Small claims · KY
Kentucky small claims court for diminished value claims
In Kentucky, small claims cases are heard in Small Claims Division of District Court, which handles claims up to $2,500. If an insurer will not pay a diminished value claim and the amount is within the limit, this is where an owner can sue the at-fault driver. You bring the evidence, and the judge decides.
Court
Small Claims Division of District Court
Claim limit
$2,500
Attorneys
Allowed, not required
Deadline to sue
2 years
Kentucky courts
How small claims court works in Kentucky
- Claim limit
- $2,500. $2,500, not counting interest and costs; the amount has not changed since June 8, 2011. KRS 24A.230(1).
- Where to file
- File in the judicial district where the defendant or the defendant's agent lives or does business (KRS 24A.260(2)).
- Attorneys
- A lawyer may appear for any party but is not required (KRS 24A.240(1)).
- Filing fee
- Set by the court and often by county. Check the court’s fee schedule before you file.
- Appeals
- Any party unhappy with the judgment may appeal within 10 days to the Circuit Court for the circuit where the small claims division sits.
Kentucky Court of Justice: A Citizen's Guide to Handling Small Claims Complaints in Kentucky
Who you sue
Ask the Small Claims Division of District Court clerk how to name the defendant. In most states that is the at-fault driver, not the insurance company.
Diminished value law in Kentucky
A claim against the at-fault driver in Kentucky: allowed by case law. The general deadline to sue for vehicle property damage is 2 years (KRS 413.125). The cases and statutes are on the Kentucky diminished value page.
What to bring
See using an appraisal in small claims court for the evidence list and what to ask the Small Claims Division of District Court clerk.
Sources
- KRS 24A.230(1)
- Kentucky Court of Justice: A Citizen's Guide to Handling Small Claims Complaints in Kentucky
- KRS 413.125
Researched October 11, 2026. General information from an appraisal perspective, not legal advice.
Evidence
An appraisal for a Kentucky claim
A Kentucky diminished-value appraisal is typically $250–$350 and comes with a custom demand letter. Autoloss is not a law firm and does not represent you in court.
Kentucky small claims questions
What is the small claims limit in Kentucky?
$2,500 in Small Claims Division of District Court. $2,500, not counting interest and costs; the amount has not changed since June 8, 2011.
Do I need a lawyer for small claims court in Kentucky?
A lawyer may appear for any party but is not required (KRS 24A.240(1)).
How long do I have to sue in Kentucky?
Kentucky generally allows 2 years to sue for vehicle property damage (KRS 413.125). Talking with the insurer does not pause the deadline.
Can a Kentucky small claims decision be appealed?
Any party unhappy with the judgment may appeal within 10 days to the Circuit Court for the circuit where the small claims division sits.
Taking a Kentucky claim to court?
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.