# Average settlement for non injury car accident: what pays

URL: https://mywreckcheck.com/motor-vehicle-accident/average-settlement-for-non-injury-car-accident
Updated: 2026-10-26
Review: Reviewed by My Wreck Check Editorial Team, editorial review: primary sources checked and independently fact-checked

We found no official average settlement for non injury car accident claims. What a damage-only claim pays for instead, and the state rules behind it.

If you searched for the average settlement for non injury car accident claims, here is the honest answer: we looked for an official figure and found none. No state insurance department, statute or federal agency page we checked publishes an average payout for a crash where nobody was hurt. What those sources do publish is the rules for what a damage-only claim pays for, and those rules decide your number far more than any average could.

- We found no official source that publishes an average settlement for a property-damage-only crash.
- The core of the claim is the car. The [Texas Department of Insurance](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/consumer/cb020.html) says insurers pay for repairs or replacement only up to the car's actual cash value, its replacement cost minus depreciation.
- A rental, towing and, in some states, lost value after repair can be part of the claim. Each depends on the policy or on the state's rules.
- Claiming against the other driver's insurer means no deductible in Texas. Claiming on your own collision coverage starts with your deductible, which may be refunded later.
- In California, the Department of Insurance says not to sign anything if the other party offers to pay your deductible.

## Why there is no real average settlement for non injury car accident claims

A settlement for a crash with no injuries is mostly a repair bill. Two people with the same dent can end up with very different checks: one car is worth more, or one owner needed a rental for a week. Averaging all of that tells you very little about your own claim.

The pages that rank for this search quote figures that differ by thousands of dollars, and the ones we read didn't name the data behind them. So instead of a number, this guide walks through the pieces a damage-only claim is built from, with the state rule behind each one. For how a claim moves from first call to release, see [how a car accident claim works](https://mywreckcheck.com/motor-vehicle-accident/car-accident-claim).

## What a damage-only claim pays for

### Repairs, up to what the car is worth

In Texas, the Department of Insurance says an adjuster estimates the cost of repairs and the company bases its payment on that estimate. California's [Department of Insurance](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/01-auto/hadaccident.cfm) says that for minor damage the company may ask you for competitive repair estimates instead, and that, for a physical damage claim under a standard auto policy (your own coverage), it generally pays the lesser of "the amount necessary to repair the vehicle" or "the actual cash value (ACV) of the vehicle." It adds that, unless the policy defines it differently, actual cash value in California means fair market value.

A few rules shape what the repair includes.

- Where it's repaired. In Texas, the Department of Insurance says companies "can't require you to use a shop on its list." California's Department of Insurance says an insurer "cannot require that an automobile be repaired at a specific repair shop," citing Insurance Code §758.5.
- Which parts. In Texas, the insurer "is only required to pay for parts of like kind and quality to those that were damaged" and does not have to pay for original manufacturer parts. [Florida Statutes 626.9743](http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0600-0699/0626/Sections/0626.9743.html) bars an insurer from requiring replacement parts that are not at least equivalent in kind and quality "in terms of fit, appearance, and performance."
- The estimate itself. Under the same Florida statute, an insurer that settles a partial loss on a written estimate must give the insured a copy of it. In Texas, if the damage is worse than the adjuster first thought, you or the shop can ask the adjuster to raise the estimate.

### Actual cash value if the car is totaled

If repairs would cost close to what the car is worth, the Texas Department of Insurance says the company might decide to total it and pay "your car's value minus depreciation." It also warns that if you still owe money on the car, that payment might not be enough to pay off the loan.

States add their own rules on how that value is worked out:

- In California, the Department of Insurance says a total loss settlement "must include taxes, license and transfer fees" and "must reflect the value of a comparable vehicle of like kind and quality."
- In Florida, for first-party total losses settled on actual cash value, section 626.9743 lets the insurer base a cash settlement on the cost to buy a comparable vehicle, including sales tax where it applies. Any deductions for betterment or depreciation "shall be itemized and specific as to dollar amount."

### A rental car or loss of use

The [Texas Department of Insurance](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/consumer/cb020.html) says that if another driver caused your accident, that driver's insurer "will pay for you to rent a car." You keep it for the time the company believes is reasonable to repair your car, it may extend that for parts delays, and if your car is totaled it might stop paying a few days after telling you.

