Actual Cash Value vs. Replacement Cost in Auto Insurance

Actual Cash Value of My Car vs. Replacement Cost

After you’re involved in an accident, your main concern is probably centered on getting your vehicle or property back to the condition it was in before the accident, or at least receive payment to cover damages.  While that is also your insurance company’s goal, the methods that they use to decide how to ensure that you’re fairly compensated may be confusing.  Keep reading to learn about the difference between actual cash value and replacement costs and what you can expect if your vehicle is damaged in an accident.

Replacement Costs

As you may have guessed, the term “replacement cost” refers to what it would cost to replace your damaged property with something that is similar in material and quality.  For example, let’s say that your car is involved in a collision and your upgraded and very expensive sound system is damaged.  If your insurance company paid the replacement cost for the sound system, you would receive the sum that it would cost to replace it with a similar system at retail price.  It’s important you know how your policy is written.

Actual Cash Value

Actual cash value, on the other hand, has more to do with what your property is actually worth in today’s market.  In other words, if you were selling that same sound system, what would a buyer be willing to pay for it?  Sentimental value does not apply.  Even if it was a best-in-class system when you bought it four years ago, in all likelihood, its fair market value would be less than what you paid for it at the time of purchase.  It “depreciates”.

In most cases, if your vehicle is totaled in an accident, meaning that the cost of repair is greater than what the vehicle is worth, the settlement that you receive from your insurance company will reflect your car’s actual cash value.  It may not be enough to replace your vehicle, but it will be a fair payment for your vehicle’s make, model, miles, options and condition ratings, minus your deductible.

In a Nutshell

When it comes down to it, the difference between replacement cost and actual cash value lies in deduction for depreciation, or how the passage of time, plus wear and tear, has reduced the value of an asset.  Remember, in most cases, your insurance company has the responsibility of getting you back to pre-accident condition.  The money that you receive to replace that four-year-old sound system may not necessarily be enough to replace it with a new, unused model at retail price.  However, it will be enough to fairly compensate you for the loss of that specific system.

Know Your Policy

While most standard collision insurance policies reimburse the actual cash value of your vehicle and its parts, you may be able to pay for additional coverage available.  The only way to know how you’ll be compensated in the event of an accident is by looking at your insurance policy and speaking with your insurance agent.  Your agent can help you evaluate your needs and decide whether you need more than standard coverage.

Adding an “Endorsement”

Adding an Endorsement is taking an item (like an expensive custom stereo system) and adding extra coverage to that system, above and beyond the normal limits of your policy on the original automobile manufactured equipment of your car.  This will cover your upgraded property, in the event it was stolen or damaged in a car accident.  Speak with your agent about endorsements.

Read More: Auto Insurance in Las Vegas, Nevada

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