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Diminished value
What to check first, what to collect, and how to send the claim yourself.
General educational information, not legal or tax advice. Laws, deadlines and policy terms vary by state and by policy. Claimly Appraisals is not a law firm, an insurer or a public adjuster.
Diminished value claims are most often made against the insurer of the driver who caused the accident. Whether your state recognizes the claim, and how long you have to make it, varies. Start with the guide for your state.
If the vehicle is leased, the leasing company owns it. Read your lease and ask the lessor how it handles value loss.
Wait for the final repair invoice rather than a preliminary estimate. Keep photos of the damage before the repair and of the vehicle afterwards, the vehicle history report, and your purchase contract if you bought the vehicle recently.
Ask one or two dealers, or an online buying service, for a written offer with the accident disclosed. A real offer after the repair is one of the strongest pieces of evidence there is.
A report prepared and signed by a professional appraiser sets out the pre-accident value, the post-repair value, the method and the supporting evidence. It asserts a value. It does not assert that anyone is legally required to pay it.
Send a short Claim Submission Letter with the report and your evidence to the claims adjuster handling the file. State the amount you are claiming and ask for a written response. Claimly Appraisals prepares the documents; you personalize and send them. We do not contact the insurer.
Ask the insurer to explain its figure in writing and respond with evidence, point by point. If the dispute turns on a legal question, an attorney licensed in your state can advise you on your options.
It depends on your state's statute of limitations for property damage, which is commonly counted in years from the accident. The guide for your state gives the period.
It depends on your state and on your policy. Many policies exclude it. The guide for your state explains what is generally available.
Many owners send the claim themselves with supporting documents. For legal advice about your rights or about a denial, speak with an attorney licensed in your state.
Yes. Diminished value is measured after the repair, and the final invoice is the document that shows what was done.
General educational information, not legal or tax advice. Laws, deadlines and policy terms vary by state and by policy. Claimly Appraisals is not a law firm, an insurer or a public adjuster.
The free estimate checks your state first and gives a directional range in about two minutes.