Diminished Value of Georgia
- Car Appraisals and Claims -
Free diminished value quote
Was Your Car Damaged in an Accident?
Wondering how much your car lost in Value? Please fill out the form below and our licensed appraiser will review your damages and provide you with a free, no-obligation Diminished Value quote.
Offering Insurance Valuations for Diminished Value & Total Loss Claims.
What is Diminished Value?
Diminished Value or Loss in Value is defined as the reduction in the resale value of an automobile caused by a car accident (collision) or an incident (fire, flood, hail). In general, automobiles are depreciating assets, however, an accident will accelerate this depreciation and will cause an immediate and instant drop in market value.
Diminished Value Calculator Case Study
Market data suggests that a vehicle with a prior accident history will bring a much lower cash value at resale. Below is a case study on the effects of collision damage on a vehicle’s price.
Vehicle Information:
- Vehicle: Three-year-old, Honda Accord
- Damage Type: Collision with another vehicle
- Repair Amount: $7,900 (parts and labor)
- Severity: Major rear-end damage, structural repairs performed
- Pre-Accident Cash Value: $18,640
- Post-Repair Cash Value: $14,720
- Loss In Value Amount: $18,640 – $14,720 = $3,920
- The amount owed by the Insurance Company: $3,920
How Does Diminished Value Affect You?
If you’re trying to sell your wrecked and repaired vehicle, the buyer will likely refuse to pay the same money for it as they would an accident-free car, so you are likely to sell it at a discount. In other words, you just lost some money or equity you may have had in your vehicle.
Insurance companies are typically required to reimburse for the reduction in value after repairs, this loss in value is owed in CASH to you, the vehicle owner after the repairs are completed.
In Georgia, insurance carriers are also required to pay their insureds for the loss in value; in other words, if the accident was your fault (collision or comprehensive) you can also get paid for the loss in value suffered due to your negligence. There is no premium penalty associated with requesting diminished value, so if the accident is your fault, you should request proper compensation as this loss will be accrued when you try to sell your car.
How to Recover Your Lost Money?
Insurance companies tend to underestimate diminished value amounts; that is where our company comes in to help. Most of our clients contact us after receiving a meager settlement, usually $300 or less, this is sometimes 10% of what you are truly owed.
As licensed car appraisers, our job is to accurately quantify your loss in value so you can receive the maximum compensation you’re entitled to. Our appraisal reports are based on real-time market data that track the drop in resale value and are accepted by all major carriers.
Who is Diminished Value of Georgia?
Diminished Value of Georgia is a local, trusted car appraisal company serving the greater Atlanta area. We offer a full range of car appraisal services to meet the needs of insurance claimants, car buyers and sellers, and classic auto collectors.
Our licensed professional appraisers are committed to meeting the highest ethical standards. With a combined three decades of auto experience, our appraisal reports are accurate, unbiased, and respected in the automotive and insurance industries. Our services include:
- Diminished Value Appraisals
- Total Loss Appraisals
- Body Shop Collision Repair Audit
- Actual Cash Value
- Loss of Use
- Fair Market Value
- Charity / Donation Appraisals
- Classic Cars, Trucks and RVs
- Custom Cars and Specialty Vehicles
- Expert Court Testimony
- GAP Insurance Appraisals
- Claim Settlement Services
- Umpire & Mediation Services
- Divorce and Estate Car Appraisals
Understanding more about Diminished Value
Accelerated Depreciation & The Law
As personal property that undergoes regular use, automobiles naturally decrease in value over time. Car accidents hasten the rate of this normal depreciation and cause an immediate, measurable loss in value.
According to auction data, even after a repair, a vehicle that has been in a wreck will sell for less than a comparable undamaged auto.
Georgia’s Supreme Court decision (Mabry V State Farm) recognized as a matter of law that a vehicle cannot be completely returned to its pre-accident value because the majority of car shoppers will NOT be interested in purchasing a car that has been through an accident or will demand a hefty discount.
