When can an appraiser take action regarding a vehicle in custody?

An appraiser is authorized to take action regarding a vehicle in custody primarily after reaching an agreement on the price with the repair shop. This is crucial because an appraiser's role often involves assessing the damage and determining the costs associated with repairs, which must be agreed upon before any actions can be taken.

Engaging with the shop to finalize the pricing ensures that the appraiser's evaluations align with the financial expectations of both the insurance company and the repair facility. This agreement serves as a foundation for moving forward with any further inspections or decisions about the vehicle.

While it might seem that appraisers could inspect vehicles at any time or act upon multiple requests from the owners, those actions are contingent on the established agreement regarding repair costs. It's also not appropriate to proceed solely based on confirmation of insurance, as that does not address the critical step of pricing the repair work needed on the vehicle.