Puerto Rico Vehicle Appraisal & Insurance Claim Resources

Puerto Rico's Oficina del Comisionado de Seguros (OCS) has promulgated an active appraisal regulation: Regla Núm. 106 del Reglamento del Código de Seguros de Puerto Rico, Reglamento Núm. 9519, titled 'Normas para Regular el Proceso de Valoración (Appraisal) en Reclamaciones de Seguros.' This regulation establishes a formal framework for the appraisal process in insurance claims within its stated scope.

Rule 106 expressly describes its applicability in terms of claims arising under 'pólizas de seguros de propiedad' — property-insurance policies — in commercial or personal lines. Article 5 of the Rule states that it applies to appraisal proceedings concerning claims arising from property-insurance policies in commercial or personal lines.

Rule 106 contains significant appraisal provisions, including: appraisal as an alternative process for valuation and amount-of-loss disputes; the role of appraisers ('tasadores') and a neutral umpire ('árbitro'); impartiality and competence requirements; appraisal clause requirements for policies within the Rule's scope; disputes concerning valuation after coverage has been accepted; the procedure for selecting the umpire, including OCS appointment where appraisers cannot agree; the requirement that agreement of two of the three participants (appraiser, umpire, appraiser) is binding; and confidentiality and other procedural requirements.

IMPORTANT SCOPE LIMITATION: Rule 106 should not be automatically applied to automobile physical-damage claims without first confirming that the applicable policy and current OCS authority establish that the claim falls within the Rule's stated scope. For automobile appraisal specifically, policyholders and practitioners should review the applicable policy and consult current OCS authority to determine whether Rule 106 governs their claim.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT (2026): As of March 5, 2026, OCS has published a proposed amendment to Rule 106 / Regulation 9519. This proposal should not be treated as final law or current regulation unless and until OCS completes the applicable rulemaking process. The current operative regulation remains the version in effect prior to the proposed amendment. The OCS proposed-amendment page is available at the OCS official website.

Puerto Rico requires compulsory automobile liability insurance known as the Seguro de Responsabilidad Obligatorio (SRO). The SRO is a liability coverage — it does not cover damage to the insured vehicle itself. The SRO and first-party physical-damage appraisal are distinct and should not be confused.

OCS currently states that the maximum compulsory-liability coverage under the SRO is $4,500 per accident. Qualifying injured parties may receive reimbursement of IVU (Impuesto sobre Ventas y Uso — Puerto Rico's sales tax) actually paid on parts and labor for vehicle repairs under the SRO framework. OCS maintains a separate initial-liability determination system for compulsory insurance claims.

The SRO's third-party liability procedures are separate from first-party physical-damage appraisal under a comprehensive or collision policy. Vehicle owners seeking appraisal of their own vehicle's damage under their own policy should look to the applicable policy language and, where applicable, the OCS regulatory framework for property-insurance claims.

When a vehicle is declared a total loss under a Puerto Rico automobile insurance policy, the insurer must determine the Actual Cash Value (ACV) of the vehicle. ACV is generally understood as the fair market value of the vehicle immediately before the loss — the price a willing buyer would pay a willing seller — taking into account the vehicle's year, make, model, trim, mileage, condition, and options.

Puerto Rico's vehicle market has unique characteristics, including its geographic location, the cost of importing vehicles, and the IVU (sales tax) applicable to vehicle transactions. These factors may affect how comparable vehicle data is gathered and how ACV is determined for Puerto Rico vehicles. Whether IVU or other fees must be included in a total-loss settlement depends on the applicable policy and current OCS authority.

Diminished value claims in Puerto Rico depend on the type of claim, the applicable policy language, and the applicable provisions of the Código de Seguros de Puerto Rico and Puerto Rico civil law. Puerto Rico's civil-law legal system is distinct from the common-law systems of U.S. states, and legal principles governing property-damage claims may differ accordingly.

Questions about diminished value recovery in a specific Puerto Rico claim — whether first-party or third-party — should be directed to a qualified attorney familiar with Puerto Rico insurance law and civil law.

Under Rule 106, appraisers ('tasadores') participating in OCS-regulated appraisal proceedings must meet impartiality and competence requirements. The Rule provides for the selection of a neutral umpire ('árbitro') and, where appraisers cannot agree on an umpire, an OCS appointment procedure.

For automobile physical-damage claims outside the confirmed scope of Rule 106, appraiser qualifications are generally governed by the applicable policy language. Questions about appraiser qualifications and the applicable regulatory framework for a specific claim should be directed to a qualified attorney or to OCS directly.