Some states go further. A Connecticut Insurance Department [bulletin from 2007](https://portal.ct.gov/cid/department-resources/bulletins/claims-bulletins/bulletin-cl-1-07) says liability insurers must undertake to pay loss of use on third-party property damage claims once liability "has become reasonably clear," and that the payment is owed "even if the claimant has not actually incurred expenses such as rental costs." The same bulletin says no loss of use payment is required when the car keeps being driven and isn't taken in for repair, or when a reasonably equivalent rental is offered and accepted.

Your own insurer pays for a rental in narrower cases. Texas lists rental reimbursement coverage, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage when the driver who caused the crash had no insurance or not enough. Your insurer then pays "a set amount each day and only up to your policy's rental coverage dollar limits."

### Towing and storage

Among the claim-handling duties California's Department of Insurance lists: unless the insurer gave you the name of a specific towing company before you used one, "the insurer must pay reasonable towing expenses." In Texas, towing and labor coverage on your own policy pays to tow your car if it can't be driven, up to its dollar limit. Florida's statute requires an insurer to give 72 hours' notice before it stops paying previously authorized storage charges.

### Diminished value, in some states

A repaired car can be worth less than before because it now has an accident history. We found an official source on claiming that loss for only one state. A 2023 Maryland [fiscal and policy note](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2023RS/fnotes/bil_0008/hb0998.pdf), summarizing a December 2022 Maryland Insurance Administration advisory, says:

- a claim may be possible "if the sum of the cost of repairs and the D-V do not exceed the value of the car immediately before the accident";
- generally, someone found at fault, or who contributed to the cause of the accident, cannot file one;
- "The insurer of the at-fault driver is not obligated to notify an individual that they might have a D-V claim," and the individual must file it and prove the amount;
- Maryland law sets no required method for working out the amount.

Elsewhere, your state insurance department can explain its rules.

## Your own collision coverage or the other driver's insurer?

The total depends partly on which insurer you claim against. In Texas:

| | Other driver's insurer (third-party) | Your collision coverage (first-party) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Deductible | None, says TDI | You pay it first |
| Fault | Their company must agree its driver was at fault, says OPIC | Your company pays under your policy and will probably try to collect from theirs, says TDI |
| Rental | Paid if their driver caused the crash, for a reasonable repair time | With rental reimbursement coverage, up to its limits |
| Appraisal if you disagree on the amount | Not available, says TDI | An option TDI lists for disputes with your own company |

The Texas Department of Insurance gives an example of how a deductible works: on a $1,500 collision claim with a $500 deductible, the company pays $1,000. Texas's [Office of Public Insurance Counsel](https://www.opic.texas.gov/auto-insurance/third-party-claims) says that if you carry collision coverage you can let your insurer deal with the other driver, and that the deductible "may be recovered and refunded later." Without collision coverage, it says, you have to deal directly with the other driver's insurer. If the other driver has no insurance or not enough, it points to your own policy's uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage. The other driver's liability limit matters here: Texas law requires at least $25,000 of property damage coverage, according to TDI.

Florida's statute also says an insurer may not, when liability and damages are reasonably clear, recommend that a third-party claimant claim under their own policy "solely to avoid paying the claim."

**Offers to pay your deductible**
California's Department of Insurance says: "If the other party offers to pay your deductible, don't sign anything." It explains that your policy requires you to cooperate with your insurer's efforts to recover its payment, and that you "cannot sign an agreement releasing the other party in exchange for payment of your deductible."

## The release, and why "no injury" matters

A settlement closes with a release. The Texas Department of Insurance says the company "will also ask you to sign a release promising that you won't file more claims for the accident," and Texas's public insurance counsel says that once you sign the other insurer's release, "you are not going to get more money for your injury." Both make that point about injury claims. It matters on a damage-only claim too, because a release that covers all claims from the accident can also close off an injury that only shows up later. Texas's public insurance counsel, writing about injury settlements, says to read anything you are given to sign, including checks, carefully. If you aren't sure what a release covers, a licensed attorney in your state can explain it. The guide on [what a car accident settlement covers](https://mywreckcheck.com/motor-vehicle-accident/car-accident-settlement) explains the release in more detail.

If you disagree on the amount, the [NAIC](https://content.naic.org/article/what-you-should-know-about-filing-auto-claim) suggests asking the adjuster for "a written explanation of the decisions he or she makes," checking your policy for an appraisal clause, and contacting the consumer services staff at your state insurance department if you still can't agree.

