Diminished value appraisals
Certified appraisers
Accepted in all 50 states and DC
Same-day available
A vehicle with an accident on its history report typically sells for less than the same car with a clean record. A certified diminished value appraisal puts a defensible number on that loss, to support a claim against the at-fault driver's insurance. $300 flat.
Repaired is not the same as whole
Diminished value is the gap between what your car was worth before the accident and what it's worth now: repaired, but carrying a reported accident. Most claims rest on inherent diminished value, the automatic market penalty for an accident history. On top of that sits repair-related loss (mismatched paint, uneven panels, aftermarket parts) and insurer-imposed loss (generic parts authorized instead of OEM).
You're in a strong position if the other driver was at fault, your car is roughly seven years old or newer, the damage was significant (structural repair or airbag deployment moves values most), and you're inside the statute of limitations. In Texas that's generally two years from the accident date.
WHAT'S INCLUDED: $300 FLAT
- Certified diminished value appraisal by a licensed claims adjuster
- Before/after market analysis with real comparable sales
- Real dealer quotes, not the 17c formula
- Clean-history versus accident-history value comparison
- Documentation formatted for negotiation and court use
- In-person inspection in Texas, 100% online everywhere else
- Fast digital delivery in all 50 states and DC
From repaired to documented
Send the repair file
Repair estimate, photos, and vehicle details. We'll tell you on the call whether the claim is worth filing. Flat $300 quoted up front.
We come to it, or you send photos
In Texas, a certified appraiser inspects the repair work in person. Everywhere else it runs online. Either way we build a before-and-after market analysis from real dealer quotes and comparable sales.
Submit the demand
Certified report by email, then a demand to the at-fault carrier with the report attached. Escalate to small claims or your attorney if they won't move.
Every diminished value appraisal: $300, flat
$300 flat, whether we inspect the repairs in Texas or work online from your photos and repair estimate. If the damage was cosmetic and cheap, the loss may be too small to chase, and we'll tell you that before you pay. Car totaled instead of repaired? That's a total loss appraisal, also $300 flat.
From $200
Diminished value claims by state
In most states you claim against the at-fault driver's carrier, not your own. Georgia is a notable exception.
Diminished value questions
[faq-start]
- How much value does a car lose after an accident?
- Watch out for the "17c formula"
- Can I claim diminished value against my own insurance?
- Is the appraisal worth it for a minor fender-bender?
- How long do I have to file?
- Commonly cited ranges run 10-25% for a newer vehicle with meaningful damage, and more with structural repairs or airbag deployment. Your actual figure depends on the vehicle, the damage, and your local market, which is what the appraisal documents.
- Many carriers calculate diminished value with the 17c formula, a spreadsheet shortcut that caps loss at 10% of value then shrinks it further with mileage and damage multipliers. It has no basis in how used-car buyers actually price accident history. Our appraisals use real dealer quotes and market comparisons instead.
- Usually no. Most states only allow claims against the at-fault party's carrier. Georgia is a notable exception.
- If repairs were cosmetic and cheap, the loss may be small. We'll tell you honestly: significant damage on a newer car is where these claims are usually worth pursuing.
- The statute of limitations varies by state. In Texas it's generally two years from the accident date, so don't sit on it. Confirm the current rule for your state before you rely on it.
[faq-end]
Do bankruptcy courts require a professional appraisal?
Often filed together
Insurance total loss
Storm season totals thousands of cars a year, so bring your own ACV number to the claim.
Fleet & commercial
Consistent certified values across every unit you run, from box trucks to semi tractors. $250 per vehicle.
Do bankruptcy courts require a professional appraisal?
Tell us what you're solving.
Lost title, lowball offer, tax bill that doesn't match the truck. We've filed a thousand of each. 281-709-3436, or send the form.
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