Your vehicle’s market value is at its highest when it’s brand new. Once you drive it off the lot, it can lose value. The older your car gets and the more miles it has, the lower its value can become. After a car accident, your car’s value may lower even more. This is called diminished value, which is the difference in your car’s market value before and after the accident. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, a car insurance company might pay for the diminished value of your vehicle after a covered loss. Understanding diminished value might give you the tools to successfully file a claim if an accident damages your vehicle’s value.

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What is diminished value?

After an accident, your car’s market value will decrease even if it goes through all of the necessary procedures to restore it back to its prior condition. Diminished value is the difference in your car’s market value before and after an accident. Even if you try to resell your vehicle, Carfax and other similar reports will show that it has been involved in an accident, which will likely reduce its market value. A diminished value claim — or diminution in value claim — may help recover the loss in value you may take when you go to sell your car or trade it in for a different vehicle if it has been involved in an accident or other covered damage incident.

Types of diminished value

There are three types of diminished value. Each type relates to the depreciation in the cost of your vehicle after an accident.

Inherent diminished value

This is the most common and accepted form of auto accident diminished value. Inherent diminished value occurs when a vehicle loses value because it now has a history of damage, which is indicated in the car’s history reports. This type of diminished value assumes that the vehicle’s repairs were of optimal quality and represents the amount the vehicle’s worth will decrease based on the accident history.

Immediate diminished value

This type of vehicle diminished value represents the difference in resale value immediately after an accident and before the vehicle is repaired. Although this is the type of diminished value that court systems use, it is rarely used when filing a diminished value claim with an insurance company since the company typically covers the cost of repairs after a covered accident, provided you have the necessary coverage types in place.

Repair-related diminished value

This refers to the loss of the vehicle’s value based on low-quality repairs performed after an accident. For example, if the paint is repaired with a color that is not an exact match or if aftermarket parts are used in place of original equipment manufacturers (OEM) parts. In these cases, the quality of the repair leaves a loss in value beyond the diminished value of the vehicle that now exists because of the accident. This diminished value assumes that the vehicle is unable to be restored to its condition prior to the accident.

Calculating diminished value

Most insurance companies use a calculation called the 17c Diminished Value Formula to determine the value of a vehicle post-accident. This formula originated in a Georgia claims case involving State Farm, where it appeared as paragraph 17, section c, which is where it got its name. Below are the steps used to calculate diminished value under this formula.

Step 1: Determine the value of your car

You can determine the sales, or market, value of your vehicle using the NADA or Kelley Blue Book websites. Both offer a calculator where you can input a few pieces of information regarding your vehicle. You will need to include the year, make, model, mileage and the extent of damage done to your car.

Step 2: Apply a 10% cap to that value

Insurance companies commonly apply a 10 percent cap, known as the base loss of value, to the sales value of your vehicle estimated by NADA or Kelley Blue Book. This cap is the maximum amount your insurance company will pay on the claim.

Step 3: Apply a damage multiplier

Insurance companies use a damage multiplier to adjust the value of the vehicle described in step two. The 10 percent cap value is multiplied by a number ranging from 0.00 to 1.00 according to the structural damage done to your car after an accident. The 0.00 multiplier represents no structural damage or replaced panels, while the 1.00 multiplier represents vehicles with severe structural damage.

Multiplier Damage level
1.00 Severe structural damage
0.75 Major damage to structure and panels
0.50 Moderate damage to structure and panels
0.25 Minor damage to structure and panels
0.00 No structural damage

Step 4: Apply a mileage multiplier

While NADA and Kelley Blue Book take the mileage of your car into consideration when determining the value, insurance companies calculate their own mileage deduction. The adjusted value in step three is multiplied by one of these mileage multipliers to calculate the final diminished value of your vehicle.

Multiplier Damage level
1.00 0-19,999 miles
0.80 20,000-29,999 miles
0.60 40,000-59,999 miles
0.40 60,000-79,999 miles
0.20 80,000-99,999 miles
0.00 100,000+ miles

To summarize, under formula 17c, to calculate the diminished value of your car, you would take your vehicle value and multiply it by a 10 percent cap. You would then apply a damage multiplier based on the damage to your car and a mileage multiplier based on your mileage.

