By the Reclaim research team · Last reviewed
Diminished value calculator
Diminished value is the drop in resale value after an accident, even when the car is fully repaired.
Answer nine quick questions to see an estimate. No sign-up. This is an estimate, not an appraisal or legal advice.
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Fill in the form and your range shows here. It takes about a minute.
This is an estimate, not an appraisal or legal advice.
An estimate first, then the proof
The calculator applies published patterns to what you enter, so it is quick and rough. An adjuster is unlikely to pay on a calculator number. To claim it, you need proof: real listings for your car, clean history next to accident history, and the gap between them. Leave your name and number and we'll call you about it.
Learn more on the diminished value page, read the guide to filing a diminished value claim, or find your state on the diminished value pages by state.
What is diminished value?
Diminished value is the drop in a car's resale value after an accident, even when the repair is good. Buyers pay less for a car with an accident on its history, so the same car is worth less than it was before.
Researchers writing in the Journal of Insurance Regulation describe the most common kind as the stigma buyers attach to a car with a recorded claim (Wells-Dietel, Erkan-Barlow and Walkowiak, 2023). It is separate from the repair bill. The repair puts the car back together. It does not take the accident off the history report.
How is diminished value calculated?
There is no single official formula. Some insurers apply a fixed percentage method such as the 17c formula, while a market comparison looks at what similar cars with and without an accident history actually sell for.
This calculator is a quick estimate in the market comparison style. It starts from the value before the accident and a typical loss share for the kind of damage. It raises that share when the repair bill is a large part of the car's value. It lowers it for an older or higher-mileage car and for accidents already on record. Then it gives a range. It does not look at listings for your car. The free diminished value check does: it stores the gap that comparable listings show when the sample is large enough, and says so when it is not. The 17c formula is a method, not a law. The guide to filing a diminished value claim explains how it works.
Can I claim diminished value on my own car, or only the other driver's insurance?
Most diminished value claims are made against the at-fault driver's insurer. Whether your own policy covers it depends on your state and on the policy wording.
Start with whose insurer is handling the claim, then check the rules where the car is kept. The diminished value pages by state cover what is known for each state, with sources. Reclaim looks at cars kept after repairs, when the other driver's insurer is handling the claim or fault is shared.
How long do I have to file?
It depends on your state. The time limit for a property damage claim is set by state law, and the insurer may have its own reporting rules as well.
Look up your state on the diminished value pages by state and confirm the current rule before you wait. If the claim is close to any deadline, a licensed attorney in your state can tell you where you stand. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Does a repaired car with a clean repair still lose value?
Usually, yes. Buyers see the accident on the vehicle history report and tend to pay less, even when the repair is good.
That is the stigma the 2023 Journal of Insurance Regulation study describes. How much the value drops depends mostly on the kind of damage, the car's age and mileage, and what it was worth. A poor repair can add to the loss, because a buyer or an inspector may find it.