How to check the comparable vehicles in your report
A comparable is useful when you can explain both why it resembles your vehicle and how meaningful differences were handled.
Build a comparable log
- Identify the VIN, year, trim, engine and drivetrain.
- Record mileage, listing date, location, seller and whether the vehicle is still available.
- Keep the advertised price separate from a confirmed cash price or documented sale.
- Mark missing equipment, title brands, damage history and uncertain condition.
Look for duplicate evidence
A dealer may publish the same vehicle on several websites. Count unique VINs, not search results. A sold listing can still be relevant historical evidence, but you need its timing and price basis. An old advertisement or an unexplained distant listing deserves a question about why it was selected.
Follow adjustments in the correct direction
When a comparison vehicle has fewer miles or more valuable equipment, an adjustment may reduce its price to make it more like the loss vehicle. The reverse can also apply. Read the report’s methodology before interpreting a sign. Confirm that equipment has not been counted twice and that an adjustment already included in a base figure is not added again.
Test a condition assumption
Ask what evidence establishes the condition of both vehicles. A dealer listing is not the same as a physical inspection. But that does not mean every deduction is unsupported. Review photographs, inspection notes and the condition scale, including positive offsets, before deciding what to dispute. A clean-title and a rebuilt-title vehicle require separate consideration.
Send a short, auditable challenge
For each questionable comparable, identify the report page, the specific mismatch, your evidence and the correction requested. Avoid a long collection of unrelated advertisements. Three well-documented examples can be more useful than dozens of incomplete listings. Save the insurer’s response and check the revised calculation.
Sources and further reading
Reviewed October 11, 2026. Check your policy and current state guidance. Educational information, not legal advice.
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