Understanding SB 5721 – Your Right to a Fair Appraisal
In 2025, Washington passed SB 5721, a new law designed to protect you when you disagree with your insurance company about your vehicle’s value after an accident.
Here’s what it means for you:
If your insurance policy includes physical damage coverage, it must now include an appraisal clause. That means when you and your insurance company don’t agree on how much your car is worth or how much the repairs should cost, you have the legal right to request a third-party appraisal.
You choose an independent appraiser, the insurance company chooses theirs, and if they can’t agree, a neutral third party (called an umpire) steps in to make the final decision.
Even better — if the final appraisal is $500 or more above the insurance company’s original offer, they are required to pay your appraisal costs.
This law gives consumers more power to push back against unfair estimates and helps ensure vehicles are repaired properly and valued fairly.