Appraisal guide · Decide
Can you document diminished value yourself?
Yes. Nothing stops you from presenting your own diminished value evidence, such as comparable listings and dealer letters, and for a small loss that can be the proportionate choice. It gets harder as the amount grows, because the insurer will test the evidence, and a figure you calculated for your own claim carries less weight than an independent one.
By the Autoloss team · Reviewed by Monica Fisher · Published
How to build your own evidence
- Establish the pre-accident value. Find current listings for vehicles of the same year, make, model and trim with similar mileage and equipment, and no accident history. Save each listing with its date.
- Find vehicles with accident history. Look for the same vehicle with a reported accident, ideally of similar severity. These are harder to find, and they are the heart of the evidence.
- Get dealer opinions. Ask two or three dealers, in writing, what they would offer for your vehicle with and without the accident on record.
- Gather your records. The final repair invoice, photos, and the vehicle-history report showing the accident.
- Write it up. State the figure you are claiming and show how you reached it. Our demand letter guide covers the letter.
Where do-it-yourself evidence falls short
- Asking prices are not sale prices. An adjuster will say so.
- Comparables need adjusting. Differences in mileage, options, condition and market have to be accounted for, and each adjustment needs a reason.
- Severity is hard to match. A listing rarely says whether its accident involved a bumper cover or a frame rail.
- You have an interest in the result. The insurer and, if it comes to that, a judge will weigh that.
- It takes time. Finding and documenting good comparables is most of the work in an appraisal.
When doing it yourself makes sense
- The likely loss is small, so an appraisal fee would take a large share of it.
- The vehicle is common, with many comparable listings.
- The damage was light and clearly described on the invoice.
- You are comfortable presenting the claim yourself.
When to pay for an appraisal
- The likely loss is several times the fee.
- The repairs were structural, or the vehicle is newer, higher-value or unusual.
- The insurer has already dismissed your own evidence.
- The claim may go to small claims court. See using an appraisal in small claims court.
The two approaches also combine well. Your dealer letters and listings can sit alongside an independent report. Our comparison of an appraisal, a dealer letter and a calculator explains what each adds.
Not sure which side of the line you are on?
The claim review is free: we look at your situation and tell you whether an appraisal is likely to help. The appraisal itself is a paid report. A typical diminished-value appraisal is $250–$350, and we will tell you if your claim does not justify one.
Start Your Free Claim Review, or call (877) 655-1661.
Common questions
Will an insurer take my own research seriously?
It varies. Well-documented comparables and dealer letters can move a small claim. On larger claims insurers tend to discount evidence prepared by the claimant.
Can I start on my own and order an appraisal later?
Yes, as long as you have not signed a release and you are inside your state’s deadline. The records you gathered will be useful for the appraisal.
Where do I find comparable vehicles with accident history?
Listing sites that show vehicle-history information are the usual source. Expect to search across a wider area than you would for clean-history vehicles.
Keep reading
More from the appraisal guide
Decide
How much does a diminished value appraisal cost?
The fee, what it includes, what changes it, and when you pay.
Decide
Is a diminished value appraisal worth it?
Compare the likely loss with the fee, and know when to skip it.
Decide
Independent appraisal vs the insurer’s diminished value offer
How the insurer got its number, and five questions to ask before accepting.
Not sure whether an appraisal will help?
The claim review is free: we look at your situation and tell you whether an appraisal is likely to help. The appraisal itself is a paid report. We help from start to finish, including a custom demand letter, and our support staff is a phone call away throughout the process.