Vehicle loss assessment, explained

What a loss assessment is

A loss assessment is the technical valuation of the damage to your vehicle. It is carried out by a loss adjuster, usually appointed by the insurer, who decides which parts are repaired or replaced, how many labour hours are needed and what the repair will cost in total.

Based on that assessment, the insurer authorises the repair or, if the cost is very high compared with the car's value, may propose a total loss.

How it works

1. You report the claim and choose a workshop.
2. The insurer appoints an adjuster and the workshop arranges the visit.
3. The adjuster inspects the car at the workshop, takes photos and reviews the visible damage.
4. If hidden damage appears once parts are removed, the workshop reports it and the assessment is extended.
5. The insurer authorises the repair according to the adjuster's report.

Sometimes the assessment is done from photos or video sent by the workshop. Timing depends on the insurer's and adjuster's workload, so it is not wise to promise fixed dates; what does help is having the car available and your paperwork in order.

What the adjuster checks

• Bodywork damage: panels, bumpers, glass and lights.
• Any structural distortion that needs a chassis jig.
• Damaged inner parts: reinforcements, brackets, inner front panel and body mountings.
• Whether each part should be repaired or replaced, according to the repair time schedule and the manufacturer's method.
• Whether the damage matches the reported incident.

If you disagree

If you think the assessment falls short or misses some damage, talk to the workshop first: often extra photos or documents are enough for the adjuster to review the report. If you still disagree, Spain's Insurance Contract Act allows you to appoint your own adjuster. Bear in mind that you may have to pay their fees, depending on the case.

How to prepare

• Have your claim reference and policy details to hand.
• Keep the photos you took at the time of the incident and the accident report form.
• Note anything odd you noticed after the impact: doors that do not shut properly, body rattles, loose parts.
• Tell the workshop about any previous damage the car already had, so it is not mixed up with the new damage.

At Green Car Service Tenerife we work with your insurance company and coordinate the assessment so nothing is left out. You can also follow your car's status in real time throughout the repair.