What is the second check in a roof insurance claim?

Under an RCV policy the insurance company withholds the depreciation amount from your initial payment. When the roof replacement is complete and properly documented they release that withheld amount as a second check. This is real money, often several thousand dollars, that many homeowners do not know to expect or pursue. We walk you through the billing process so you receive every dollar your policy provides.

Can I negotiate which policy type applies to my claim?

Not typically once a claim is filed. Your policy type is established at the time of coverage. What you can do is confirm your current coverage before filing and understand what it means for your specific claim.

My roof is 14 years old. Should I file a claim now?

If there is legitimate storm damage present the timing of your policy type is an important consideration. We inspect first to determine whether damage is there, then help you understand what your current policy pays before you decide whether to file.

Storm Damage Resources

ACV vs RCV: What Is the Difference
and Why Does It Matter for Your
Roof Insurance Claim?

The type of policy you have determines how much your insurance company pays when you file a storm damage claim. Most homeowners do not know which one they have until it is too late to matter.

Two policy types. Very different payouts.

When you file a storm damage claim on your roof your insurance company determines what they owe you based on one of two valuation methods. Replacement Cost Value or Actual Cash Value. The difference between them can be thousands of dollars on a single claim.

RCV

Replacement Cost Value

Pays what it actually costs to replace your roof at today's material and labor prices. The insurance company withholds a depreciation amount from the first check, but releases it as a second check once the work is complete and documented.

Better coverage. More common on newer roofs.

ACV

Actual Cash Value

Pays the depreciated value of your old roof: what it was worth given its age and condition. You receive one check. There is no second payment. The depreciation withheld is never released regardless of whether you complete the replacement.

Reduced coverage. More common on older roofs.

How depreciation works.

Depreciation is how insurance companies reduce a payout based on the age and expected remaining lifespan of what was damaged. A roof with a 25-year rated lifespan that is 15 years old has roughly 40 percent of its useful life remaining in the eyes of an insurer.

Under RCV that depreciation is withheld from your first check but returned when the work is done. Under ACV that depreciation is simply subtracted. You receive the reduced amount and that is the end of the claim.

When do policies shift from RCV to ACV?

Most standard homeowner policies begin as RCV coverage. As a roof ages, typically approaching 15 to 20 years depending on the carrier, many insurers either shift the policy to ACV or add a depreciation schedule that significantly reduces payouts. Some carriers do this automatically at renewal without prominent notification.

This is why acting on a legitimate storm damage claim before your policy changes matters. A roof with documented hail damage filed while still on RCV coverage can mean a full replacement paid by insurance. The same roof filed one year later under ACV could mean a payout that does not cover the actual replacement cost.

How to find out which policy you have.

Call your insurance agent and ask specifically whether your roof is covered at replacement cost value or actual cash value. Ask whether there is a depreciation schedule that applies and at what age it activates. Ask what the current depreciation percentage would be on a claim filed today.

If you do not have that conversation before a storm the first time you find out which policy type you have is when the adjuster's estimate arrives. At that point your options are limited.

Knowing your policy type before a storm is one of the most valuable things a homeowner can do. We help you understand what it means for your specific situation. Free.

Not sure which policy type you have?

We help you understand it before you file.

Free inspection and honest assessment of what your current policy means for your specific roof. No obligation.

Call (816) 866-4235 Schedule Inspection

(816) 866-4235 · Smithville, Missouri · Missouri Licensed and Insured

ACV vs RCV: What Is the Differenceand Why Does It Matter for YourRoof Insurance Claim?