licensed auto appraisers vs. certified auto appraisers

State-Licensed Auto Appraisers / Adjusters vs. “Certified” Appraisers (Huge Difference)

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The St. Lucie Appraisal Company www.stlucieappraisal.net

1. State-Licensed Appraisers or Adjusters (Real Credential)

A state license is a government-issued professional credential that requires:

  • Background checks
  • Verified experience or training
  • Continuing education
  • Compliance with state laws and regulations
  • The ability to be disciplined for misconduct

This is a regulated profession, not something you can just pay for.

When an appraiser or adjuster has a state license, it demonstrates:

  • Accountability
  • Legal responsibility
  • Formal training
  • Regulatory oversight
  • Professional legitimacy

This is why St. Lucie Appraisal’s state licensing across multiple states is such a major credibility advantage.

2. “Certified Appraisers” (Private Organizations You Pay Annually — No Oversight)

Most “certified appraiser” credentials come from private, for-profit companies such as:

  • IADA
  • ASA
  • IACP
  • IAAA
  • BOCAA
  • AdjusterPro
  • ASCAA
  • NAAA
  • I-CAR
  • AVDI

These certifications:

  • Are not government regulated
  • Have no background checks
  • Have no enforceable legal standards
  • Usually require only a yearly fee
  • Have no continuing education requirements
  • Do not verify real-world market competence
  • Do not remove members for biased, incomplete, or poor appraisal work

This is why relying on “certified appraisers” leads to so many low-quality DV reports.

Why St. Lucie Appraisal Is Different

  • State-licensed appraisers and/or adjusters in multiple states
    Not private “certifications,” but real regulated credentials.
  • Over 40 years in business (since 1981)
    Long-term history is another legitimacy indicator.
  • Real research
    They call six dealerships in the customer’s actual market to confirm their opinion — not formulas, multipliers, or algorithms.
  • They do NOT work for insurers
    No conflict of interest.
  • Strong reviews across multiple platforms
    Not fake or paid reviews.

Why This Matters for Diminished Value

When negotiating diminished value, insurance companies look for weaknesses in an appraiser’s credibility.

A report from a “certified” appraiser with no regulatory license is easy for insurers to dismiss.

But a report from a state-licensed appraiser or adjuster is far more authoritative, defensible, and difficult for insurers to undermine.

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

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$275.00. You may also make your Credit Card Payment by telephone, call 772-359-4300.

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Service throughout Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming

TOTAL LOSS DISPUTE

This is an Open Education Resource focused on auto diminished value, collective knowledge and the sharing of scholarly content.

AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM and TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM are services of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company.
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Licensed and Certified Auto Appraiser

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Auto Diminished Value Claims

There are licensing requirements for automobile appraisers. A properly licensed appraiser is automatically certified as an expert in this field. In order to obtain an adjusters or appraisers license, one must pass background checks and demonstrate both integrity and expertise in order to remain in good standing.

You will also find a number of associations that advertise themselves as certified automobile appraisal entities. These are actually just private companies that provide certifications for a fee. Most states require that an auto appraiser be licensed, successfully complete a course in auto appraisal, pass a state board exam and attend Continuing Education classes yearly for appraising automobiles. Should a state-licensed automobile appraiser be found guilty of a serious infraction, he or she could be subject to having their licenses suspended or revoked. No such penalties exist with the private companies that certify appraisers. Automobile appraisers can work on behalf of insurance companies as well as for individual vehicle owners. The types of appraisals they perform can range from damage estimating, to valuation appraisals and diminished value reports. When hiring an automobile appraiser, make certain that they have the proper credentials. A state-issued adjusters or appraisers license is the best confirmation that the automobile appraiser is qualified and that their reports will be accepted by insurers, magistrates and mediators.

Some of the entities that advertise that they are certified appraisers are listed below. When hiring an appraiser or adjuster who is certified by one of these companies, be sure to cross check with their home state insurance department to determine whether they are also properly licensed.

  • The American Society of Certified Auto Appraisers
  • Bureau of Certified Auto Appraisers
  • Auto Appraisal Group
  • The Appraisal Foundation
  • Certified Automobile Appraisal LLC
  • I-Van, International Vehicle Appraisers Network
  • International Automotive Appraisers Association

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company
Service in all 50 States
Phone: (772) 359-4300
Email: contact@stlucieappraisal.net

Service throughout Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi , Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming

TOTAL LOSS DISPUTE

This is an Open Education Resource focused on auto diminished value, collective knowledge and the sharing of scholarly content.AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM and TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM are services of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company.
READ MORE ARTICLES…