I reached out to the other driver’s insurance (they were at fault) with some info showing how the accident lowered my car’s value. They responded saying the car was restored to its pre-accident state, so there’s no diminished value.
Is there a way to challenge this? Any tips on strengthening my case? Thanks!
Why’d you remove your last post where folks already answered?
You’ll need solid data to prove it, like recent sales of cars exactly like yours—same damage, fully repaired—and compare them to similar cars with no damage. If the ones with previous damage sold for less, you’ll need to show it’s due to the repair history and not something like weak negotiating.
Diminished value can be tough to prove because it’s not an exact number. It’s often subjective, and it generally drops as the car gets older. If it’s currently, say, around $1k, but you don’t sell the car soon, the value loss will likely lessen over time. After several more years, it might even be negligible. It’s really a “moving target.”
What’s the year, make, model, and mileage on your car?
@Ash
It’s a 2018 Volvo with 45k miles.
What’s the year, make, model of your car? And do you know the repair cost?
Consider filing a small claims case against the other driver to show diminished value in court. Sometimes, the insurer will settle before it reaches a judgment.