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State law · AR
Arkansas courts measure damage to a car as the difference in market value immediately before and after the collision, which supports a claim for lost value against the at-fault driver. Whether your own policy pays diminished value is undecided: a class action on that question was certified in 2006, but no appellate ruling on coverage was found. Property damage suits must be filed within three years.
Claim against the at-fault driver
Allowed by case law
Claim against your own insurer
Unsettled
Time limit to sue for property damage
3 years
Insurance regulator
Reviewed by Monica Fisher, Owner, Licensed Auto Appraiser and Court Expert Witness — appraisal perspective, not legal advice
Last reviewed
Arkansas law
Third-party claim
Allowed by case law
The Arkansas Supreme Court has stated that the general measure of damages for injury to an automobile is the difference in market value immediately before and after the collision; repair cost can serve as evidence of that difference when better proof is missing. A repaired car's remaining loss in value fits that rule, but it must be proven, typically by appraisal testimony.
Authority: Beggs v. Stalnaker, 237 Ark. 281, 372 S.W.2d 600 (1963)
First-party claim
Unsettled
In Farmers Insurance Co. v. Snowden (2006), the Arkansas Supreme Court upheld certification of a class of policyholders claiming their Farmers policy required payment of diminished value, but it did not decide whether the policy covers it. No later appellate ruling on the merits was found. Policy wording will control.
Authority: Farmers Insurance Co. v. Snowden, 366 Ark. 138, 233 S.W.3d 664 (2006)
Case law
Supreme Court of Arkansas · 1963
237 Ark. 281, 372 S.W.2d 600 (1963)
The general rule is that the measure of damages for injury to an automobile is the difference in its market value immediately before and after the collision; without better proof, repair cost may establish that difference. Used-car dealers' value testimony was proper evidence.
Status: treatment unclear: Older case; no citator was run. It does not specifically address a car that has been fully repaired.
Supreme Court of Arkansas · 2006
366 Ark. 138, 233 S.W.3d 664 (2006)
Affirmed class certification for Farmers policyholders who were paid for repairs but not for diminished value. The common question was whether the Arkansas policy obligates Farmers to pay diminished value; the court did not answer it.
Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105(6): Three-year limitation
Actions for taking or injuring any goods or chattels must be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrues.
Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-111(a): Five-year limitation on written obligations
Actions to enforce written obligations must be commenced within five years; this may apply to a claim under a written insurance policy, subject to its terms.
Ark. Code Ann. § 27-19-605: Minimum liability limits
Requires at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage.
Researched September 30, 2026. General information from an appraisal perspective, not legal advice.
“With Autoloss’s help negotiating my car auto claim, I was able to get an additional $3,000 for my Total Loss claim. Melissa Huang – Little Rock, Arkansas”
Individual results vary based on the vehicle, evidence, insurer, state, coverage, and circumstances of each claim. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Autoloss in AR
We serve Arkansas from your repair order, photos and records, the same way we serve every state. A typical diminished-value appraisal is $250–$350, typically 24–48 hours after all required information is received.
Other states
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.
