A slow total loss process doesn’t just frustrate your adjusters—it frustrates your customers, inflates your cycle time, and chips away at your bottom line.
Often, the symptoms of a broken workflow show up before the root causes are clear. Claims are taking longer. Customer satisfaction is slipping. Adjusters feel stretched thin. But what’s actually slowing you down?
In this post, we’ll break down three common signs that your total loss workflow is hurting your performance—and what to do about it.
1. Lengthened Cycle Time
Longer cycle times are one of the most visible signs that your total loss workflow needs attention. When it takes too long to close a claim, everyone feels it—adjusters, policyholders, and your bottom line.
So what’s dragging the process down?
Common culprits:
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Valuations that lack accuracy, requiring rework or secondary approvals
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Reports that don’t include proper tax and fee calculations, causing delays with payments or settlements
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A lack of transparency in the valuation, leading to disputes or mistrust
Cycle time isn’t just a number—it’s a signal. A slow process means more rental car expenses, more customer service calls, and more pressure on already-strained teams.
What to do:
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Ensure valuations are built on current, localized market data
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Include all necessary tax and fee data upfront to eliminate backtracking
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Use platforms like Total Loss Plus that generate transparent, defensible valuation reports adjusters and customers can trust
2. Frequent Disputes and Escalations
If your total loss calls are constantly being challenged by customers, shops, or internal reviewers—it’s a sign the data behind your decisions isn’t holding up.
Disputes don’t just slow things down. They create more work for already-burdened adjusters, add friction to the customer experience, and can lead to regulatory exposure.
Why it happens:
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Valuations are inconsistent or lack defensible data
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There’s no clear audit trail or reasoning behind decisions
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Repair estimates conflict with vehicle values
What to do:
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Use standardized, transparent valuation platforms like Total Loss Plus
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Ensure market data is updated frequently and reflects regional conditions
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Offer clear explanations and customer-ready documentation at every step
3. Adjuster Burnout and Workflow Workarounds
Are your adjusters creating spreadsheets to track claims on their own? Are they working overtime to resolve basic cases?
When adjusters don’t have the right tools, they build their own—which creates inconsistency, wasted time, and burnout.
Symptoms of a broken workflow:
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Adjusters relying on manual tracking tools
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High turnover or low satisfaction on the claims team
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“Workarounds” becoming standard operating procedure
What to do:
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Automate wherever possible—especially for repetitive or time-sensitive tasks
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Centralize communication, valuation, and documentation in one system
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Regularly gather adjuster feedback to find workflow gaps
Your adjusters are your front line. Give them the tools and support they need, and your entire process becomes more efficient.
Final Thoughts
Total loss claims don’t have to drag.
If your team is experiencing delays, disputes, or burnout—it’s time to take a closer look at your workflow.
DCI Solution’s Total Loss Plus was built to fix these exact issues, helping carriers improve speed, accuracy, and customer experience all in one platform.