Loss of use is meant to compensate you for the cost and inconvenience of having a car you can’t drive, covering all or some of the cost of a rental car or alternate transportation. And for owners of rare, exotic, or luxury vehicles, the frustration of losing access to their car is often compounded by a lack of comparable rentals. It’s no surprise, then, that one question we get all the time is How much can I claim for loss of use of my vehicle? While the answer is different for everyone, there are some basics that can guide your process and expectations.

How Loss of Use Compensation is Determined

Loss of use claims are usually determined by the cost to rent a comparable vehicle for a set period of time. The exact formula to calculate loss of use is daily rental rate x number of rental days. So if a comparable rental car costs $300 per day and you’ll need it for 30 days, that’s a loss of use claim of $9,000.

Claim ranges are based on a number of factors. This includes vehicle class (standard vs. luxury), length of time necessary for repairs, and average rental rates in your market. Who was at fault for the accident, the quality of your claim documentation, and the primary use of your vehicle (personal or business) will also play a role.

Of course, these factors aren’t always so cut-and-dry, especially when you’re dealing with a luxury vehicle. Both the daily rental rate and the duration of repairs tend to be higher with these types of cars, and that creates a tricky situation when you’re dealing with an insurance company that wants to pay out as little as possible for your loss of use claim.

Claim Maximums for Loss of Use by Vehicle Class

Most insurers set a maximum limit for loss of use claims. These limits are important to keep in mind as you fight for fair compensation, and can provide you with a general guideline during the loss of use claims process.

  • Economy/Compact Vehicles: Typically, a maximum of $30 to $50 per day.
  • Mid-Size/Full-Size Vehicles: Standard claim amounts of around $50 to $100 per day.
  • Luxury Vehicles: Based on comparable rental rates, which can range anywhere from $250 to $1,000+ per day.
  • Exotic/Specialty Vehicles: Justifiable claim amounts vary but can reach as high as $3,000 per day.
  • Commercial Vehicles: Rate based on vehicle class plus cost of disruption to business.

Claim maximums may vary based on your insurance provider and state. Note that each vehicle class requires specific documentation, with more proof needed if you’re in need of a specialty rental vehicle.

How to Document for Maximum Loss of Use Compensation

To get the most for your luxury car loss of use claim, you’ll need to provide more than just the basics in terms of documentation.

To start, we recommend getting multiple rental car quotes from agencies that specialize in luxury and exotic cars. In addition to making sure you get the most comparable vehicle while your car is in repairs, this shows a clear range of rental prices that you can then submit to insurance. Pair these with documents around your expected repair timeline, including any expected delays due to holidays, weekends, or hard-to-procure parts.

Many insurers look to your car’s actual cash value (ACV) to set a rental limit. Have a professional valuation done to ensure your ACV is accurate and takes into account its specialty class. With the documents above, this creates a compelling claim package and strong foothold if you end up needing to negotiate with insurance later on.

The SuperCarClaims.com Approach to Loss of Use

Our goal is a simple one: get our clients the maximum compensation possible for their loss of use claims. To do it, we combine our expertise with luxury and exotic vehicles along with our professional appraisal and documentation practices to simplify even the most challenging of claims. The result is clear-cut numbers around rental rates and repair durations, and a lot more legitimacy when going back and forth with insurance.

Want to know more? Contact SuperCarClaims.com for assistance with loss of use claims, and make sure you get exactly what you’re owed for the lost use of your luxury vehicle.