Diminished Value Claims: When Owed, How to Prove

Who this is for

Public adjusters and independent adjusters who field the call that starts with a dealer's lowball trade offer: the car was fixed, the repair looks perfect, and the accident history just cost the client thousands anyway. If you have ever had to answer that call with a guess, this guide replaces the guess with a process.

The problem

Diminished value is real money that gets handled badly in both directions. Some adjusters promise recoveries in situations where the claim type or the jurisdiction does not support one. Far more never raise it at all, and the limitation period quietly runs while the property claim takes everyone's attention. When a claim does go in, carriers answer with a formula: a capped percentage discounted for severity and mileage, presented as if it were a market study. It is a negotiating position, and market evidence beats it. A five minute qualification check at intake sorts the real claims from the dead ends.

Inside the free PDF

• The three kinds of diminished value, and which one you will actually claim
• Where DV is usually owed: third party vs first party, and what to verify first
• The qualification checklist that keeps you from promising the unprovable
• Calculation methods that hold up: market approach, comparable pairs, independent appraisal
• The evidence file, from structural repair lines to dealer quotes
• The four number demand format, and how to answer a formula counteroffer
• Seven common mistakes, including the ones that quietly kill the claim

Get the checklist

Download the free PDF and add a two minute DV check to every intake that involves a vehicle.

[Download the free PDF]

Then see how MESHA keeps side claims from slipping: a m

This guide is part of MESHA Academy, free field education for adjusters: mesha.cc/academy. MESHA for adjusters: mesha.cc