If your car is damaged in a collision, its resale value will decrease — even if it’s fully repaired. This is called diminished value.
If you're concerned about taking a hit on your vehicle's resale value, consider requesting compensation via a diminished value claim.
What does diminished value mean?
Diminished value, or diminution of value, refers to the difference in the market price of a vehicle before and after an accident. Even if your car is repaired to full function, its involvement in a collision means its value is lower than that of a similar vehicle not involved in a crash.
Diminished value is not to be confused with depreciation, which is the drop in market value as the vehicle ages further from its manufacture date. Depreciation still applies in resale values, but unlike diminished value, there is little you can do to avoid this drop in price.
Three types of diminished value
- Immediate diminished value: This type represents the difference in the resale value of the car immediately following the accident, but before repairs have been made. This type is rarely used in diminished value claims, as repairs are most often made immediately after accidents.
- Inherent diminished value: The most common form used in claims, inherent diminished value represents the amount the vehicle’s worth will reduce based on accident history, assuming all repairs have been made to optimal quality.
- Repair-related diminished value: While inherent diminished value is dependent on high-quality repair jobs, repair-related diminished value is used when the repairs made to the vehicle are of sub-standard quality — for example, if aftermarket parts are used or the paint color on the replaced part is not an exact match to the original. This type assumes that the vehicle cannot be restored to its original condition.
What is a diminished value insurance claim?
When it comes time to sell your vehicle, you’ll notice that the resale value is lower than similar vehicles on the market if it has been in a crash. In some cases, you may be able to file a claim with your insurance company to recoup these losses. This is called a diminished value insurance claim. You would file this claim with the insurance company of the at-fault party; it is largely prohibited to file such a claim against your own provider. Each insurance company and state will have its own policies regarding diminished value claims, so it’s important to ensure that the provider offers compensation for diminution in value before proceeding. Even if the provider does not offer payouts for diminished value claims, you may still be able to file with your state.
Calculating diminished value
If you find out the insurance company does offer diminished value claim payouts, it is still a good idea to try to calculate the exact amount of lost value and compare it to the amount the insurance company is willing to pay. Most insurance companies will use the 17c form to calculate diminished value. The formula is as follows:
Step 1: Check your car’s pre-loss value
Use a source like Kelley Blue Book to determine your car’s value by make, model and year. This will be our base number, representing what your car’s resale value would be if it had never experienced an accident.
Step 2: Apply a 10% cap to that value.
Insurance companies often apply a cap known as the "base loss of value." This is the maximum your carrier will pay for a diminished value claim.
Step 3: Apply a damage multiplier
The 10% cap value is multiplied by a number ranging from 0.00 to 1.00. That number represents the extent of the damage to your vehicle.
See below the diminished value scale:
|
|
Level of damage |
| 0.00 | No structural damage |
| 0.25 | Minor damage to structure and panels |
| 0.50 | Moderate damage to structure and panels |
| 0.75 | Major damage to structure and panels |
| 1.00 | Severe structural damage |
Step 4: Apply a mileage multiplier
Miles driven on your car is also taken into consideration by insurance companies when calculating these claims. Multiplier levels are in increments of .20.
Mileage is assessed as follows:
|
|
Mileage |
| 1.00 | 0 - 19,999 |
| 0.80 | 20,000 - 39,999 |
| 0.60 | 40,000 - 59,999 |
| 0.40 | 60,000 - 79,999 |
| 0.20 | 80,000 - 99,999 |
| 0.00 | 100,000+ |
Diminished value calculation example:
Let’s say the market value of your car according to Kelley Blue Book is $12,000. First, take 12,000 and multiply it by 10% to account for the 10% cap. 12,000 x .10 = 1,200. The new number we’re working with is $1,200. This is the maximum amount your insurer would pay out for a diminished value claim.
- The accident you were in caused moderate damage to the structure and panels of your car. Now take 1,200 and multiply it by the value for moderate damage. 1,200 x .50 = 600.
- There are 20,000 miles on your vehicle. By applying the appropriate mileage multiplier to the new number calculated in step 3, we have 600 x 0.80 = 480.
- The diminished value of your car is $480 based on these circumstances.
To determine the new resale value of the car, ask your dealership what your vehicle’s trade-in value is now, post-accident. The difference between the Kelley Blue Book value and the trade-in value should also give you a ballpark idea of the diminished value.
Is the number you calculated in formula 17c (or the difference in trade-in and market value) equal or less than what the insurance company is willing to pay out? If so, you may wish to proceed with the diminished value claim.
How to file a diminished value insurance claim
These claims are often a bit trickier to navigate than others because the burden of proving the diminished value is largely on the customer. There are a few things to know before beginning the claims process:
- If you were the party at fault for the accident, you are not likely to receive a claim payout. You are much more likely to have success with the insurance company if the accident was caused by someone else. If the at-fault driver is uninsured, you will need to have had uninsured motorist coverage on your policy in order for a diminished value claim to be processed.
- Documentation will be required to account for all aspects of your claim. The insurance company will ask for the value of your vehicle from a trusted source (like Kelley Blue Book). You may also need to provide photos of the accident and records of the repairs made.
- You will need to prove your car’s diminished value. To do this, come prepared with the calculations from form 17c, or you may need to get it appraised by a professional. A certified appraiser might be key to securing your insurance payout.
- Every state has different laws regarding diminished value claims. Be sure to research your state’s regulations before proceeding with a claim. States that currently allow drivers to recover for diminished value include:
Best practices in filing diminished value claims
Always file a diminished value claim with the at-fault party's insurer. If they were uninsured or the company does not offer assistance, speak with your own provider about next steps. You may be entitled to file a claim with the state if you live in one of the states listed above. Contact your state’s department of insurance to proceed.
Filing your claim as soon as possible is your best chance at recouping diminished value losses.
Using a third-party adjuster might also be a good tactic in receiving an accurate and certified numerical value to present to the carrier.
Be aware that because diminished value claims are more complex to file and harder to collect from, you may consider legal counsel, or you may need to prepare for small claims court proceedings.
Is filing a claim worth it?
Ultimately, that is up to each driver to determine. Each situation is unique, and since the diminished value calculation is dependent on so many factors, only once you gather the proper information may you determine a claim’s worth. With variances in insurance carrier policies, state regulations, level of damage and age of your vehicle, each driver’s situation is distinct. If you decide that you do want to proceed with filing your claim, the information here should serve as ample preparation for your diminished value claim.
