Tennessee total loss rule: when a car totals:
The Tennessee total loss rule—not parts delays—decides if your car is totaled. Tennessee uses a 75% benchmark. If written repair costs reach 75% or more of actual cash value (ACV) at the time of loss, the claim shifts to total-loss handling. Backordered parts alone do not meet that legal test. Start with the math. Verify ACV with options, mileage, condition, and recent local sales. Compare that value to the itemized repair estimate.
Parts delays vs. the 75% total loss threshold:
Backorders complicate repairs, but they don’t change the threshold. An insurer may choose a total for practicality, yet the 75% rule still governs the decision. Use the downtime to organize evidence. Photograph the damage from several angles. Keep every shop supplement and all communication. Track rental or loss-of-use dates. If teardown reveals hidden damage, request an updated estimate so the ratio stays accurate under Tennessee’s total-loss standards.
Bridgeway Insurance help with Tennessee total loss claims:
Bridgeway Insurance advocates for you at each step. We verify ACV line by line and challenge low valuations. We review salvage assumptions that can distort the 75% ratio. Our team coordinates with your body shop, pushes for timely supplements, and requests appropriate rental extensions. When numbers cross the threshold, we guide you through salvage-title steps, payoff or GAP questions, and sales-tax credits on a replacement. If repairs proceed instead, we evaluate diminished value and assemble market evidence to support it. You get clear answers and fewer surprises under the Tennessee total loss framework.
Quick checklist for total loss in Tennessee:
• Confirm ACV, options, mileage, and local comps.
• Compare the estimate to ACV and note the 75% position.
• Save photos, invoices, emails, and supplements.
• Track rental or loss-of-use with exact dates.
• Contact Bridgeway Insurance for a line-by-line review and advocacy.
See our internal guides—Auto Insurance in Tennessee and Claims Support Center—for step-by-step help. For official rules, consult Tennessee’s Salvage & Rebuilt resources at tn.gov/revenue. With the right documentation and strategy, you can apply the Tennessee total loss rule correctly and reach a fair outcome.
https://www.tn.gov/revenue/tax-fraud/salvage-certificates-and-rebuilt-vehicles