## Checking an offer against your own numbers

Even if you found an average settlement for non injury car accident claims, it wouldn't be your claim. The useful comparison is the offer against your own documented costs: the repair estimate or the car's value, the rental, towing and storage, and anything your state adds. The [offer check](https://mywreckcheck.com/motor-vehicle-accident/tools/offer-check) puts those side by side.

Tool: [Offer check](https://mywreckcheck.com/motor-vehicle-accident/tools/offer-check). Put the adjuster's offer next to your own numbers and see what it leaves out.

Timing matters too. The Texas Department of Insurance notes that most companies have deadlines for filing claims. Separately, your state sets a legal deadline for filing a lawsuit, which the [claim deadline checker](https://mywreckcheck.com/motor-vehicle-accident/tools/claim-deadline-checker) shows. These are the ways to handle it, starting with the one that asks least of you.

**Work out what it is worth first.** Good when: Always, and especially before you answer an adjuster. Watch out: A range is a starting point for a conversation, not a prediction of what you will get.

**Deal with the insurer yourself.** Good when: Nobody was hurt, or you were checked out and the bills are small and finished. Watch out: Once you sign a release the claim is closed for good, even if you feel worse later.

**Use the free help your state already offers.** Good when: You want a lawyer's read but cannot pay, or you only need one question answered. Watch out: Legal aid has income limits and a bar referral service usually charges a small consultation fee.

**Get a free case review from an injury firm.** Good when: You are still treating, you missed real work, fault is disputed, or a commercial vehicle was involved. Watch out: Injury firms work on contingency and take a percentage, commonly a third, plus case costs. Ask for the number in writing before you sign.

Whether a damage-only claim needs a lawyer depends on the details. The guide [do you actually need a lawyer after a crash?](https://mywreckcheck.com/motor-vehicle-accident/do-you-actually-need-a-lawyer-after-a-crash) covers where the line usually falls.

## Bottom line

We found no official average settlement for non injury car accident claims, and the figures online don't agree. What sets your number is the repair cost or the car's actual cash value, plus a rental, towing and, where your state allows it, lost value after repair. Know which insurer you're claiming against and what the release covers, and take your questions to your state insurance department or a qualified professional.

Start the Wreck Check: https://mywreckcheck.com/check

## Common questions

### What is the average settlement for a car accident with no injuries?

We found no official source that publishes one. A damage-only claim is usually paid from the repair estimate or, if the car is totaled, from its actual cash value, plus items such as a rental and towing where the policy or state rules cover them.

### Does the other driver's insurer have to pay for a rental car?

The Texas Department of Insurance says that if another driver caused the accident, that driver's insurer will pay for you to rent a car for the time it believes is reasonable to repair yours. In Connecticut, a 2007 Insurance Department bulletin says liability insurers must undertake to pay loss of use once liability is reasonably clear, even if you did not rent a car.

### Do I pay a deductible if the crash was not my fault?

Not on a claim against the other driver's insurer, according to the Texas Department of Insurance. You will probably pay it on a claim under your own collision coverage, and Texas's public insurance counsel says it may be recovered and refunded later.

### Can I claim diminished value after the car is repaired?

It depends on the state and on fault. A 2023 Maryland legislative fiscal note, summarizing a Maryland Insurance Administration advisory, says a claim may be possible if repair costs plus the lost value do not exceed the car's pre-accident value, generally not if you were at fault, and that you must file the claim and prove the amount.

### What happens if my car is totaled?

The insurer pays the car's value rather than the repair bill. In California, the Department of Insurance says a total loss settlement must include taxes, license and transfer fees and reflect a comparable vehicle of like kind and quality.

## Sources

- [Texas Department of Insurance: Auto insurance guide](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/consumer/cb020.html)
- [Texas Office of Public Insurance Counsel: Information on third-party auto claims](https://www.opic.texas.gov/auto-insurance/third-party-claims)
- [California Department of Insurance: So you've had an accident, what's next?](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/01-auto/hadaccident.cfm)
- [Florida Statutes 626.9743: Claim settlement practices relating to motor vehicle insurance](http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0600-0699/0626/Sections/0626.9743.html)
- [Connecticut Insurance Department: Bulletin CL-1-07, loss of use payments](https://portal.ct.gov/cid/department-resources/bulletins/claims-bulletins/bulletin-cl-1-07)
- [Maryland Department of Legislative Services: Fiscal and policy note, HB 998 (2023), diminished value](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2023RS/fnotes/bil_0008/hb0998.pdf)
- [NAIC: What you should know about filing an auto claim](https://content.naic.org/article/what-you-should-know-about-filing-auto-claim)