: autoloss.com/about-us/appraisal-methodology/
8. Legal disclaimer (fees, cancellation, guarantee): autoloss.com/about-us/legal-disclaimer/
9. Terms of use: autoloss.com/terms/
10. Services: autoloss.com/our-services/
11. Diminished value appraisals: autoloss.com/diminished-value/
12. Do you have a claim?: autoloss.com/diminished-value/do-you-have-a-claim/
13. Diminished value calculator: autoloss.com/diminished-value/diminished-value-claim-calculator/
14. Diminished value state laws: autoloss.com/diminished-value/diminished-value-state-laws/
15. First-party vs third-party diminished value: autoloss.com/consumer-advocacy/first-vs-third-party-dv/
16. After your appraisal: autoloss.com/diminished-value/after-your-appraisal/
17. Appraisal cost guide: autoloss.com/diminished-value/appraisal-guide/diminished-value-appraisal-cost/
18. Inspection or records guide: autoloss.com/diminished-value/appraisal-guide/in-person-inspection-or-records/
19. Total loss appraisals: autoloss.com/total-loss/ and autoloss.com/total-loss/total-loss-appraisals/
20. Other appraisals: overview, stated value, loss of use, lease termination, luxury, vehicle donation
21. Attorney and expert-witness services: autoloss.com/legal-services/
22. How it works: autoloss.com/how-it-works/
23. FAQs: autoloss.com/faqs/
24. Service areas: autoloss.com/service-areas/
25. Contact: autoloss.com/contact/
26. Free claim review form: autoloss.com/auto-appraisals/appraisal-request-form/
27. Better Business Bureau profile, AutoLoss.com: bbb.org