CrashClaimSteps

← All states

California: total loss rules

When an insurer must declare your car a total loss: a set percentage of its value, or the total loss formula.

RuleTotal loss formula
What it meansTotaled when repair cost plus salvage value is more than the car's actual cash value

An insurer can total a car below the threshold, but must total it at or above it. If you disagree with the value offered, most policies let you invoke appraisal, and you can ask for the comparable-car report.

General information only, not legal, insurance or financial advice. Not affiliated with any government agency. Exceptions can apply. Confirm with the state agency, the court or a licensed professional in California.

How California compares

21 of 51 states and DC share this answer (Total loss formula): Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington.

Alaska: Total loss formulaAKMaine: Total loss formulaMEVermont: Total loss formulaVTNew Hampshire: 75% of actual cash valueNHWashington: Total loss formulaWAIdaho: Total loss formulaIDMontana: Total loss formulaMTNorth Dakota: 75% of actual cash valueNDMinnesota: 80% of actual cash valueMNIllinois: Total loss formulaILWisconsin: 70% of actual cash valueWIMichigan: 75% of actual cash valueMINew York: 75% of actual cash valueNYRhode Island: 75% of fair market valueRIMassachusetts: Total loss formulaMAOregon: 80% of actual cash valueORNevada: 65% of actual cash valueNVWyoming: 75% of actual cash valueWYSouth Dakota: Total loss formulaSDIowa: 70% of actual cash valueIAIndiana: 70% of actual cash valueINOhio: Total loss formulaOHPennsylvania: Total loss formulaPANew Jersey: Total loss formulaNJConnecticut: Total loss formulaCTCalifornia: Total loss formulaCAUtah: Total loss formulaUTColorado: 100% of actual cash valueCONebraska: 75% of actual cash valueNEMissouri: 80% of actual cash valueMOKentucky: 75% of actual cash valueKYWest Virginia: 75% of actual cash valueWVVirginia: 75% of actual cash valueVAMaryland: 75% of actual cash valueMDDelaware: Total loss formulaDEArizona: Total loss formulaAZNew Mexico: Total loss formulaNMKansas: 75% of actual cash valueKSArkansas: 70% of actual cash valueARTennessee: 75% of actual cash valueTNNorth Carolina: 75% of actual cash valueNCSouth Carolina: 75% of actual cash valueSCDistrict of Columbia: 75% of actual cash valueDCOklahoma: 60% of actual cash valueOKLouisiana: 75% of actual cash valueLAMississippi: Total loss formulaMSAlabama: 75% of actual cash valueALGeorgia: Total loss formulaGAHawaii: Total loss formulaHITexas: 100% of actual cash valueTXFlorida: 80% of actual cash valueFL
  • Total loss formula (21)
  • 75% of actual cash value (17)
  • 70% of actual cash value (4)
  • Other (9)

Also for California: Car insurance by state in California · Claim deadlines in California · Small claims limits in California · Dog bite rules in California · Shared fault rules in California · Accident reporting rules in California · Phone-while-driving laws in California · Motorcycle helmet laws in California · Uninsured drivers in California · All California rules on one page

How we checked this

Thresholds were compared across four 2026 insurance publishers and agree for every state except Rhode Island. Last checked: November 12, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the state agency or a licensed professional before acting.

Cross-checked sources agree   Checked on official source confirmed on a government, court or legislature site   Single detailed source one detailed table built from statutes or official data   Under review sources disagree; read the note and the law.