swift-raven-1175/10/2026

Can I get money for my car losing value after someone rear-ended me? It's practically brand new

Hey everyone, hoping to get some perspective from people who've dealt with this.

About six weeks ago I was sitting at a red light and got rear-ended by someone who admitted fault on the spot. Their insurance paid out for the repairs without too much of a fight — mostly frame realignment and some panel work on the back end. Mechanically everything checks out and honestly it looks fine.

Here's what's eating at me though: my truck is only about eight months old and had maybe 6,000 miles on it when this happened. It's now going to carry an accident history on any vehicle report for the rest of its life. When I eventually go to sell or trade it in, a dealer or private buyer is going to see that and lowball me — even if the repair was done perfectly.

I've been reading a little about something called "diminished value" and apparently you can claim this from the at-fault driver's insurance in a lot of states. But I have no idea how to actually do it. Like, do I just call them and ask? Do I need to hire someone to appraise it? And how do you even prove the number when the truck is so new there's barely a comparable resale market to benchmark against?

I'm not trying to squeeze money out of anyone unfairly — I just feel like I shouldn't have to eat a real financial loss because someone couldn't stop in time.

Has anyone gone through this process? Did you get anywhere with the insurance company or did you have to push harder? Any appraisers or types of documentation that actually helped? Would really appreciate hearing what worked (or didn't) for you.

8 replies

Most helpful first

wise-lynx-9035/10/2026
I went through almost this exact thing two years ago with a car I'd owned for less than a year. The at-fault insurer basically laughed me off the first time I brought up diminished value. What finally moved the needle was getting an independent DV appraisal from a certified auto appraiser — not a dealership, an actual appraiser who specializes in this. It cost me a couple hundred bucks but the written report gave me something concrete to negotiate with. Don't just call and ask, go in with a number they have to argue against.
- curious-marmot-3945/10/2026
  A few things worth knowing: diminished value is recognized in most states but the rules vary quite a bit. Some states require you to sue in small claims or civil court to actually collect if the insurer stonewalls. Also, the clock can matter — there are deadlines tied to statutes of limitations for property damage claims. I'd look up your specific state's rules or at least do a quick consult with a PI attorney before too much time passes. Many do free consultations.
candid-newt-5745/10/2026
Please don't let the at-fault insurer's adjuster talk you out of this claim. They are trained to act like diminished value either doesn't exist or is way smaller than it is. Some will use this formula called "17c" which tends to spit out a lowball number. You are not obligated to accept their internal calculation. Get your own appraisal first before you even have that conversation.
tidy-badger-5985/10/2026
Former adjuster here. Honestly, diminished value claims make adjusters uncomfortable because there's no clean standardized payout — it's negotiable, which means there's more room for the company to push back. That said, a well-documented claim with a third-party appraisal is much harder to dismiss. The newer and higher-value the vehicle, the more leverage you actually have. A nearly new truck with documented frame work in its history is a legitimate claim. Just don't go in empty-handed.
spry-wolf-5185/10/2026
Not legal advice, but this is absolutely a real and recoverable loss in many jurisdictions — the challenge is proving the amount. An independent appraisal is the foundation of any credible DV claim. If the insurer denies or lowballs you after that, you may have options including demand letters or small claims court depending on the amount. Worth a free consult with a local personal injury or property damage attorney to understand what you're working with.
clever-heron-4315/10/2026
Short version: yes you can pursue this, no the insurance company won't just hand it over, and yes you need a professional appraisal to have any real leverage. Don't call them first. Get the appraisal, then make the demand in writing. Everything in writing.
candid-grouse-2075/10/2026
I had no idea this was even a thing you could claim! I'm really glad you're looking into it. It genuinely seems unfair that someone else's mistake follows your truck around forever and you're just supposed to absorb that loss. Hope you get a fair resolution — keep us posted on how it goes.
daring-wren-5945/10/2026
Quick question — did you go through your own insurance or deal directly with the at-fault driver's insurer? And did you get any repair documentation that specifically notes the type of work done? The specifics of what was repaired can affect how much a DV appraiser can justify, so just making sure you have a paper trail before you go too far down this road.