Richmond, Va.-based Elephant Insurance has selected a new valuation product to determine total loss vehicle values following a collision.

Elephant, a subsidiary of the United Kingdom’s Admiral Group, announced it will use San Diego, Calif.-based Mitchell International’s WorkCenter Total Loss valuation software to generate fair and market-driven values for its customers.

WorkCenter Total Loss produces vehicle valuations utilizing comparable vehicles from consumer recognizable brands, according to Mitchell International, eliminating the “black box” feel of other valuation systems and resulting in higher first call settlement rates for carriers.

The company said the combination of its collision repair industry knowledge and the credibility of J.D. Power and Associates, which aided the development of the program, ease the settlement process for all parties, reducing claims cycle time and increasing customer satisfaction.

Mitchell International offers information and workflow solutions to property-casualty companies, focusing on several areas including auto physical damage and workers’ compensation claims processing.

Elephant opened its first U.S. office in Glen Allen, Va., in October as a direct-to-consumer automobile insurance company.

Andrew Rose, president and chief executive officer of Elephant, said as a start-up, the company “places a premium on partners who are able to give us a competitive advantage in the U.S. collision repair marketplace in terms of costs, efficiency, claims accuracy, and customer service.

“Since total loss claims can be disruptive for customers, Elephant intends to settle them quickly and accurately,” Rose said in a statement. “WorkCenter Total Loss helps our clients get back on the road faster because the solution was developed in partnership with J.D. Power and Associates, a brand which American consumers recognize and trust.”

Mitchell International Executive Vice President Marc Brungger welcomed Elephant to the U.S. and said the company looks “forward to helping this exciting young company grow and succeed.

“Mitchell’s WorkCenter Total Loss product allows Elephant’s adjusters to settle claims efficiently using an intuitive and powerful methodology,” he said. “The final report format allows the customer to easily understand the rationale behind the vehicle valuation.”