Denver, CO
Denver diminished value appraisals
If your vehicle was repaired after an accident in Denver or elsewhere in City and County of Denver, it may be worth less than before, even with good repairs. Autoloss appraises Denver-area vehicles from your repair order, photos and records, with no office visit needed. Colorado rules decide who pays, and if an insurer won’t, small claims court in City and County of Denver hears claims up to $7,500.
County
City and County of Denver
Small claims limit
$7,500
Colorado deadline to sue
3 years
Claim against at-fault driver
Allowed by case law
Colorado law
Diminished value claims in Denver
Colorado courts use the difference in a vehicle's value before and after the damage, so lost value can be sought from the at-fault driver if proven. Under your own policy it depends on the wording: a Colorado appellate court read 'like kind and quality' repair language to cover lost value, but a federal appeals court enforced an express exclusion. Car-accident property damage suits generally must be filed within three years.
Colorado cases, statutes and sourcesIf the insurer won’t pay
Denver County Court, Small Claims
- Claim limit
- $7,500. Exclusive of interest and costs (C.R.S. 13-6-403). A larger claim may be filed only by waiving the excess. Denver County Court's regular civil docket handles money claims up to $25,000.
- Where to file
- Denver County Court (City & County Building, Clerk's Office) if a defendant resides, is regularly employed, has a business office or is a student in Denver.
- Attorney
- Not required to file
- Good to know
- Denver County Court takes civil filings in person at the Clerk's Office; its e-file platform is for attorneys. A free Self Help Center at 1437 Bannock St., Room 281 assists unrepresented litigants. Colorado limits filers to two small claims per county per month and 18 per year.
Local context
What to check on a Denver-area vehicle
The 8 May 2017 metro Denver hailstorm (up to baseball size) was Colorado's most expensive insured catastrophe, about $2.3 billion, with more than 150,000 auto insurance claims estimated (NWS Boulder, citing RMIIA).
Check a vehicle's history for prior hail/comprehensive claims and repaired or unrepaired hail damage, which affects condition adjustments and comparables.
Comparables
The Denver-Aurora-Centennial metro area vehicle market
The Denver-Aurora-Centennial metro area had an estimated 3,092,037 residents on 1 July 2025 (U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025), the 19th-largest U.S. metropolitan statistical area.
An Autoloss appraisal compares your vehicle with similar vehicles offered where it would realistically be sold, with and without accident history, then accounts for the damage, repair quality, mileage and equipment. Our methodology.
“Autoloss earned Josh Mallard $5000 in dimninished value on his stolen truckTerry walked me thru everything. He made calls to the incompetent dealership that was repairing my truck and was able to answer any and all questions I had about the process. After 2 weeks, my insurance company offered a new settlement of $5719.40. Autoloss hit the ball out of the park and I’m sure that they would do the same for you!!! If you could use a few extra dollars, give them a call… Tell them I sent you!! Josh Mallard, NFL Defensive End – Denver, Colorado”
Individual results vary based on the vehicle, evidence, insurer, state, coverage, and circumstances of each claim. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Denver questions
Does Autoloss have an office in Denver?
Autoloss does not have an office in Denver. Our appraisers work from your repair order, photos and records, so nobody needs to see the vehicle in person.
Where would I file if the insurer won’t pay?
For smaller property-damage claims in City and County of Denver, Denver County Court, Small Claims hears cases up to $7,500. You do not need an attorney to file. Check the court’s current rules before filing. State law changes and depends on the facts of each claim. For legal advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
How long do I have in Colorado?
Colorado generally allows 3 years to sue for vehicle property damage (C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n)). Talking with the insurer does not pause the deadline.
How are comparable vehicles chosen for a Denver appraisal?
We look for vehicles like yours, with similar trim, mileage and equipment, offered in markets where your vehicle would realistically be sold, including the Denver-Aurora-Centennial metro area, with and without accident history.
Next step
Not sure a Denver claim is worth it?
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.
Repaired vehicle in Denver?
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.