An accurate calculation gives a fair impression of the true value of accelerated depreciation and improves the car owner’s chances of being made whole.
The 17C formula
If you are a driver in Georgia who has been in a car accident, you may have heard of the Mabry V State Farm 17C Formula. This refers to an overly simplistic calculation of diminished value that many insurance companies attempt to use to minimize their payout under an auto insurance policy.
By and large, in calculating payments for a vehicle’s diminished value, insurance companies rely on an unfair and inaccurate formula known as the 17C Formula. This method uses a series of overly simplistic factors and a 10% cap to arrive at an unrealistic calculation of an auto’s lost value. Even the Georgia Insurance Commissioner Directive on the Handling of Diminished Value Claims.
While the 17C Formula has been treated as an industry standard by many in the insurance world, it is unfair and inaccurate. Drivers who have had a car damaged in an accident need a USPAP-compliant appraisal report.
The good news is a car owner can present an alternate reliable appraisal and often increase the amount of the insurance company’s payout for diminished value.
Find Out if You Qualify for
Diminished Value in Georgia
Georgia courts have recognized that diminished value is owed under an auto insurance policy. However, there are a number of factors that could render a vehicle ineligible for compensation, including the age of the car, original market value, and the extent of the loss.
Find out if your vehicle qualifies for diminished value in Georgia or call (678) 404-0455.
Order a Diminished Value Car Appraisal Report
Want to overcome the insurance company’s unfair 17c calculation of diminished value? It’s your responsibility to submit to the insurance company a USPAP compliant car appraisal report to quantify your loss.
When you choose Diminished Value of Georgia, our field appraisal report will include:
- Multi-Point vehicle inspection
- Vehicle History Report
- Repair Quality Analysis
- Insurance demand letter tailored to your claim
- Market Analysis of comparable automobiles
- The loss in Value Amount
- Automotive industry guide
- Pre-Accident value
- Repair estimate analysis
- Post-Repair Value
- The loss in Value Amount
Appraisal Engine Inc appraisers offer a complete and comprehensive
diminished value solution.
Appraisal Engine Inc appraisers offer a complete and comprehensive diminished value solution.
Hire a Licensed Atlanta Car Appraiser
Seven things to look for when choosing an appraisal company
In Georgia, regardless of fault, you are entitled to recover your vehicle’s loss in resale value. But to overcome the insurance company’s standard low offer, you need a reliable report by a competent auto appraiser. Not all car appraisers are created equal and simply choosing the one who provides the highest estimate may not only cost you credibility that jeopardizes your claim but might also constitute fraud.
For the best results, and the highest payout percentage, always hire a reputable licensed auto appraiser. Insurance carriers know who the legitimate appraisers are; they respect the reports produced by Diminished Value of Georgia. Our appraisers and inspectors have 30+ years of combined auto experience and are committed to ethical and reliable service. We are so intimately familiar with Georgia’s diminished value law that our senior appraiser is approved by the Georgia Bar Association to conduct lawyer continued education training.
When you substantiate your claim with a report from the Diminished Value of Georgia, you increase the likelihood that the insurance company will fairly compensate for your diminished value claim. While we cannot guarantee that insurance carriers will act in good faith, our clients report that 90% of claims are amicably settled after submitting our report to the insurance company.
Join forces with one of Atlanta’s leading licensed car appraisers and find out why so many choose to work with us.
Contact Us
Any Questions?
You’re not alone, most of our clients are hesitant in trusting the insurance carrier and usually want a second opinion.
Please fill out the form on the side and our licensed appraiser will review your damages and provide you with a free, no-obligation Diminished Value quote. Our team will guide you through the entire process and explain what compensation you are entitled to
- Main Office | (678) 404-0455
- Whatsapp | (678) 666-2575
- Fax | (678) 868-1832
Diminished Value Claim Review
Wondering how much your vehicle lost in Value? We can help!
Atlanta, GA 30309
Call or Text: (678) 404-0455
Whatsapp: (678) 666-2575
Fax: (678) 868-1832
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Diminished Value of Georgia
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