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 Toyota Highlander Limited AWD SUV with 22,212 miles that was involved in a Right Front collision in Minneapolis, Minnesota that caused $15,961.40 in damage. The vehicle was 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 learned from these examples from sales managers at Toyota dealerships in Minnesota- One dealer said he’d deduct between 5% – 10% because it has a lot of nice options that would add to the value of the vehicle. Another dealer explained that they need to know answers to questions like who did the work, how much damage was done in all. They would pay $5,000 less in trade.
The opinions of six unbiased professional sales managers at recognized Toyota dealerships form the basis for the most comprehensive Auto Diminished Value Appraisal available. We obtain six 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 Toyota dealers in Minnesota 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: Disabling collision damages to the Right Front with no damage to structural components and no air bag deployment. Repair cost $15,961.40. 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 10.97%. 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 $37,500.00 at the time of loss. The Diminished Value was $4,113.75
READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT AUTOMOBILE DIMINISHED VALUE
Click on the payment button above to pay by Credit Card or Paypal. The fee for an Automobile Diminished Value Report is
$275.00. You may also make your Credit Card Payment by telephone, call 772-359-4300.
Service in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Rochester, Duluth, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, Saint Cloud, Eagan, West Coon Rapids, Blaine, Burnsville, Eden Prairie, Edina, Lakeville, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Woodbury and throughout Minnesota
Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac Qui Parle, Lake, Lake Of The Wood, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, St. Louis, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright and Yellow Medicine Counties
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.