SALVAGE & ASSET RECOVERY VALUATION
Salvage Value Equipment Appraisal
Salvage value appraisal services for damaged, decommissioned, and retired equipment, covering insurance total-loss claims, casualty loss tax deductions, and disposal planning. Millwright Equipment Appraisers appraises damaged, obsolete, and decommissioned machinery nationwide.
Salvage value is the net amount a piece of equipment would realize if it were sold for parts, scrap, or resale at the end of its useful life, after deducting the costs of removal, transport, dismantling, and auction or disposal. It is a distinct valuation premise, not the open-market value of a working machine. Salvage value is one of several value types our appraisers can conclude, alongside fair market value and orderly or forced liquidation value, and the right premise depends on why you need the number.
A formal salvage value appraisal is called for when equipment is damaged, destroyed, obsolete, or being retired: insurance total-loss settlements, casualty loss deductions, decommissioning aging assets, and disposal or liquidation planning all rely on a defensible salvage figure. Our appraisers document the condition, research the relevant salvage and secondary markets, account for the cost of getting the asset off site, and deliver a written report prepared in accordance with USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice).
This page covers when and why a formal salvage appraisal is needed. If you want the underlying math, our guide on how to estimate salvage value of equipment walks through the calculation, and our heavy machinery appraisal service covers large and specialized assets in depth.
EQUIPMENT COVERED
Millwright Equipment Appraisers Values Salvage and Disposal Value on All Types of Machinery, Including Construction, Farm, and Plant Equipment
We appraise damaged, aged, and decommissioned equipment across every major category, from a single obsolete machine to an entire retired fleet:
Construction & Earthmoving
- Excavators
- Bulldozers
- Wheel loaders
- Backhoes
- Cranes
- Telehandlers
Agricultural & Farm Equipment
- Tractors
- Combines
- Harvesters
- Sprayers
- Balers
- Grain handling systems
Industrial & Plant Machinery
- CNC machines
- Presses and brakes
- Conveyor systems
- Processing lines
- Generators
- Turbines
Shop, Trade & Material Handling
- Forklifts
- Welders and compressors
- Lathes and mills
- Woodworking machinery
- Fixed shop equipment
METHODOLOGY
How Your Salvage Value Equipment Appraisal Works
- 01
Request and scope
Tell us what triggered the appraisal, whether an insurance claim, a casualty loss, or equipment retirement, and we confirm the valuation date and the correct value premise for your situation.
- 02
Inspection and documentation
We inspect on site or review detailed photos, documenting damage, condition, serial numbers, and hour meters so each asset's state is recorded as of the valuation date.
- 03
Market and disposal-cost analysis
We research comparable salvage, parts, and scrap sales, then deduct the real costs of removal, transport, dismantling, and auction to reach a net salvage figure.
- 04
USPAP report
You receive a written report prepared in accordance with USPAP, ready for the insurer, adjuster, CPA, or your tax filing.
INTENDED USE
Salvage Value Appraisals Support Insurance Claims, Casualty Loss Deductions, and Disposal Decisions
Insurance Total-Loss Claims
Independent salvage value on damaged or destroyed equipment, prepared in accordance with USPAP so your insurer and adjuster have a defensible figure to settle against.
Casualty Loss Tax Deductions
Valuations that support casualty and theft loss deductions on IRS Form 4684, documenting the equipment's value before and after the loss event.
Equipment Retirement & Disposal Planning
Salvage and disposal value so you can decide whether to sell, scrap, or part out aging machinery, and budget the cost of removal accurately.
Lease-End and Trade-In Decisions
Recovery value at the end of a lease or before a trade-in, so you know what the equipment is genuinely worth at the close of its service life.
Asset Recovery After Fire, Flood, or Accident Damage
Post-loss salvage value on equipment damaged by fire, flood, or accident, supporting both the claim and any resale of the recoverable assets.
CREDENTIALS
Credentialed Machinery and Equipment Appraisers
Our appraisers hold designations with leading professional bodies and prepare every salvage value report in accordance with USPAP.
ASA
Certified Machinery & Equipment Appraiser (CMEA)
CAGA
USPAP-Compliant
COMMON QUESTIONS
Salvage Value Equipment Appraisal Questions
How is salvage value different from fair market value?
Fair market value is what working equipment would sell for on the open market between a willing buyer and seller. Salvage value is the net amount an asset would bring at the end of its useful life, sold for parts, scrap, or resale, after deducting removal, transport, and disposal costs. They are two different valuation premises, and we confirm which one your situation calls for before we begin.
Does an insurance company accept a salvage value appraisal for a total-loss claim?
Acceptance is always the insurer's decision. What we provide is an independent report prepared in accordance with USPAP, documenting the equipment's condition and salvage value with market evidence, so the adjuster has a defensible figure to work from. A credentialed, standards-compliant appraisal gives your claim a stronger footing than an internal estimate.
Can a salvage value appraisal support a casualty loss tax deduction?
Yes. Casualty and theft loss deductions reported on IRS Form 4684 generally require documentation of an asset's value before and after the loss. A salvage value appraisal establishes the post-loss figure and the market evidence behind it. Your CPA and the IRS make the final determination, but the report is built to be defensible and complete.
Who typically orders a salvage value appraisal?
Insurers and adjusters settling total-loss claims, business owners retiring or disposing of aging equipment, CPAs handling casualty loss deductions, and attorneys involved in loss or liquidation matters. We work directly with whoever is handling the matter and address the report to them.
How long does a salvage value appraisal take?
Turnaround varies by project, depending on the number of assets, their location, and the depth of analysis required, and we confirm timing up front. If you have a claim deadline or a tax filing date, tell us and we will let you know whether we can meet it. Expedited service is available.
Get Started
Request an Appraisal
Tell us about the damaged, retired, or decommissioned equipment you need valued and we will respond within one business day.