Total Loss Threshold by State (50-State Directory)
States determine whether a damaged vehicle is a total loss using two distinct statutory systems: (1) Strict Percentage Thresholds (ranging from 60% in Oklahoma to 100% in Colorado and Texas), or (2) The Total Loss Formula (TLF), where a vehicle is totaled if Cost of Repair + Estimated Salvage Value >= Actual Cash Value (ACV).
50-State Statutory Total Loss Threshold Directory
Below is the verified statutory framework, sales tax mandate, and legislative citation for every US state and the District of Columbia:
| State | Threshold System | Sales Tax Required | Statutory Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama (AL) | 75% of Actual Cash Value (ACV) | Yes (Mandated) | Ala. Code § 32-8-87 |
| Alaska (AK) | Cost of repair plus salvage value exceeds Actual Cash Value (ACV). | Yes (Mandated) | Alaska Stat. § 28.10.221 / 3 AAC 26.080 |
| Arizona (AZ) | Total Loss Formula (TLF): Repair Cost + Salvage >= ACV. | Yes (Mandated) | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-2091 |
| Arkansas (AR) | 70% of Actual Cash Value (ACV) | Yes (Mandated) | Ark. Code Ann. § 27-14-2301 |
| California (CA) | Total Loss Formula (TLF): Repair Cost + Salvage Value >= Actual Cash Value. | Yes (Mandated) | Cal. Veh. Code § 544 / 10 CCR § 2695.8 |
| Colorado (CO) | 100% of Actual Cash Value (ACV) — Repair cost equals or exceeds ACV. | Yes (Mandated) | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 42-6-102(17) |
| Connecticut (CT) | Total Loss Formula (TLF): Repair Cost + Salvage Value >= ACV. | Yes (Mandated) | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-16c / Conn. Agencies Regs. § 38a-334-7 |
| Delaware (DE) | Total Loss Formula (TLF): Repair Cost + Salvage >= ACV. | No / Exempt | Del. Code Ann. tit. 21, § 2501 |
| Florida (FL) | 80% of Actual Cash Value (ACV) | Yes (Mandated) | Fla. Stat. § 319.30(3)(a)(1) & § 626.9743 |
| Georgia (GA) | Total Loss Formula (TLF): Repair Cost + Salvage >= ACV. | Yes (Mandated) | O.C.G.A. § 40-3-2 / Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 120-2-52 |
| Hawaii (HI) | Total Loss Formula (TLF): Repair Cost + Salvage >= ACV. | Yes (Mandated) | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-2 |
| Idaho (ID) | Total Loss Formula (TLF): Repair Cost + Salvage >= ACV. | Yes (Mandated) | Idaho Code § 49-524 |
| Illinois (IL) | Total Loss Formula (TLF): Repair Cost + Salvage Value >= Actual Cash Value. | Yes (Mandated) | 625 ILCS 5/3-117.1 / 50 Ill. Adm. Code 919.80 |
| Indiana (IN) | 70% of Fair Market Value | Yes (Mandated) | Ind. Code § 9-22-3-3 |
| Iowa (IA) | 70% of Actual Cash Value (ACV) | Yes (Mandated) | Iowa Code § 321.52(4) |
| Kansas (KS) | 75% of Actual Cash Value (ACV) | Yes (Mandated) | Kan. Stat. Ann. § 8-197 |
| Kentucky (KY) | 75% of Actual Cash Value (ACV) | Yes (Mandated) | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 186A.520 / 806 KAR 12:095 |
| Louisiana (LA) | 75% of Actual Cash Value (ACV) | Yes (Mandated) | La. Stat. Ann. § 32:702(11) & § 22:1892 |
| Maine (ME) | Total Loss Formula (TLF): Repair Cost + Salvage >= ACV. | Yes (Mandated) | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A, § 667 |
| Maryland (MD) | 75% of Fair Market Value | Yes (Mandated) | Md. Code Ann., Transp. § 11-152 / COMAR 31.15.12 |
| Massachusetts (MA) | Total Loss Formula (TLF): Repair Cost + Salvage Value >= Actual Cash Value. | Yes (Mandated) | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90D, § 20D / 211 CMR 133.00 |
| Michigan (MI) | 75% of Predamaged Value | Yes (Mandated) | Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.217c |
| Minnesota (MN) | 80% of Actual Cash Value (ACV) for vehicles 6 years old or newer. | Yes (Mandated) | Minn. Stat. § 168A.01(17b) |
| Mississippi (MS) | 70% of Fair Market Value | Yes (Mandated) | Miss. Code Ann. § 63-21-39 |
| Missouri (MO) | 80% of Fair Market Value | Yes (Mandated) | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 301.010(54) |
| Montana (MT) | Total Loss Formula (TLF): Repair Cost + Salvage >= ACV. | No / Exempt | Mont. Code Ann. § 61-3-211 |
| Nebraska (NE) | 75% of Retail Value | Yes (Mandated) | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-173 |
| Nevada (NV) | 65% of Actual Cash Value (ACV) — One of the lowest statutory thresholds nationally. | Yes (Mandated) | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 487.790 |
| New Hampshire (NH) | 75% of Actual Cash Value (ACV) | No / Exempt | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 261:22 |
| New Jersey (NJ) | Total Loss Formula (TLF): Repair Cost + Salvage Value >= Actual Cash Value. | Yes (Mandated) | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 39:10-31 / N.J.A.C. 11:3-10.4 |
