Diminished value on Rivian, Lucid and other newer EV brands

Why newer EV brands need their own guide

Newer electric vehicle makers built their repair programs from scratch. They tend to sell parts only to shops they certify, publish position statements that say exactly which repairs and parts they accept, and use large castings and aluminum structures that limit what a shop may do. Those rules shape the repair file, and the repair file is what a buyer, a dealer and an appraiser read.

Battery and post-repair inspection questions common to all EVs are in our electric vehicles guide, and Tesla has its own guide. Autoloss is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Rivian, Lucid or any carmaker named here. Their names and documents are used only to identify them.

Rivian: certified collision centers

Rivian’s support page says it has a network of Rivian Certified Collision Centers with trained technicians who “can perform repair work to Rivian specifications,” and that to be certified a center must meet requirements such as current training, the specialty tools needed for repairs, and a convenient location. The page says every certified center has access to all required parts and that “our centers provide a lifetime warranty on all repairs.” It also lists Rivian Calibration and Diagnostic Centers for driver-assistance calibrations (checked November 2026).

Rivian’s repair guidelines, dated April 28, 2026 and published through I-CAR, go further. They say all structural or cosmetic repairs “must be performed as described in the Rivian Repair Procedures for that specific model,” that all collision repairs should be performed by a Rivian Certified Technician at a Rivian Certified Collision Center, and that Rivian “does not support the use of aftermarket, Optional OEM (Opt-OE), alternative, reverse-engineered, used, salvaged, or externally re-manufactured parts.”

Rivian’s separate statement on scans says “Rivian requires that all scans and calibrations are performed by Rivian Certified Technicians,” and that a pre-repair and post-repair scan using Rivian’s diagnostic software is required. It notes that damage to cameras, radar, high and low voltage components and other electronics “may not be evident following a collision event.”

Lucid: castings that cannot be replaced

Lucid’s position statement on non-replaceable casting components, dated September 1, 2026, says the body structures of the Lucid Air and Gravity combine stampings, extrusions and high-pressure die castings. It lists cast parts that “are not replaceable and are not available to purchase”: the front and rear torque boxes on each side and, on the Air, the mid floor crossmember casting, or on the Gravity, the mid floor mega-casting. Lucid says possible localized repairs to those parts are reviewed case by case by its Body Repair Team, and that unauthorized repairs “will alter vehicle crash integrity.”

Repairer Driven News reported on September 10, 2026 that a separate Lucid position statement requires 3D measurement reports from an approved digital measuring system before and after structural repairs, uploaded to Lucid’s repair tracker, and that a part with more than 3 mm of positional distortion has to be replaced.

For value, those two rules point the same way. Damage to a non-replaceable casting is a serious structural question, and it may decide whether the vehicle is repaired at all. If it is repaired, the measurement reports and any written approval from Lucid are the documents a later buyer will ask for.

Parts, repair times and costs

Restricted parts and a limited number of certified shops can make repairs longer and more expensive. InsideEVs reported on May 4, 2023 that a Rivian R1T owner in Ohio received a repair bill of more than $42,000 after a low-speed rear-end collision, repaired at one of three certified shops in the state that Rivian pointed him to. That is one reported case, not a typical figure. It shows why repair cost and repair time can be large on these vehicles even when damage looks minor.

Two consequences matter for a claim. First, a high repair cost relative to value can lead an insurer to declare a total loss; if that is where your claim is heading, see total loss appraisals. Second, a long repair means a long time without the vehicle, which is a separate question from diminished value. A loss of use appraisal may apply, depending on your state and the insurance involved.

How buyers read a repair on these vehicles

These are newer brands with smaller used markets than mainstream makes, and most of their vehicles are recent model years. That combines two things that make accident history weigh more: a buyer comparing the vehicle with clean examples of a nearly new model, and fewer comparable sales to show the price. Our guide to new and nearly new cars explains the first. The second means the appraisal has to search a wider market and explain each adjustment for trim, motors, battery and options.

A repair that departed from the maker’s published rules, such as non-certified parts or a shop outside the network, is easy for a careful buyer to find in the paperwork and gives them a reason to pay less. Whether the at-fault driver’s insurer must pay for a repair to the maker’s standards is a separate question that depends on your policy and state law. This is general information, not legal advice; a licensed attorney can advise on it.

Records to collect

• The final repair invoice with every supplement, and the parts list with the maker’s part numbers.
• The shop’s name and certification status on the repair date.
• Pre-repair and post-repair scan reports and calibration records.
• For structural work, measurement reports and any written approval from the maker’s repair team.
• Any high-voltage or battery inspection result.
• Photos before, during and after repair, the window sticker or build details, and mileage at the date of loss.
• The dates the vehicle went into and came out of the shop.

A diminished value appraisal uses these records and comparable vehicles to measure the loss. It is a valuation, not a repair inspection, and it does not promise any amount. A typical diminished-value appraisal costs $250–$350. Exotic vehicles may require additional fees. To see whether one fits your vehicle, start with the free claim review.