Estimate the loss in resale value of your vehicle after an accident and professional repair.
Severe structural damage (1.00)
Major damage to structure and panels (0.75)
Moderate damage to structure and panels (0.50)
Minor damage to structure and panels (0.25)
No structural damage or replaced panels (0.00)
0 – 19,999 miles (1.00)
20,000 – 39,999 miles (0.80)
40,000 – 59,999 miles (0.60)
60,000 – 79,999 miles (0.40)
80,000 – 99,999 miles (0.20)
100,000+ miles (0.00)
Estimated Diminished Value:
*This estimate uses the industry-standard 17c Formula. Actual insurance payouts may vary based on your local market and specific vehicle condition.
What is Diminished Value?
Diminished value is the difference in a vehicle's market value before an accident and its value after it has been fully repaired. Even if your car looks brand new and runs perfectly after a collision, its "accident history" recorded on reports like CARFAX makes it less desirable to future buyers. This loss in equity is what insurance companies refer to as diminished value.
How the 17c Formula Works
Most insurance companies utilize a calculation known as the "17c Formula" (originating from a legal case in Georgia) to standardize claims. Here is the step-by-step breakdown used in our calculator:
Step 1: Determine Sales Value: Start with the NADA or Kelley Blue Book retail value of the car before the accident.
Step 2: Apply 10% Cap: Insurance companies typically cap the maximum claim at 10% of the sales value.
Step 3: Damage Multiplier: A multiplier is applied based on the severity of the damage, ranging from 0.00 (no structural damage) to 1.00 (severe structural damage).
Step 4: Mileage Multiplier: A mileage modifier reduces the payout for older vehicles, as they have naturally depreciated over time.
Example Calculation
Imagine you own a SUV worth $30,000 with 25,000 miles that suffered moderate structural damage.
Base Cap (10% of $30,000) = $3,000.
Damage Multiplier (Moderate) = 0.50. ($3,000 x 0.50 = $1,500).
In most states, you can file a diminished value claim if you were not the at-fault driver. You are essentially seeking compensation from the at-fault driver's insurance company for the loss in your asset's value. Note that you generally cannot file a diminished value claim against your own insurance policy unless you live in Georgia or have specific policy language allowing it.
function calculateDiminishedValue() {
var marketValueInput = document.getElementById('marketValue').value;
var damageMultiplier = parseFloat(document.getElementById('damageLevel').value);
var mileageMultiplier = parseFloat(document.getElementById('mileageLevel').value);
var resultArea = document.getElementById('dv-result-area');
var resultDisplay = document.getElementById('dv-final-amount');
if (marketValueInput === "" || isNaN(marketValueInput) || parseFloat(marketValueInput) <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid market value for the vehicle.");
return;
}
var marketValue = parseFloat(marketValueInput);
// Step 1: Apply 10% cap (Standard 17c logic)
var baseCap = marketValue * 0.10;
// Step 2: Apply Damage Multiplier
var afterDamage = baseCap * damageMultiplier;
// Step 3: Apply Mileage Multiplier
var finalValue = afterDamage * mileageMultiplier;
// Formatting the output
var formattedResult = new Intl.NumberFormat('en-US', {
style: 'currency',
currency: 'USD',
}).format(finalValue);
resultDisplay.innerText = formattedResult;
resultArea.style.display = 'block';
// Scroll to result for mobile users
resultArea.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'nearest' });
}