Upcoming: total-loss and property-damage calculators.
The method
How diminished value is calculated (the 17c formula)
This is a property claim, not an injury claim — it has nothing to do with medical bills or pain and suffering. Diminished value is the resale value your car permanently loses just because it now shows an accident on its history report, even after flawless repairs. A buyer pays less for a previously-wrecked car, and you can usually recover that gap from the at-fault driver's insurer.
The standard estimate is the 17c formula, the method most insurers recognise: take 10% of your car's pre-accident value (the base loss cap), then apply a damage multiplier (from minor cosmetic to severe structural/frame damage) and a mileage multiplier (the more miles on the car, the less value it had left to lose). The result is an orientation figure — insurers acknowledge 17c but are not bound by it, so an independent appraisal often supports a higher number.
What drives value
What makes a diminished-value claim worth more — or less
The 17c result is a starting point. These factors decide where your real number lands:
Severity of damage
Cosmetic dents barely move resale; structural or frame damage that shows on a vehicle-history report causes the steepest loss. The damage multiplier reflects this.
Mileage & age
A newer, low-mileage car has more value to lose, so its diminished value is higher. A high-mileage older car has already depreciated and recovers less.
Make & repair quality
Sought-after models hold value and lose more in absolute terms; poor or non-OEM repairs deepen the loss. An independent appraisal is your strongest leverage.
To claim diminished value you generally need a third-party claim against the at-fault driver (your own insurer usually won't pay your car's diminished value), your car's accurate pre-accident market value (KBB/NADA) and, ideally, an independent appraisal report. Have those ready before you run the calculator. The figure here is illustrative, not a guaranteed payout.
Questions
Vehicle value calculators — FAQ
The resale value your car loses simply because it has an accident on its record — even after perfect repairs. You can often claim it from the at-fault driver's insurer.
A standard estimate: 10% of your car's pre-accident value × a damage multiplier × a mileage multiplier. Insurers recognise it but are not bound by it.
No. These tools value your vehicle and property, not your injuries — use the accident calculators for injury losses from the same crash.