01
Why there's no single price
Ask five vendors what an MVA live transfer costs and you will get five different numbers. That's because a transfer isn't a commodity: the price reflects how hard the claimant was to find, how much screening happened before the handoff, and whether anyone else will receive the same caller.
Instead of chasing the lowest per-call price, understand what drives it — then negotiate the factors that matter to your firm.
02
The seven price drivers
These are the factors that move the price of a transfer up or down:
- State and county — competitive metros with many buying firms cost more than smaller markets.
- Case type — commercial truck and catastrophic-injury cases cost more than standard car accidents.
- Criteria strictness — requiring ER treatment, a police report and a recent accident date narrows supply.
- Exclusivity — single-sold transfers cost more than shared ones, and are worth it.
- Hours — evening and weekend coverage requires your intake line to be staffed and usually carries a premium.
- Volume and caps — larger, steadier commitments earn better rates once quality is proven.
- Billable duration — a longer minimum call time before a transfer is billable protects you, and is priced in.
03
Cost per transfer vs. cost per signed case
The number that matters is cost per signed case: your monthly spend divided by the cases your firm actually signed from that source. A cheaper transfer that rarely signs can easily cost more per case than a pricier one that signs often.
Track it by source and by month. Use the pipeline calculator on our homepage to model it with your own numbers before you talk to any vendor.
04
How to negotiate well
Start with a capped pilot so both sides can see real sign-up rates. Then negotiate on the factors above rather than on a headline price:
- Tighten or loosen criteria based on what your attorneys actually accept.
- Agree the minimum billable duration and the return window in writing.
- Commit to more volume only after several weeks of consistent sign-up rates.