Honestly, I’ve seen people try to use a folder full of receipts after a total loss, but most adjusters just look at the odometer and comps. Maybe if you had something super rare or meticulously restored? Otherwise, yeah, it’s mostly for your own peace of mind... or maybe to impress a buyer down the line.
Yeah, I’ve wondered about this too. I kept every oil change and tire receipt for years, thinking it’d help if my minivan ever got totaled. Turns out, the adjuster barely glanced at them—just wanted the mileage and maybe a few photos. Unless you’re driving something rare or you’ve put in a ton of custom work, they’re just gonna go by whatever similar cars are selling for.
Honestly, it feels like ACV is just a polite way of saying “we’ll pay you what we think it’s worth, not what you put into it.” I get it, but it’s still kind of a bummer when you’ve babied your car and all that effort doesn’t really count for much. Maybe it helps with resale, but with insurance? Not so much, at least in my experience.
Is it really true that all the receipts and maintenance don’t matter at all? I get that ACV is based on market value, but wouldn’t a super well-maintained car be worth a bit more than an average one? Or is that just wishful thinking? I’m just starting to look into insurance stuff and it’s kind of confusing… seems weird that taking care of your car doesn’t count for much unless you’re selling it yourself.
I’ve wondered about this too, especially after keeping every oil change receipt for years. From what I’ve seen, insurance companies really do stick to ACV, which is just the average market value for your car’s make, model, year, and mileage. They don’t usually factor in how well you maintained it unless you have something super rare or collectible. It feels a bit unfair if you’re the type who’s on top of maintenance, but I guess from their perspective, they’re just looking at what it would cost to replace your car on the open market. If you want that extra value recognized, private sale is probably the only way.
Honestly, it bugs me too. I keep every maintenance record, thinking it’ll help if something happens, but when my last minivan got totaled, the adjuster barely glanced at them. Has anyone ever actually gotten a bump in payout for having a stack of receipts? Or is it just wishful thinking on our part?