| New Mexico (NM) | Total Loss Formula (TLF): Repair Cost + Salvage >= ACV. | Yes (Mandated) | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 66-1-4.16 |
| New York (NY) | 75% of Actual Cash Value (ACV) | Yes (Mandated) | N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 429 / 11 NYCRR 216.6 |
| North Carolina (NC) | 75% of Fair Market Value | Yes (Mandated) | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-71.3 |
| North Dakota (ND) | 75% of Actual Cash Value (ACV) | Yes (Mandated) | N.D. Cent. Code § 39-05-20.2 |
| Ohio (OH) | Total Loss Formula (TLF): Repair Cost + Salvage Value >= Actual Cash Value. | Yes (Mandated) | Ohio Rev. Code § 4505.11 / Ohio Adm. Code 3901-1-54 |
| Oklahoma (OK) | 60% of Fair Market Value — Lowest statutory percentage threshold in the US. | Yes (Mandated) | Okla. Stat. tit. 47, § 1111 |
| Oregon (OR) | 80% of Market Value | No / Exempt | Or. Rev. Stat. § 819.010 / OAR 836-080-0240 |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | Total Loss Formula (TLF): Repair Cost + Salvage Value >= Actual Cash Value. | Yes (Mandated) | 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1161 / 31 Pa. Code § 146.7 |
| Rhode Island (RI) | Total Loss Formula (TLF): Repair Cost + Salvage >= ACV. | Yes (Mandated) | R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-46-1 |
| South Carolina (SC) | 75% of Fair Market Value | Yes (Mandated) | S.C. Code Ann. § 56-19-480 |
| South Dakota (SD) | Total Loss Formula (TLF): Repair Cost + Salvage >= ACV. | Yes (Mandated) | S.D. Codified Laws § 32-3-51.19 |
| Tennessee (TN) | 75% of Actual Cash Value (ACV) | Yes (Mandated) | Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-3-211 |
| Texas (TX) | 100% of Actual Cash Value (ACV) — Total damage exceeds ACV before salvage. | Yes (Mandated) | Tex. Transp. Code § 501.091 / 28 TAC § 21.203 |
| Utah (UT) | Total Loss Formula (TLF): Repair Cost + Salvage >= ACV. | Yes (Mandated) | Utah Code Ann. § 41-1a-1001 / Utah Admin. Code R590-190 |
| Vermont (VT) | Total Loss Formula (TLF): Repair Cost + Salvage >= ACV. | Yes (Mandated) | Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 23, § 2091 |
| Virginia (VA) | 75% of Actual Cash Value (ACV) | Yes (Mandated) | Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-1600 / 14 VAC 5-400-80 |
| Washington (WA) | Total Loss Formula (TLF): Repair Cost + Salvage Value >= Actual Cash Value. | Yes (Mandated) | Wash. Rev. Code § 46.04.514 / WAC 284-30-391 |
| West Virginia (WV) | 75% of Predamaged Value | Yes (Mandated) | W. Va. Code § 17A-4-10 |
| Wisconsin (WI) | 70% of Fair Market Value | Yes (Mandated) | Wis. Stat. § 340.01(55g) / Wis. Admin. Code Ins 4.01 |
| Wyoming (WY) | 75% of Actual Cash Value (ACV) | Yes (Mandated) | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 31-2-107 |
| District of Columbia (DC) | Total Loss Formula (TLF): Repair Cost + Salvage >= ACV. | Yes (Mandated) | D.C. Code § 50-1331.01 |
Insurance Document Intelligence Group
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Total Loss Formula (TLF)?
The Total Loss Formula (TLF) declares a vehicle a total loss when: Cost of Repairs + Actual Salvage Value >= Actual Cash Value (ACV). More than 20 states (including California, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington) enforce TLF rather than a strict percentage threshold.
Which state has the lowest total loss threshold?
Oklahoma has the lowest statutory percentage threshold at 60% of Fair Market Value, followed by Nevada at 65%, and Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, and Mississippi at 70%.
Can I keep my car if it is totaled by insurance?
Yes, in most states you can choose "owner-retained salvage." The insurance company pays you the agreed Actual Cash Value minus your deductible and minus the projected salvage value (what a scrap/salvage auction would pay). You receive a salvage certificate or branded title and remain responsible for repairs and re-inspection.
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Audit total loss settlements against 50-state statutory threshold formulas.
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This self-help software assists vehicle owners in auditing data entry discrepancies in third-party valuation reports (e.g. CCC ONE, Mitchell, Audatex), organizing local dealer comparables, and structuring factual settlement audit packets. We do not appraise vehicles, provide formal expert appraisals, guarantee settlement adjustments, or provide legal representation. Dispute packets are prepared directly by the policyholder on a pro se basis. Vehicle Actual Cash Value (ACV) is governed by state insurance statutes and policy appraisal clauses.