For example, if the market value of your vehicle is $15,000 with moderate damage to structure and panels and 20,000 miles, your formula to calculate diminished value would be:

$15,000 x .10 = $1,500 — This would be the maximum you would receive for a diminished value from an auto insurer.

$1,500 x .50 = $750 — This would be the value adjusted for moderate damages.

$750 x .80 = $600 — This would be the value adjusted for vehicles with 20,000 miles.

Based on this example, an auto insurer would pay out a maximum of $1,500 for a diminished value claim on this vehicle. However, based on the damage and mileage, the final calculated estimate for a diminished value payout would be $600 for this vehicle. This means that the insurance company may pay the owner $600 to compensate for the diminished value of their vehicle caused by the accident damage.

How to file a diminished value claim

Filing a diminished value claim may be more involved than filing a claim for other issues because the burden of proving the car’s diminished value is generally your responsibility.

If you are deemed at fault in the accident, your diminished value claim will likely be denied. If the other driver is at fault, then you would likely contact their auto insurer to discuss its diminished value claim process.

Here are the steps you may need to take to file a diminished value claim:

  1. Check the insurance company’s process for filing a diminished value claim.
  2. Document the car’s market value using Kelley Blue Book or NADA calculator tools.
  3. Prove your car’s diminished value. Having photos and documents of the accident scene and damage to your vehicle may help your case. You may need to get an appraisal from a certified vehicle appraiser as part of the claims process.
  4. Satisfy all the insurance company’s conditions for diminished value and file your claim. This may give you the best chance of having your diminished value claim approved.

It is important to note that state regulations also affect how diminished value claims are handled. Since every state has different statutes regarding insurance, researching state laws may better help you understand your rights regarding the diminished value of your vehicle.

Considerations when filing a diminished value claim

Filing a diminished value claim may not be the right option for everyone. You may or may not receive a payout when filing a diminished value claim. A few things to consider are:

  • Your vehicle’s value before the accident: If you drive an older car that has a lot of mileage or structural damages, you may not receive a payout for diminished value.
  • Whether you were at fault: If you caused the accident, then your insurance company most likely will not pay a diminished value claim.
  • If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver: If you have uninsured motorist coverage with your insurer, you may have a slightly better chance of receiving compensation from a diminished value claim.
  • What state you live in: Every state has different regulations around diminished value claims.

Since each state goes by different statutes for diminished value payouts, it is important to research the regulations in your state. All states except Michigan allow for some level of diminished value claim to be filed if the other party is at fault.

When to file a diminished claim

If you are involved in an accident where the other party is at fault, it may make sense to file a diminished value claim so you can recover the difference in your vehicle’s value. In most cases, you cannot file a diminished claim against your own insurance company, which means attempting to file it if you are at fault in an accident will most likely be denied. You may be able to file a diminished value claim with your own insurance company if the at-fault driver is an uninsured motorist or you are the victim of a hit-and-run.

It is generally best to file for a diminished claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company as soon as possible, preferably in the days after the accident occurs. It is often easier to present your case (with supporting documentation) when you file quickly. Also, the value of your vehicle could decrease the longer you wait to file a claim. Each state has its own statute of limitations, which require you to file a claim within a certain time frame from the accident.

Frequently asked questions

    • Filing a diminished value claim can be a difficult process. However, if your vehicle is worth significantly less after an accident, even after it has been restored to original condition, then filing a claim for the car’s diminished value might compensate for the significant financial loss in value.
    • Generally, yes, although most insurance policies do not permit you to file a diminished value claim if you are at fault for an accident. In order to qualify for a diminished value claim, the accident generally must be the fault of the other driver, and your vehicle must be relatively new and in good condition prior to the accident damage in question. Regulations in your state may also determine your eligibility for diminished claims filing.
    • If the other driver is at fault in your accident and has auto insurance, then you should be entitled to a diminished value claim. However, it is primarily up to you to prove your car’s diminished value, and the insurer will likely only pay the claim if you can do so effectively. It is also important to note that state regulations vary, and each state will handle claims differently. Michigan drivers may have more difficulty getting a diminished value claim approved compared to other states.
    • Diminished value claims often take longer than standard auto claims to resolve. Due to the complexity of these kinds of claims, they may take weeks or even months to finalize. In select cases, you may even need to hire a lawyer as an intermediary with the insurance company to get the best results, which might further extend the process.