Claim Complete Auto Appraisals

Diminished Value for Washington Drivers

What is Diminished Value?

You were hit out of nowhere, through no fault of your own.
The other driver’s insurance company repaired your car, and it looks great - but what about your vehicle's value?

Diminished value can come as a big surprise down the road - blindsiding people who weren't aware of the impact, or being much more costly than was actually thought to be lost. As appraisal industry experts, Claim Complete Auto helps drivers recover accurate and supported loss of vehicle value through a detailed review of the damage, repairs, and additional factors that impact value after an accident.

Auto accident diminished value is widely misunderstood in the auto industry - even among companies consumers often turn to as authorities in auto values. It is important to have an experienced appraiser evaluate your loss to ensure it is accurately valued and to avoid misconceptions in the calculations.

Lets take a look at the two of the most popular industry misconceptions:

Misconception #1

Stigma Value

One popular misconception is that diminished value is caused the stigma of an accident reflected in your vehicle history report. While this is one consideration, and may change how your diminished value is calculated, it's not the only factor that affects a vehicle's value after an accident.

After your car is repaired, it often loses market value because of the repair itself. Even if the repairs were perfect - many repair operations are not able to replicate factory quality due to environmental restrictions. In addition, heat is often necessary to repair damaged metal - which alters the molecular structure of metal in the repair area. These are just a couple of the items evaluated when calculating diminished value.

Misconception #2

The 17c Formula

In 2001 there was a Georgia Supreme Court diminished value class action lawsuit (Mabry v. State Farm). The court approved a formula to calculate a negotiated class-wide settlement in paragraph 17, section c, of their ruling - thus the '17c Formula' was born.

While this formula may have been useful in calculating a large class settlement, this is NOT an accurate method of calculating diminished value for individual losses. The 17c formula applies duplicative deductions for mileage as well as a cap of 10% ACV. This means that if your vehicle's actual cash value is $30,000, and your diminished value due to a loss is $8,000 - the 'cap' would only allow a $3,000 (10% of $30k) maximum result.

Many sources cite this formula as being 'approved' by the state of Georgia, which is also inaccurate. In 2008, this widespread falsehood even prompted the Georgia Insurance Commissioner to issue a public directive ordering anyone using language, or insinuating, this formula had been approved by the state Cease and Desist these communications.

Pricing & Options

Clients discussing Diminished Value Appraisal options for a comprehensive appraisal or DV Calculator

Diminished Value Appraisal: $250-$350

A full comprehensive appraisal is between $250-$350 dependent on complexity. This includes a full review of your loss, a detailed and supported appraisal report, and direct contact with the insurance company. You can be involved as little or as much as you like - some clients prefer to stay involved in the claim, and some prefer for us to take over completely.

Request My Diminished Value Appraisal

Quick Value Calculator

Another option is our Quick Value Calculator, which gives drivers a more affordable alternative when they feel confident handling their claim themselves. Detailed instructions are included, and the calculations do not rely on the Stigma or 17c methods often used by other resources. Once your calculations are completed, you can print your report to provide to the insurer for your claim.

If you find you need a comprehensive appraisal later - the cost of your Quick Value Calculator purchase is credited to your professional appraisal.

Calculate My Diminished Value

We turn technical valuation data into results.

When to File a Diminished Value Claim

As soon as possible.

This helps us establish a more accurate market value at the time of the accident to better support your vehicle's pre-loss value. Once your repairs are completed, we will review the work that was needed, ensure all necessary operations were performed, and complete calculations for your vehicles post-loss value.

Get a Professional Diminished Value Report

We deliver a comprehensive, evidence-based appraisal report showing your car’s true pre- and post-accident values — formatted to meet insurance and legal standards alike. Many of our clients recover hundreds to thousands more using our reports in the settlement of their claims.

Claim Complete Auto Appraisals™

Claim Complete

(253) 460-7764 • appraisals@claimcompleteauto.com

Service Area: Washington State

Claim Complete Auto Appraisals™ is not a law firm, insurance carrier, or authorized to sell insurance. Our services provide informational, advisory, and representation support for auto property damage claims and appraisals; nothing on this site is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.

Please review our full Disclaimers Page for details.

Diminished Value Appraisal

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