Frequently asked questions

Diminished value is the difference between what your vehicle was worth before an accident and what it's worth after — even when repairs are done perfectly. The moment an accident appears on your vehicle history (Carfax, AutoCheck), buyers and dealerships assign it less value. That gap is your diminished value, and in most states, the at-fault party's insurance carrier is legally required to compensate you for it.

Yes. A full repair restores your car's physical condition, but it doesn't erase the accident from its record. Carfax and AutoCheck will still show the incident, which reduces what buyers and dealerships are willing to pay for the vehicle. That loss in market value persists regardless of how well the repair was done — and it's exactly what a diminished value claim compensates you for.

Often, yes. The size of the repair matters less than you'd think. Even a minor cosmetic repair that gets recorded on your vehicle history can reduce its resale value by thousands of dollars. The key factors are your vehicle's year, make, model, pre-accident value, and mileage — not just the severity of the damage. Our free estimate will tell you if your claim is worth pursuing.

The 17c formula (also called the "insurance formula") is a simplified calculation that many insurance companies use to estimate diminished value. It's widely considered to undervalue claims by 40–60% because it applies blanket percentage deductions rather than looking at actual market data. Prevalu doesn't use the 17c formula. We use real comparable vehicle sales from your local market to document your actual loss.

Traditional appraisers often take weeks and rely on subjective methodologies that adjusters can easily challenge. Prevalu combines experienced vehicle valuation specialists with modern data infrastructure. Our reports are backed by sourced comparable sales from your local market, delivered in days rather than weeks, and built with a documented methodology that holds up under scrutiny.

Our appraisal team — experienced vehicle valuation specialists who focus exclusively on diminished value and total loss claims. Our engineering team built the data platform that powers the research, pulling from public and proprietary sources to identify the most relevant comparable sales in your area. Every report is reviewed by our appraisal team before delivery.

No. We use technology to access and analyze data faster and more comprehensively than traditional methods allow. But every appraisal is built and reviewed by experienced human appraisers. Technology helps us find better data. Our team turns it into a defensible report.

We pull from a combination of public and proprietary data sources, including real comparable vehicle sales in your local market, auction data, dealer listings, and vehicle history records. We match comparables based on your vehicle's specific make, model, year, trim, mileage, and geographic area.

Most reports are delivered within 24–48 hours after you place your order and provide the required documentation (repair records, photos if available).

No. The entire process is remote. We work from your vehicle data, repair records, and market comparables. You don't need to visit a shop or appraiser's office.

Your report comes with a demand letter template addressed to the at-fault party's insurance carrier. You send both to the adjuster handling your claim — by email, mail, or through whatever channel you've been using to communicate with them. Most claims are resolved through this direct negotiation process.

Insurance companies can push back, but it's harder to dismiss a claim that's backed by documented comparable sales data from your local market. If the adjuster rejects your initial demand, you have options: you can negotiate further, pursue arbitration, or file in small claims court. Your Prevalu report serves as the evidentiary foundation in any of these paths.

Pricing will be published on our site at launch. The free estimate is always complimentary and gives you a realistic sense of your claim value before committing to a paid report.

Yes. No payment required, no account needed. Enter your vehicle details and incident information and you'll get a preliminary diminished value range in about 60 seconds.

No. You pay a flat fee for the report. Whatever you recover from the insurance company is 100% yours.

Our reports are built to be defensible, but no report can guarantee a specific settlement outcome — that depends on your state's laws, the specifics of your case, and the insurance carrier. The free estimate helps you gauge whether your claim is strong enough to pursue before you invest in a full report.

No. Prevalu provides appraisal reports and documentation. We do not provide legal advice, represent you in court, or negotiate on your behalf. If you need legal representation, we recommend consulting an attorney who specializes in property damage or insurance disputes.

Yes. Prevalu reports are built to meet the evidentiary standards for diminished value claims. They're used in insurance negotiations, arbitration, and small claims court proceedings. The documented methodology and sourced comparable data are designed to hold up under scrutiny.

Diminished value laws vary by state. In most states, you can pursue a diminished value claim against the at-fault party's insurance carrier (third-party claim). Some states have additional protections or limitations. Our free estimate tool will help you understand your eligibility based on your location and circumstances.