Question 1

What's the difference between Gold and Platinum if both use the same algorithm?

Accepted Answer

Both Gold and Platinum use the same valuation algorithm against the same 10 million+ comparable-sales database. The valuation number itself is computed identically.

Platinum adds three things Gold does not include:

1. Expert review. Every Platinum report is reviewed before delivery for vehicle-specific edge cases the algorithm cannot weigh: documented prior-accident history, low-production-run trims, optioned-up packages that affect comp selection, and ZIP-band thinness that calls for a wider geographic pull. Same-business-day if ordered before 5pm CT.

2. The document bundle. Platinum includes the CarFax + KBB + AutoCheck + JD Power values in a single PDF, formatted to attach to your demand letter or appraisal-clause invocation.

3. Appraisal-clause language. The Platinum report includes the contractual language to invoke the appraisal clause in your auto policy. If the carrier short-pays and refuses to move, you have the formal instrument ready to send.

Buy Gold when you need a defensible second-opinion number to start the conversation. Buy Platinum when you have already exchanged at least one round of counter-offers and the gap is still material — you are preparing to formally dispute.

Question 2

How is VVA different from CCC, Mitchell, and Audatex?

Accepted Answer

CCC, Mitchell, and Audatex are the three carrier-side market valuation vendors. They produce the "market valuation report" your adjuster cites when they hand you a settlement offer. The technical methodology — comparable sales, mileage adjustments, condition factors — sounds identical to ours. The difference is who controls the inputs. The vendors let the carrier set inputs that swing the final number significantly: how many comparables to include, the geographic radius for comp selection, the condition rating applied to your specific vehicle, the projected-sold adjustment factor (the assumed haggle discount off the listing price), and which adjustments apply to your trim vs the comps' trims. VVA's inputs are set in the policyholder's favor and, more importantly, are visible to both sides. Comps shown, ZIP-band shown, mileage adjustments shown, outlier filter shown (we drop the top ~3% as outliers and rank by effective price — the comps you see are the comps used in the calculation, with no second layer of hidden math). The carrier's adjuster can verify every line, which is what makes the report defensible under the appraisal clause. Request the carrier's full market valuation report — you have a right to it. Then compare it line-by-line against your VVA report. The gap is your negotiating leverage.

Question 3

How does VVA account for mileage, trim, and options?

Accepted Answer

Three adjustments applied transparently on the report: Mileage: comps are pulled within a mileage band of your vehicle's odometer reading (typically ±15-25% depending on availability). For vehicles outside the band, a standard mileage adjustment is applied per industry-standard depreciation curves. The adjustment amount is shown on each comp line so the carrier's adjuster can verify it. Trim: VIN-decoded trim drives initial comp selection. If your vehicle is a Telluride SX-Prestige and comps are mostly Telluride LX, the algorithm filters to same-trim comps first, then progressively widens trim level if the same-trim pool is thin. Trim-level adjustments use MSRP-difference deltas published by the manufacturer at the time of original sale. Options: package and option adjustments are applied where comp data identifies them (e.g., AWD vs FWD, sunroof, premium audio). The adjustment amounts come from documented MSRP option premiums, not vendor-internal "condition" scoring. For Gold/Platinum/DV reports, mileage and trim adjustments are applied to every comp on the report — line by line — so the final value range reflects your specific vehicle, not the market average. For Silver (Year/Make/Model only, no VIN), trim and mileage adjustments cannot be applied, which is why Silver shows a wider market-average range rather than a vehicle-specific number.

Question 4

The carrier's market valuation report dropped the value of my vehicle by thousands. How is that allowed?

Accepted Answer

It is allowed because the carriers' valuation vendors — CCC, Mitchell, and Audatex — let the carrier make many of the inputs that drive the final number. Robert L. McDorman explains the mechanism: "This is done via a number of user inputs which vary by market valuation provider, such as allowing the carrier to use internal guidelines to determine the condition of and conditioning adjustments to the loss vehicle… Additionally, the market valuation/data providers allow the carrier to select the number of comparables and their geographic location to arrive at a desired valuation." The fix is to request the full market valuation report from the carrier, then have it reviewed against an independent comparable-sales valuation.

Question 5

What does "comparable sales" actually mean?

Accepted Answer

Comparable sales are verified, completed transactions of vehicles similar to yours — not asking prices, not auction listings, not "for sale" advertisements. The distinction matters because asking prices and listings systematically overstate market value (sellers ask high; buyers negotiate down). Completed transactions reflect what buyers actually paid. For VVA's reports, a "comparable" must match your vehicle on year, make, model, and (where available) trim. The algorithm pulls comps from your specific ZIP code first, then progressively widens geography (county → state → region) if the local market is thin. Each comp shows: vehicle year/make/model/trim, mileage, sale ZIP, sale month, and the effective sale price after standard adjustments. The algorithm filters the top ~3% of outliers using percentile-based filtering (to avoid noise from anomalous high-priced sales), then ranks by effective price. The comps you see on your report are the same comps used in the valuation — no hidden math, no proprietary score adjusting the final number behind the scenes. The carrier-side software (CCC, Mitchell, Audatex) uses the same underlying concept but lets the carrier control which comps to include and how to adjust them. Our methodology is transparent: every comp is auditable by both sides.

Question 6

Can I invoke the Appraisal Clause after I have already accepted the carrier's check?

Accepted Answer

Once you have signed a release of your insurable interest in the vehicle, your right to invoke appraisal is significantly weakened — and in some cases extinguished. The Texas Department of Insurance has stated: "An insurance company may not be obligated to accept an appraisal request after the policyholder has agreed to a settlement and relinquished their insurable interest in the vehicle." The rule of practice: never sign a release, and never cash the settlement check, until you are confident the proposed settlement properly indemnifies you for the loss.

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Gold report — common questions