CONSUMER-ONLY APPRAISERSWashington comparables: use the actual garage location
WAC 284-30-391 ties several insurer cash-valuation methods to current data within a reasonable distance of the principally garaged area, not exceeding 150 miles. Its search-expansion provisions include conditions and first-party claimant agreement for going beyond 150 miles when no comparable vehicles can be located within that distance.
Dates for Washington total loss appraisal evidence
For a computerized source, the rule addresses comparables currently available or available within 90 calendar days before or after the loss. Other methods have their own requirements. Identify the method used rather than applying one date rule to every type of evidence.
Washington vehicle-value adjustments and the offer breakdown
The rule addresses itemized, verifiable adjustments for differences in vehicles. It also addresses applicable taxes and fees in total loss settlements. Read the applicable version of the rule and your policy for your claim. The amendment effective October 18, 2026 adds express appraisal-award compliance language; it should not be treated as already effective on this page’s October 8 review date.
Evidence to save for Washington total loss comparables
- Listing URL and date saved.
- Actual seller location and type of seller.
- VIN, trim, engine, transmission, and drive configuration.
- Mileage, title status, disclosed history, and equipment.
- Unadjusted asking price and the support for each adjustment.
Washington appraisal research when exact matches are scarce
Document what you searched, when you searched, and why weaker matches were excluded. A rare trim, manual transmission, or unusual conversion may need more analysis. An appraiser should explain the evidence and applicable search requirements rather than silently substituting a common version.
The garage location tells us where to start the market search. The vehicle itself, the comparable vehicles and supported adjustments determine the value.
Specific evidence checks for a Washington value dispute
Garage address and loss date: what to check
Ask which address started the comparable search. A crash location, work address and post-loss storage location can all be different from where the vehicle was normally kept. Record the correct address and the date it became your garage location; ask whether correcting it changes the vehicles or adjustments used.
- Garage address and loss date
- Report search origin and actual seller locations
- Any move or address-change dates
Report location field: what to check
A different neighborhood label can be harmless if the address is right. It becomes important when the report actually uses another search origin. Compare the underlying street address, ZIP and seller locations before asking for a new valuation. Keep the map-name question separate from the vehicle-price question.
- Report location field
- Correct garage address
- Search origin and seller addresses
Each comparable’s VIN and configuration: what to check
A city or neighborhood name is not a rule that every comparable must be advertised there. Start with matched specifications and relevant dates, then examine the actual location and the valuation method used. Ask for an explanation of a widened search instead of accepting an unexplained list of distant vehicles.
- Each comparable’s VIN and configuration
- Actual seller city and listing date
- Explanation of the search area
Dated full-ad screenshot: what to check
Save the complete advertisement while it is available. A later disappearance does not prove it was invalid when used, and an active ad today does not prove the vehicle was offered at the date of loss. Record when it was observed and ask for the original data behind a report entry.
- Dated full-ad screenshot
- VIN and seller contact information
- Report’s observation or availability date
Transmission confirmation: what to check
A manual and an automatic may serve different buyers even when the badge is identical. Identify the actual transmission in your vehicle and each listing. If exact matches are scarce, preserve the search and ask what market evidence supports substituting or adjusting a different transmission.
- Transmission confirmation
- Exact-match search results
- Support for any transmission adjustment
Battery and motor configuration: what to check
For an EV, verify battery version, drive configuration and the equipment actually included with the vehicle. Separate owned and transferable features from subscriptions. State the loss-date mileage and support any battery-condition concern with records rather than assuming every vehicle of that age has the same range or battery health.
- Battery and motor configuration
- Purchased-feature documentation
- Loss-date mileage and relevant diagnostic records
Body/upfit specifications: what to check
A service body, interior shelving or permanent upfit can make a generic vehicle listing a weak comparison. Describe the body and equipment precisely, with age and condition. Keep tools or cargo separate from permanent vehicle equipment and include the policy language if the insurer disputes coverage for an addition.
- Body/upfit specifications
- Installed-equipment photos and invoices
- Comparable body configurations
Configuration and restoration records: what to check
For an older or unusual vehicle, document the exact configuration, modifications and pre-loss condition before collecting high-priced ads. Asking prices, auction sales and insurance agreed values are different evidence. Keep their dates, buyer fees and vehicle differences visible so the appraiser can assess what each record establishes.
- Configuration and restoration records
- Dated condition photos
- Full listing or sale record, including fees
Loss date and loss-date mileage: what to check
Keep the date of loss separate from the report date, inspection date and date you found an ad. Record mileage at the loss and explain later mileage changes. Evidence collected now may still need a date-related explanation; a current asking price should not silently become a historical value.
- Loss date and loss-date mileage
- Listing observation and sale dates
- Dates of the insurer’s report revisions
VIN for each advertised vehicle: what to check
A vehicle can appear on several websites or at different advertised prices. Compare VINs before counting it as more than one independent comparable. Preserve the original seller, observation dates and price changes so the review can distinguish duplicate ads from genuinely separate vehicles.
- VIN for each advertised vehicle
- Original seller and listing URL
- Dates and price changes
Actual seller address: what to check
An out-of-area asking price and the cost of bringing that vehicle home are different figures. Record the actual seller location and any stated delivery charge separately. Ask why the listing was used and whether the valuation method permits that search, rather than silently adding an estimated transport amount to its price.
- Actual seller address
- Delivery terms if stated
- Search-area explanation and vehicle differences
Chassis VIN and build configuration: what to check
A converted vehicle needs a clear description of both the original chassis and the installed conversion. Include who built it, specifications and condition at the loss. A stock-vehicle listing may leave out important equipment, while the original conversion invoice alone does not establish its current market contribution.
- Chassis VIN and build configuration
- Conversion specifications and photos
- Appropriately matched market evidence
Seller’s actual state and address: what to check
An Oregon seller location does not turn a Washington insurance policy into an Oregon claim. Record the underlying vehicle price, seller location and dates, then review whether the listing is suitable under the applicable valuation method. Keep Oregon dealer pricing and Washington settlement taxes or coverage terms in separate parts of the review.
- Seller’s actual state and address
- Vehicle price and fees separately
- Washington policy and settlement breakdown
Original listing and advertised price: what to check
Read the comparable’s asking price and its final adjusted value as separate entries. Trace each mileage, condition or equipment adjustment between them. A correct advertisement can still lead to a questionable result if the adjustment is unexplained, inconsistent or attached to the wrong vehicle description.
- Original listing and advertised price
- All adjustment pages
- Specific unsupported or inconsistent entries
Washington appraisal questions
Are all appraisal comparables restricted to 150 miles?
The Washington rule contains method-specific requirements, search-expansion provisions, and appraisal compliance language. Review the complete rule and the circumstances before asserting either an absolute limit or unrestricted nationwide use.
Are aftermarket receipts a dollar-for-dollar adjustment?
No automatic dollar-for-dollar adjustment is asserted. Receipts document equipment and installation; an appraiser evaluates its contribution to market value.
Reviewed October 8, 2026. WAC 284-30-391
