Inherent diminished value
Even a flawless repair leaves a record. Two identical cars, one with an accident on file, do not sell for the same money, and that gap is a real loss.
Common problems with diminished value work
What tends to go wrong, what it usually points at, and what your options are when the business that did the work won't put it right.
Repair-related diminished value
Where the repair itself fell short - panel gaps, mismatched paint, non-original parts - the loss compounds, and it is a safety question as well as a value one.
First offers that don't reflect the market
An insurer's opening diminished value figure is a starting position. What the vehicle actually lost is an evidence question, answered with comparable sales rather than a formula.
Placeholder imagePhoto: close-up of a common diminished value defect, the kind of detail a homeowner would photograph
What to do about it
Document what you were promised and what you got, keep every invoice and message, and photograph everything before anyone “fixes” it. Whatever route you take from there, whether talking to the business yourself, a licensed attorney, or us, the case rests on that record.
This isn't legal advice
We're a consumer advocate, not a law firm, and this page is general information rather than guidance about your situation. If you need legal advice, speak to a licensed attorney in your state.
Dealing with one of these?
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