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Will my car be totaled in Missouri?

The short answer

In Missouri, a car is generally a total loss when the repair cost reaches 80% of its actual cash value (ACV), what it was worth just before the accident.

80% of the car's valueRSMo § 301.010(55)
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How Missouri decides a total loss

In Missouri, a car is generally a total loss when the repair cost reaches 80% of its actual cash value (ACV), what it was worth just before the accident.

The actual cash value comes from the insurer's valuation, usually based on comparable vehicles for sale. The lower that value, the lower the 80% line sits, and the easier it is for repairs to cross it.

The 80% line applies to late-model vehicles (about 6 model years or newer); older cars are decided on the insurer's economics.

Rule reference: RSMo § 301.010(55). This is general information, not legal advice; the insurer makes the final call.

An example

Say a car was worth $20,000. At 80%, the line is $16,000: a repair estimate of $16,000 or more would likely total it, and anything well below that would likely be repaired.

Car's value
$20,000
Line
80%
Repairs that likely total it
$16,000+

Illustrative example.

What can change the outcome

  • Hidden damage. Estimates often grow once the car is taken apart, which can push a car near the line over it.
  • The car's value. A low valuation lowers the line. Check that the comparable cars match your car's trim, options and mileage.
  • Its age. Older cars are worth less, so the same repair is a bigger share of their value.

If your car is totaled in Missouri

  1. Ask the insurer for the full valuation report, so you can see how the number was reached.
  2. Check the comparable cars: same trim, similar miles, near you.
  3. Don't rush to sign or accept payment until the offer makes sense.
  4. If you disagree with the value, check your policy for an Appraisal Clause. It lets either side ask for an appraisal with your own insurer, without a lawsuit.

If your car was repaired instead, it may have lost resale value. That's called diminished value, and in many states you can claim it from the at-fault driver's insurer.

See what your car is really worth

Free valuation from real comparable vehicles, and help from a vetted appraiser or law firm if you want it.

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For body shops in Missouri

Know whether a car will total before your team tears it down: enter the vehicle, the owner's ZIP and your repair estimate, and see the car's value from comparable vehicles nearby, its salvage value, and whether it's likely totaled, borderline or likely repaired under Missouri's rule.

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Questions people ask

›What is the total loss threshold in Missouri?

In Missouri, a car is generally a total loss when the repair cost reaches 80% of its actual cash value (ACV), what it was worth just before the accident. The 80% line applies to late-model vehicles (about 6 model years or newer); older cars are decided on the insurer's economics.

›How do I know if my car will be totaled in Missouri?

Compare the repair estimate with the car's value. Say a car was worth $20,000. At 80%, the line is $16,000: a repair estimate of $16,000 or more would likely total it, and anything well below that would likely be repaired. Estimates often grow once the car is taken apart, so a car close to the line can still be totaled.

›How is my totaled car's value decided?

The insurer pays the actual cash value (ACV), usually from a valuation report built on comparable vehicles for sale, with adjustments for mileage, options and condition. You can ask for that report and check whether the comparable cars really match yours.

›Can I dispute a total loss offer in Missouri?

Many auto policies include an Appraisal Clause: when you and your own insurer disagree on the value, either side can ask for an appraisal, each picks an independent appraiser, and an umpire decides if they can't agree. It applies to claims with your own insurer, and policy wording varies, so read yours.

›What if my car was repaired instead?

A car with an accident on its history usually sells for less, even after a good repair. That loss is called diminished value. In many states you can claim it from the at-fault driver's insurer; the rules vary by state.

Total loss rules in other states

New to total losses? Read the plain-English guide.