At-fault driver's insurer refusing to send me any docs until I sign a release — is that even legal?

Do NOT trust a verbal policy limit. That is one of the oldest tricks in the book. They have zero incentive to tell you the truth over the phone, and if you sign that release based on a number they just said, you have no recourse. Request the dec page in writing, certified mail, return receipt. Make them put everything on paper.

I used to work on the claims side and I'll be straight with you — the 'we'll send the documents after you sign' thing is a pressure tactic. Full stop. The whole point is to get your signature before you have enough information to push back. Adjusters have quotas and closing your file fast is in their interest, not yours. You're doing the right thing by stalling. Keep stalling.

Most states have insurance codes that require carriers to provide claim-related documentation in a timely manner, and many explicitly include policy declarations as something a third-party claimant can request. Your regulatory complaint is a good move — insurers tend to pay more attention once a state agency is involved, even if the timeline feels slow. Keep copies of every communication you've had with them, timestamps and all. That paper trail matters if this escalates.

Not legal advice, but what you're describing — withholding valuation documents and conditioning them on a signed release — raises some real red flags around bad faith claims handling depending on your state's statutes. If the regulatory complaint doesn't move them, a consultation with a PI attorney who handles total loss disputes might be worth your time. Many do free consults. They can also sometimes get policy info through other channels.

I went through almost this exact situation last year. The adjuster kept telling me things verbally and every time I asked for something in writing they'd go quiet for two weeks. Finally I stopped taking their calls and only communicated by email. Things started moving a lot faster once there was a written record they knew I was keeping. Hang in there, it's exhausting but you're asking the right questions.

Here's the simple version: don't sign anything, don't trust anything you can't verify in writing, and get comparable listings for your vehicle saved and documented right now. Screenshots, printouts, whatever. If this goes further you'll want to show exactly what the market value was at the time of the loss.

Quick question — when you say the offer only covers your loan balance, do you know for a fact the car is worth more than that, or is that based on private-party listing prices you found online? Asking because there's sometimes a gap between what people list cars for and what insurers use as actual cash value. Not saying they're being fair — they're probably not — just want to make sure you're comparing apples to apples when you push back on the number.