Question 1

What is diminished value? Does it apply to my vehicle?

Accepted Answer

Diminished value is the loss in your vehicle's market value after a documented accident, even when the repair has been performed correctly. The market will not pay the same price for a vehicle with an accident on its history that it pays for one without — and the gap is your loss to bear unless you act to recover it. As Robert L. McDorman writes: "Diminished value will always exist on a repaired vehicle. This is the case even if the vehicle has been repaired to the best of one's human ability." The technical name for the post-accident-stigma component is inherent diminished value, and it exists independently of how well the body shop did its work.

Question 2

Will the at-fault driver's insurance pay for my diminished value?

Accepted Answer

In most states, you can file a third-party diminished-value claim against the at-fault driver's carrier when their insured is liable for the loss. There is no federal formula for the amount; each state and each carrier handles these claims differently. As Robert L. McDorman writes, "in Texas, there is no set formula for diminished value claims… This leaves a huge amount of subjectivity for these types of claims and discounted settlements. Each carrier handles these claims differently, and few of them put in an honest effort to make the damaged party whole." The remedy is the same in every state: bring well-sourced comparable-sales evidence of what your vehicle was worth pre-loss versus post-repair, and demand the difference.

Question 3

Can I claim diminished value from my own carrier?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your policy. Many policies do not cover first-party diminished value, but most personal auto policies do cover it under the uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) section when the at-fault driver was uninsured or underinsured. Read your policy's UM/UIM section carefully, and ask the carrier in writing whether DV is included.

Question 4

Can I invoke the Appraisal Clause after I have already accepted the carrier's check?

Accepted Answer

Once you have signed a release of your insurable interest in the vehicle, your right to invoke appraisal is significantly weakened — and in some cases extinguished. The Texas Department of Insurance has stated: "An insurance company may not be obligated to accept an appraisal request after the policyholder has agreed to a settlement and relinquished their insurable interest in the vehicle." The rule of practice: never sign a release, and never cash the settlement check, until you are confident the proposed settlement properly indemnifies you for the loss.

Question 5

How quickly do I need to file a diminished value claim?

Accepted Answer

Statutes of limitations on diminished-value claims vary by state, but most states fall in the two-to-four-year range from the date of loss for property-damage claims. File well before the deadline. Some carriers also impose contractual deadlines (e.g., "claims must be brought within one year of loss") — read your specific policy. If you are unsure about your jurisdiction's deadline, consult an attorney now, before the deadline lapses.

Question 6

Does VVA work in all 50 states?

Accepted Answer

Yes. VVA's comparable-sales valuation methodology is national — the underlying sales database covers all 50 states and the District of Columbia. State-specific procedural questions (which DOI office, which statute of limitations, which salvage threshold) will be addressed on each state-specific page as we publish them.

Question 7

How does the $600 Money-Back Guarantee work?

Accepted Answer

Diminished Value Report ($199.95): Covered by our $600 Money-Back Guarantee. If you submit the report to the at-fault driver's carrier, negotiate in good faith, and your final settlement comes in less than $600 above the carrier's first offer within 60 days, we refund the full $199.95 (plus the $49.95 Document Bundle if you purchased it) to your original payment method within 5 business days. Silver / Gold / Platinum: Not covered by the $600 guarantee, but we stand behind the work. If you believe the comparables in your report are materially inaccurate, email support@vehiclevalueanalysis.com within 30 days. We review the file and either refund or re-run at no cost. You're working with a real team — email us; we answer.

Diminished value by state

Pick your state

States with strong diminished value recovery paths

Texas

California

Florida

New York

Alabama

Arizona

Arkansas

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Minnesota

Missouri

Nevada

New Jersey

North Carolina

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

Tennessee

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

States with limited or unsettled diminished value

Alaska

Hawaii

Idaho

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Mississippi

Montana

Nebraska

New Hampshire

New Mexico

North Dakota

Ohio

Rhode Island

South Dakota

Utah

Vermont

Wyoming

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Frequently asked questions