patient-swift-0515/12/2026

Will a diminished value claim make my rates go up? Scared to file

Hey everyone, hoping someone here has dealt with this before because I'm going in circles trying to figure it out.

So I got rear-ended about six weeks ago — totally not my fault, police report backs that up, the other driver even admitted it at the scene. My car got repaired through the at-fault driver's insurance, but now I'm reading about diminished value and honestly I'm kind of annoyed nobody told me about this sooner.

Basically my car is worth less now just because it has an accident on its record, even though the repairs look fine. I reached out to the at-fault driver's carrier about a DV claim and they told me to go through my own insurance instead. That felt weird to me — like, why would I file against myself when I didn't do anything wrong?

But my bigger fear is: if I file this with my own insurer, does it count as a claim on my policy? Will it trigger a rate increase at renewal? I've had a clean record for years and I really don't want to blow that over something that wasn't my fault.

I've heard mixed things. Some people say any claim touches your record, others say not-at-fault claims don't affect rates. I genuinely don't know what's true and I don't want to find out the hard way after my renewal letter shows up.

Has anyone actually gone through this process? Did your rates change? And is it even worth pursuing DV or is the payout usually tiny compared to the hassle?

Appreciate any insight, this whole thing has been exhausting.

8 replies

Most helpful first

clear-wolf-5185/12/2026
I went through almost this exact thing last year. Not-at-fault, other driver's insurance tried to redirect me to my own carrier for the diminished value piece. I was terrified about my rates too. What I ended up finding out — at least in my state — is that not-at-fault claims are supposed to be flagged separately and shouldn't bump your rates. But I'd call your insurer directly and ask them point blank before you file anything. Get whoever answers to confirm it in writing if you can, or at least note the date/time and their name.
- bold-wolf-7065/12/2026
  Be really careful here. The reason the other driver's insurance is telling you to file with your own carrier is because it's easier for them — they're trying to make your insurer deal with it so they don't have to cut you a check. That's a classic deflection move. You generally have the right to pursue DV directly against the at-fault party's insurance. Don't let them pass the buck without pushing back first.
- patient-seal-1625/12/2026
  Not legal advice, but: in most states, diminished value is a recognized damages category that you can claim directly from the at-fault party's insurer — you don't necessarily have to go through your own policy. Whether it's worth hiring someone to help you fight for it depends on your car's value and how much DV you're actually looking at. A lot of PI attorneys will do a free consult and can tell you pretty quickly if the numbers make sense. Talking to one costs you nothing.
mellow-crow-5725/12/2026
Former adjuster here. A few things:

1. Not-at-fault claims technically shouldn't raise your rates at most carriers, but some companies use broader rating factors and it can still show up in your loss history through CLUE reports, which future insurers can see. 2. The redirect to your own carrier for DV is sometimes legitimate (if your policy has a DV endorsement) but often it's just a stall tactic. 3. DV payouts can actually be meaningful depending on your vehicle's age and pre-loss value — don't assume it's not worth it before you get an independent appraisal.
- clever-grouse-5465/12/2026
  Short answer: file against THEIR insurance, not yours. You were not at fault. Their liability coverage owes you for all losses including diminished value. Don't let them make this your problem. If their adjuster stonewalls you, that's when you get a lawyer involved.
daring-beaver-6115/12/2026
From a process standpoint, you can typically file a diminished value claim directly against the at-fault driver's liability coverage without touching your own policy at all. The key is documenting the pre-loss market value and getting a third-party DV appraisal — there are services that do this for a flat fee. That appraisal gives you something concrete to negotiate with instead of just taking whatever number their adjuster throws at you.
hearty-swift-0085/12/2026
I don't know much about the insurance mechanics but just want to say — six weeks out from a rear-end collision, please make sure you're also paying attention to how your body feels. Soft tissue stuff can sneak up on you and you don't want to close out any claims before you know you're actually okay physically. The car stuff matters but so do you.
candid-otter-1795/12/2026
Quick question — did you actually get a DV appraisal done, or are you just estimating? Because the payout math really depends on the vehicle. Older cars or high-mileage vehicles sometimes have minimal DV because the market value was already low. Not saying don't pursue it, just worth knowing your actual number before you spend a lot of energy on this.