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The term “Auto Diminished Value” means that cars which were damaged and subsequently repaired lose market value as a result of having a repair history, sometimes known as a “Bad CARFAX.” In most states, this lost amount is recoverable from insurance companies of at-fault parties. The amount of diminished value is determined by the damages that were repaired and the vehicle itself.
Each week we report on the most interesting and informative articles concerning auto diminished value claims. This article details the diminished value appraisal of a Lotus Elise 2 Door Coupe with 9,751 miles that was involved in a rear collision in Fairfax County, Virginia that caused $11,584.15 in damage. The vehicle was not disabled/towed, had no structural damage and no air bag deployment. The claimant hired an independent auto appraiser and made a third-party inherent auto diminished value claim for the vehicle’s loss in value. Once a car is repaired after a collision, it is worth less, often much less depending on the severity of the damage. Regardless of how well the repairer did his job, nobody will pay as much for a previously wrecked car as they would for an identical one that was never in an accident. Presenting a diminished value claim and following it through to a satisfactory conclusion is a daunting task for the average person. Obtaining a comprehensive Diminished Value Report is key.
WE DON’T USE FORMULAS, ALGORITHMS, AD COMPARISONS OR OTHER SHORT CUTS
SIX UNBIASED DEALER QUOTES IN EVERY APPRAISAL TO VALIDATE OUR RESEARCH
TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS ALWAYS FREE-OF-CHARGE
We learned from these examples from sales managers at Lotus dealerships in the US. One dealer said there would be a loss of between 20% -30 %. He said that they don’t even come into the US anymore. So there is not a lot of this type of vehicle. Another dealer asked for the VIN and explained after gathering as much info that he could, his lowest estimate would be 20% less without seeing the car.
The opinions of six unbiased professional sales managers at recognized Lotus dealerships in the US provide support for the most comprehensive Auto Diminished Value Appraisal available. We obtain several of them to validate the diminished value report prepared by AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM. This is what the car owner will experience in the real world.
The six dealers providing opinions regarding diminished value were given information specific to this vehicle including year, make, model, mileage, pre-accident condition, color, options, any other pertinent equipment, date of loss as well as the nature of the repaired damages and the manner in which the vehicle was repaired. Dealer opinions are based on personal knowledge and access to auction results. Dealers were advised that this vehicle was properly repaired.
We contacted several Lotus dealers in The US to establish how these repairs and the resultant repair history would impact this vehicle’s Fair Market Value (FMV). Dealers were provided with an evaluation of the vehicle’s condition both prior and subsequent to repairs.
Description of damage: Non-disabling collision damages to the rear with no damage to structural components and no air bag deployment. Repair cost $11,584.13. LKQ (used) and/or aftermarket parts were not utilized in the repair/not factored in to the diminished value.
The average of six (6) deductions was 16.11%. This is the percentage of Diminished Value to be taken from the FMV at the time of loss.
We established that the above captioned vehicle had a Fair Market Value (Average Trade-In Value) of approximately $30,000.00 at the time of loss. The Diminished Value was $4,833.00
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This is an Open Education Resource focused on auto diminished value, collective knowledge and the sharing of scholarly content.
AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM and TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM are services of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company.