Total loss · MT
Montana total loss claims
Montana sets no damage percentage. A salvage vehicle is one damaged to the point that the owner, an insurer, or someone acting for the owner determines the cost of parts and labor makes it uneconomical to repair. In an insurance claim that call is made by the insurer under the policy. If the insurer’s value looks low, the dispute comes down to evidence: the right trim and options, fair comparable vehicles and explained condition adjustments.
Total loss rule
Insurer decides
Taxes and fees
Depends on your policy
Appraisal clause
Set by your policy
Montana law
When a vehicle is a total loss in Montana
Insurer decides
Montana sets no damage percentage. A salvage vehicle is one damaged to the point that the owner, an insurer, or someone acting for the owner determines the cost of parts and labor makes it uneconomical to repair. In an insurance claim that call is made by the insurer under the policy.
Authority: Mont. Code Ann. § 61-3-210(8)
What a Montana settlement has to include
Our research did not find a Montana statute or regulation that settles whether sales tax and title or registration fees must be added to a total loss payment. Ask the adjuster in writing how they were treated, and check your policy.
How the insurer has to value your vehicle
No Montana statute or rule with a total-loss valuation method was found. The Commissioner of Securities and Insurance's consumer guidance says insurers typically run a market survey of same make and model vehicles with similar mileage and options in your area, may widen the area if none are found, and must give you copies of the information used to set the actual cash value. It adds that NADA is the only book value an insurer can use, and only if both sides agree.
The appraisal clause in Montana
Our research did not find a Montana statute or regulation on auto policy appraisal clauses, so the wording of your own policy controls: whether it has one, the deadlines, and who pays.
Keeping a totaled vehicle: Montana title rules
An insurer that takes ownership of a salvage vehicle less than 15 years old must apply for a salvage certificate. If the owner keeps the vehicle after settlement, the insurer must notify the Department of Justice (Form MV205), and the department may require the owner to surrender the title and may brand it.
Authority: Mont. Code Ann. § 61-3-211(1), (4)
If you and the insurer cannot agree
- Dispute the valuation in writing with evidence. How to challenge comparables and condition deductions.
- If your policy has an appraisal clause, you can invoke it. The appraisal clause, step by step.
- File a complaint with the Office of the Montana State Auditor, Commissioner of Securities and Insurance.
- Small claims court: Montana small claims court, for claims up to $7,000.
Official guide: Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance: Auto Insurance
Sources
- Mont. Code Ann. § 61-3-210(8)
- Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, Auto Insurance FAQ (regulator guidance, not a statute)
- Mont. Code Ann. § 61-3-211(1), (4)
Researched October 11, 2026. General information from an appraisal perspective, not legal advice.
Autoloss in MT
Total loss appraisals for Montana vehicles
An independent valuation of your Montana vehicle just before the loss, from comparable vehicles, your records and photos, reviewed by Monica Fisher. The claim review is free and the fee is quoted after we review your situation. You, or your attorney, present the report.
What the appraisal includesMontana total loss questions
When is a car a total loss in Montana?
Montana sets no damage percentage. A salvage vehicle is one damaged to the point that the owner, an insurer, or someone acting for the owner determines the cost of parts and labor makes it uneconomical to repair. In an insurance claim that call is made by the insurer under the policy.
Can I keep my totaled car in Montana?
Usually you can ask to, and the insurer deducts the salvage value. An insurer that takes ownership of a salvage vehicle less than 15 years old must apply for a salvage certificate. If the owner keeps the vehicle after settlement, the insurer must notify the Department of Justice (Form MV205), and the department may require the owner to surrender the title and may brand it.
Does Autoloss prepare total loss appraisals for Montana vehicles?
Yes. We prepare an independent valuation from your records, photos and the insurer’s report. The claim review is free, and the fee is quoted after we review your situation.
Low total loss offer in Montana?
The claim review is free: we look at your situation and tell you whether an appraisal is likely to help. The appraisal itself is a paid report. We help from start to finish, including a custom demand letter, and our support staff is a phone call away throughout the process.