Your Vehicle Was Written Off?
Don't Accept a Lowball Offer.
Insurance companies routinely undervalue total loss (write-off) claims in Canada. Under Statutory Condition 11, you have the legal right to demand an independent appraisal. We provide the certified appraisal to determine the actual cash value of your vehicle.
How We Help With Total Loss (Write-Off) Claims
When your insurance company declares your vehicle a total loss (write-off), they offer you what they believe is the "actual cash value." In our experience, these initial offers are almost always below true market value.
We prepare a certified Actual Cash Value (ACV) appraisal using comparable vehicle sales data from the Canadian market. When you invoke Statutory Condition 11, we serve as your independent appraiser to formally dispute the insurer's valuation.
Our appraisers negotiate directly with the insurance company's appraiser. If they cannot agree, an independent umpire makes the final binding decision — removing the power from the insurance adjuster entirely.
Certified ACV Report
We prepare a detailed Actual Cash Value report using Canadian market comparables, including applicable taxes (HST/GST/PST).
Invoke Statutory Condition 11
We formally notify your insurer that you are exercising your right to an independent appraisal under the Insurance Act.
Negotiate on Your Behalf
Our appraiser negotiates directly with the insurer's appraiser. If no agreement, an umpire makes the binding decision.
Increase Your Settlement
On average, our clients recover significantly more than the insurer's initial write-off offer.
Common Write-Off Scenarios We Handle
These are the most frequent situations where Canadian policyholders benefit from invoking the appraisal clause.
The insurer's offer doesn't reflect the true replacement cost of your vehicle in the Canadian market, ignoring local pricing, trim levels, or low mileage.
Your settlement should include HST, GST, or PST (depending on province) since you'll pay these taxes when buying a replacement vehicle.
If you owe more than the insurer's offer, a higher ACV appraisal reduces the gap between the settlement and your loan or lease balance.
If you're keeping the vehicle, the insurer may overstate the salvage value deduction. We ensure the deduction is fair and reasonable.
Modifications, winter tires, or aftermarket upgrades that add value to your vehicle are often ignored by insurance adjusters.
Banks, credit unions, and fleet operators need accurate ACV appraisals to recover the full value of their collateral after a write-off.
Write-Off Appraisal Rights by Province
Every Canadian province has provisions allowing you to dispute your insurer's total loss (write-off) valuation.
Insurance Act, R.S.O. 1990 — OAP 1, Statutory Condition 11
Insurance Act, RSBC 2012, c. 1 — Statutory Condition 11
Insurance Act, RSA 2000, c. I-3 — Statutory Condition 11
Civil Code of Québec, Art. 2493–2504; AMF oversight
Insurance Act, C.C.S.M. c. I40 — Appraisal provisions
Saskatchewan Insurance Act — Appraisal provisions
Insurance Act, R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 231 — Appraisal provisions
Insurance Act, R.S.N.B. 1973, c. I-12 — Appraisal provisions
Total Loss (Write-Off) FAQ — Canada
What is a total loss (write-off) in Canada?
A total loss — commonly called a 'write-off' in Canada — occurs when your insurance company determines that the cost to repair your vehicle exceeds a certain percentage of its actual cash value (typically 70-80% depending on the province). The insurer then offers you a settlement based on their valuation of the vehicle.
How does Statutory Condition 11 help me dispute a write-off?
Statutory Condition 11 is a mandatory provision in Canadian auto insurance policies that gives you the right to an independent appraisal when you disagree with your insurer's valuation. Each party selects an appraiser, and if they can't agree, an independent umpire makes the final binding decision.
What's the difference between a 'write-off' and a 'total loss'?
In Canada, 'write-off' and 'total loss' mean the same thing — the insurance company has determined your vehicle is not economically repairable. The term 'write-off' is more commonly used in Canadian English, while 'total loss' is the standard insurance industry term used in both Canada and the United States.
Can I keep my vehicle after a write-off in Canada?
In most provinces, you can retain your written-off vehicle, but the salvage value will be deducted from your settlement. The vehicle will receive a 'salvage' or 'rebuilt' brand on its title, which significantly affects its future resale value. We can help ensure the salvage deduction is fair.
Does the settlement include HST/GST/PST?
Yes. In most provinces, your total loss settlement should include applicable taxes (HST, GST, or PST depending on the province) because you will need to pay these taxes when purchasing a replacement vehicle. If your insurer's offer does not include taxes, this is another reason to dispute.
How long does the appraisal process take in Canada?
The appraisal process typically takes 2-4 weeks from the time Statutory Condition 11 is invoked. This includes selecting appraisers, conducting the valuation, and reaching an agreement or umpire decision. We work to resolve cases as quickly as possible.
Important: Services We Do Not Provide
We do not perform pre-insurance appraisals for classic, antique, or older vehicles that require an appraisal to obtain or renew insurance coverage. Our services are exclusively for insurance claim disputes — total loss (write-off) settlements where the insurance company has already declared your vehicle a write-off and issued an offer.