Comparable Sales (Comps)

Also known as: comparables, comps

Comparable Sales — or 'comps' — are recent sale prices of similar vehicles used to determine the fair market value of your totaled car. Insurance valuation tools build their offer by averaging adjusted prices of comps from your local market.

More detail

Better comps are more recent, closer to your location, and closer to your vehicle's exact trim, mileage, and option package.
The adjustments insurers apply to each comp (for mileage, condition, options) are where the largest valuation gaps hide.
A robust counter-valuation typically replaces or augments the insurer's comps with current dealer asking prices within 50-100 miles.

Related terms

Actual Cash Value (ACV)

Actual Cash Value is the dollar amount your insurance company is required to pay you for a totaled vehicle. ACV represents the price you would pay to buy a comparable used vehicle of the same make, model, year, mileage, and condition in your local market — not the vehicle's original price, replacement cost, or what you still owe on a loan.

CCC ONE

CCC ONE is a vehicle valuation platform operated by CCC Intelligent Solutions and used by some of the largest US auto insurers — including State Farm, GEICO, and USAA, among many others. It generates valuation reports that list comparable vehicles along with adjustments applied to each before rendering a final value.

Mitchell WorkCenter

Mitchell WorkCenter Total Loss is a valuation platform by Mitchell International, used by carriers including Progressive, Liberty Mutual, Auto-Owners, and Erie. The Mitchell report uses a different table layout than CCC ONE but produces the same kind of comparable-and-adjustments output.

Audatex Autosource

Audatex Autosource (a Solera product) is a vehicle valuation platform used by carriers including State Farm, Farmers, and Travelers. Its report format emphasizes a single 'market value' result with collapsed adjustment detail — pulling apart the adjustments often reveals understated condition credits and over-aggressive mileage adjustments.

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The minimum guarantee is a full service-fee waiver when an accepted engagement does not deliver the minimum additional value over the insurer's initial offer. Results vary. See terms.