Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Estimated 17c diminished value
$1,260
10% base loss cap
$2,800
Mileage modifier applied
0.60
x
Claim as share of car value
4.50%
Repair cost vs vehicle value
26.8%
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How to use this
- 1Enter pre-accident market value ($).
- 2Enter damage severity.
- 3Enter odometer at time of accident (miles).
- 4Enter repair cost (for context) ($).
- 5Read your estimated 17c diminished value on the right — it updates as you type.
- 6Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
A properly repaired car is still worth less than one that was never wrecked, because the accident shows on its history report. In most states you can claim that lost resale value from the at-fault driver's insurer. Insurers overwhelmingly evaluate these claims with the 17c formula: take the vehicle's pre-accident market value, cap the base loss at 10% of it, apply a damage-severity modifier, then apply a mileage modifier that shrinks the claim on high-mileage vehicles. This calculator runs that formula so you can enter a negotiation knowing the number the adjuster's own worksheet will produce. Be aware of two limits: the 17c cap is widely criticized as under-compensating owners of newer or luxury vehicles, and an independent appraisal often supports a substantially higher figure — use this as the floor of your claim, not the ceiling. First-party diminished value claims against your own insurer are barred in most states; this generally applies to third-party claims.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Pre-accident market value: 28000 $
- Damage severity: Major damage to structure and panels — 0.75
- Odometer at time of accident: 45000 miles
- Repair cost (for context): 7500 $
Results
- Estimated 17c diminished value: $1,260
- 10% base loss cap: $2,800
- Mileage modifier applied: 0.6
- Claim as share of car value: 4.50%
- Repair cost vs vehicle value: 26.8%
What each field means
Inputs
- Pre-accident market value ($)
- The pre-accident market value used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 28000 $ so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 500–300000 $.
- Damage severity
- Pick the option that matches your situation — the maths changes per option. Choices: Severe structural damage — 1.00, Major damage to structure and panels — 0.75, Moderate damage to panels — 0.50, Minor damage to panels — 0.25, No structural damage — 0.00.
- Odometer at time of accident (miles)
- The odometer at time of accident used in the calculation, measured in miles. Starts at 45000 miles so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–300000 miles.
- Repair cost (for context) ($)
- The repair cost (for context) used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 7500 $ so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–200000 $.
Results
- Estimated 17c diminished value
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- 10% base loss cap
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Mileage modifier applied
- x
- Claim as share of car value
- Returned as a percentage. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Repair cost vs vehicle value
- Returned as a percentage. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
Can I claim diminished value in any state?
Third-party claims against the at-fault driver's insurer are allowed in most states, and Georgia notably allows first-party claims too. A handful of states restrict them. Check your state's rule before filing.
Why does high mileage zero out the claim?
The 17c mileage modifier drops to zero above 100,000 miles on the theory that the market already discounts the vehicle heavily. Many appraisers dispute this; an independent appraisal can still support a claim.
Should I accept the 17c number?
Treat it as the insurer's opening position. A licensed appraiser comparing actual market listings for accident-history and clean vehicles frequently produces a higher, defensible figure.
Does a total loss qualify?
No. Diminished value applies to repaired vehicles. A totaled vehicle is settled at actual cash value instead.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Diminished Value Claim Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/car-accident-diminished-value-calculator
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/car-accident-diminished-value-calculator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Diminished Value Claim Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Diminished Value Claim Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/car-accident-diminished-value-calculator) (2026).