.

You have selected the option of going to one of the providers listed below to determine how they would value your aircraft. Generally, insurance companies want the hull value on the policy for your plane to be within 10% of its fair market value. Obviously, situations can arise where no software will accurately reflect the true market value of your investment. In those situations, we know how to work with our underwriters to get the insured value listed on your policy as close as possible to your desired level. Here are a few important points to keep in mind...

• Repair work and sometimes the replacement of parts do not cause an increase in value. All of the appraisal mediums assume the parts in your aircraft are in good working order in the first place.
• Avionics depreciate rapidly. Just because you paid $20,000 for the latest GPS system, don't expect the companies to insure it for $20,000. This is a common source of frustration - we recognize if your GPs is stolen, you will likely want to replace it with a new one.
• Keep in mind the insurance policy is a contract between you and the company. The contract states if your aircraft is damaged and not deemed a total loss (which is largely up to the discretion of the company), they will put it back as close as possible to how it was before the damage. Put another way, if you want to have some value added items taken care of since the airplane is in the shop anyway, you will be paying for those.
• In the insurance world, top overhauls aren't worth anything.
• Facer insurance does not represent the accuracy of the values provided by the following services. If you want a precise valuation, we urge you to contact a qualified aircraft appraiser.

The most comprehensive aircraft appraisal can only be done by a qualified aircraft appraiser. The best way to find a good appraiser is to ask around. Talk to the people at your local FBO or ask your favorite mechanic if they can refer you to a good appraiser. You might also try calling a few local aircraft dealers or brokers.

While a qualified appraiser is your best bet when it comes to an accurate aircraft appraisal, there are several online appraisal services that may provide a good starting point in determining the value of your aircraft.

Vref
The online Vref appraisal software can be found on the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association web site. Vref provides a general valuation for most production general aviation aircraft. The online Vref calculator is available to AOPA members only, so you will need to become a member to use this service. AOPA provides many other valuable services like a list of STCs, an operating cost calculator, a payment calculator, aircraft reports, and tips on buying used aircraft. A more detailed Vref calculation can be obtained by purchasing a printed copy of Vref's Aircraft Price Guide at www.vrefpub.com.

The e-Valu-ator
The e-Valu-ator is is a service of the National Aircraft Appraiser's Association with the cooperation and support of Trade-A-Plane. Like Vref, this service is intended to provide an estimated aircraft value, although the evaluator provides a bit more detail than Vref. The e-Valu-ator is available to subscribers on the Trade-a-Plane web site, so you must be, or need to become, a Trade-a-Plane subscriber to use this service. Besides the e-Valu-ator, Trade-a-Plane will give you a listing of the asking price for aircraft similar to yours. While asking price and appraised value can differ significantly, this is useful information.