How to Get Paid For Diminished Value of Your Car From The Insurance Company So, what should you do if you want to be covered for the diminished value of your vehicle? First, check with your insurance company to see if they offer diminished value coverage. Some insurance companies may already offer it in their current policies or as an added coverage. How to Figure Out Diminished Value After a Car Accident If you want to make a diminished value claim, it makes sense that you'll need to figure out how much value your car has lost due to the accident. If your vehicle is older and does not have a lot of value, then a diminished value claim may not make sense for you, especially if you are considering going to the court to get your payment. Two Ways to Check What the Diminished Value Is on Your Car The easiest way to get a quick idea is to use an online site like Edmunds.com or Kelley Blue Book to find out what the value of your car would be under normal circumstances (a pre-accident value). Then you can ask your car dealership to give you a trade-in value on your vehicle now that you've had an accident. This should give you a ballpark idea of the diminished value to help you decide if it is worth pursuing a diminished value claim. Keep in mind that the car dealer's trade-in value may not be the best possible rate, but if they can give you a written offer showing the fact that the value of the car is less due to the fact that it has been involved in an accident, then it's good enough for your own understanding. The second way to verify diminished value is to get a professional evaluation from a company that specializes in diminished value insurance valuations. This will be the most reliable information if you want a solid number, just make sure that your evaluator is qualified and recognized by insurers. What States Will Pay Diminished Value Claims? After a lawsuit in 2001, Georgia changed their rules to include payment for diminished value claims. Since then, many more insurers will consider a diminished value claim if supporting documents or circumstances make sense. Some states agree that insurance companies are required to pay the diminished value, so if you are in one of these states, you shouldn't have a problem. If you want to know if your state generally covers diminished value claims, you can contact your state insurance commissioner. How To Make a Diminished Value Claim Once you have your evaluation and know how much you are going to claim for diminished value with all the supporting documentation, you can present your case to the insurance company and ask for compensation when you file your claim. What You Can Do If Your Insurance Will Not Pay Diminished Value After Your Car Accident If you are trying to collect on a diminished value claim and are denied by your insurance company, go to your state insurance commissioner first. If you get no help there and if it is important enough to you, you could hire a lawyer to help you recover the diminished value of your vehicle. Keep in mind that there are some companies you can find online that specialize in getting insurance companies to pay for the diminished value of your car but make sure you research the company first before giving them any money.