This article details the diminished value appraisal of a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Crew Cab AWD Pickup with 6,769 miles that was involved in a Front end collision that caused $18,818.50 in damage. The vehicle was disabled/towed, had no structural damage and 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
What Texas Chevrolet Dealers Say About Air Bag Deployment and Resale Value
We learned from these examples from sales professionalsat Chevrolet dealerships in Texas — One dealer said that’s definitely losing at least half the value realistically going to go straight to auction. Another dealer explained that it could be starting out looking at losing a third, possibly more just depends how bad the accident was and how good it was fixed. The air bag deployment means we can’t re-sell it.
The unbiased opinions of six professional sales reps at recognized Chevrolet dealerships form the basis for the most comprehensive Auto Diminished Value Appraisal available. We obtain several of them to validate the diminished value report prepared by stlucieappraisal.net. This is what the car owner will experience in the real world.
LICENSED ADJUSTERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS
Appraisal Methodology: Six Unbiased Dealer Quotes
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 Chevrolet dealers in Texas 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.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Diminished Value Case Details
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Crew Cab AWD Pickup |
| Mileage | 6,769 |
| Collision Type | Front End — Disabling/Towed |
| Structural Damage | No |
| Air Bag Deployment | Yes |
| Repair Cost | $18,818.50 |
| LKQ / Aftermarket Parts Used | No — not factored into diminished value |
| Fair Market Value at Time of Loss | $35,000.00 (Average Trade-In Value) |
| Average Dealer Deduction (6 Quotes) | 40.00% |
| Diminished Value | $14,000.00 |
| Claim Type | Third-Party Inherent Diminished Value |
Description of damage: Disabling collision damages to the Front with no damage to structural components and air bag deployment. Repair cost $18,818.50. 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 40.00%. 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 $35,000.00 at the time of loss. The Diminished Value was $14,000.00.
Questions and Answers About Automobile Diminished Value in Texas
Does air bag deployment affect a truck’s resale value in Texas?
Yes, significantly. Chevrolet dealers contacted for this appraisal stated that air bag deployment alone is enough to send a vehicle straight to auction rather than retail resale. One dealer stated flatly that air bag deployment means we can’t re-sell it. This reflects a real-world market reality that insurer valuations routinely fail to account for.
How much diminished value did the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ lose?
The Silverado 1500 LTZ Crew Cab AWD had a fair market value of approximately $35,000.00 at the time of loss. Six unbiased Chevrolet dealer quotes produced an average deduction of 40.00%, resulting in a diminished value of $14,000.00.
Why do you use dealer quotes instead of a formula for diminished value?
Formulas, algorithms, and ad comparisons are shortcuts that don’t reflect what actually happens when a damaged vehicle enters the retail or wholesale market. The St. Lucie Appraisal Company obtains six unbiased opinions from the sales teams at recognized dealerships who buy, sell, and appraise these vehicles every day. Their assessments — based on personal knowledge and access to auction results — represent the real-world impact on value.
Can I make a diminished value claim in Texas after a collision?
Yes. Texas policyholders and third-party claimants have the right to pursue inherent diminished value after a collision. The St. Lucie Appraisal Company holds licensed adjuster credentials in Texas and provides comprehensive diminished value appraisals throughout the state. Telephone consultations are always free of charge — call 772-359-4300.
What information do dealers receive when providing a diminished value opinion?
Each dealer is provided with the vehicle’s year, make, model, mileage, pre-accident condition, color, options, any other pertinent equipment, date of loss, nature of the repaired damages, and the manner in which the vehicle was repaired. Dealers are advised that the vehicle was properly repaired. Opinions are based on personal knowledge and access to auction results.
Does low mileage affect a diminished value claim?
Yes, favorably for the claimant. A vehicle with only 6,769 miles at the time of loss is essentially new. Buyers and dealers expect near-perfect history on near-new vehicles, which means any accident history — especially one involving air bag deployment — produces a disproportionately large loss in perceived and actual market value.
What does it cost to get a diminished value appraisal in Texas?
The fee for an Automobile Diminished Value Report is $275.00. You may pay by credit card or PayPal online, or by telephone at 772-359-4300. Before making payment, email your body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@stlucieappraisal.net. Tesla and other exotic car owners should call for rates.
Texas Diminished Value Appraisal Service Area
Service in Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, El Paso, Arlington, Corpus Christi, Plano, Laredo, Lubbock, Garland, Irving, Amarillo, Grand Prairie, Brownsville, Pasadena, McKinney, Mesquite, Killeen, Frisco, McAllen, Waco, Carrollton, Midland, Denton, Abilene, Beaumont, Odessa, Round Rock, Wichita Falls, Richardson, Lewisville, The Woodlands, Tyler, Pearland, College Station, San Angelo, Allen, League City, Sugar Land, Longview, Mission, Edinburg, Bryan, Baytown, Pharr, Temple, Missouri City, Flower Mound and throughout Texas.
Anderson, Andrews, Angelina, Aransas, Archer, Armstrong, Atascosa, Austin, Bailey, Bandera, Bastrop, Baylor, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Borden, Bosque, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Brewster, Briscoe, Brooks, Brown, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Calhoun, Callahan, Cameron, Camp, Carson, Cass, Castro, Chambers, Cherokee, Childress, Clay, Cochran, Coke, Coleman, Collin, Collingsworth, Colorado, Comal, Comanche, Concho, Cooke, Coryell, Cottle, Crane, Crockett, Crosby, Culberson, Dallam, Dallas, Dawson, Deaf Smith, Delta, Denton, DeWitt, Dickens, Dimmit, Donley, Duval, Eastland, Ector, Edwards, Ellis, El Paso, Erath, Falls, Fannin, Fayette, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Fort Bend, Franklin, Freestone, Frio, Gaines, Galveston, Garza, Gillespie, Glasscock, Goliad, Gonzales, Gray, Grayson, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hale, Hall, Hamilton, Hansford, Hardeman, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Hartley, Haskell, Hays, Hemphill, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hill, Hockley, Hood, Hopkins, Houston, Howard, Hudspeth, Hunt, Hutchinson, Irion, Jack, Jackson, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Johnson, Jones, Karnes, Kaufman, Kendall, Kenedy, Kent, Kerr, Kimble, King, Kinney, Kleberg, Knox, Lamar, Lamb, Lampasas, La Salle, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Lipscomb, Live Oak, Llano, Loving, Lubbock, Lynn, McCulloch, McLennan, McMullen, Madison, Marion, Martin, Mason, Matagorda, Maverick, Medina, Menard, Midland, Milam, Mills, Mitchell, Montague, Montgomery, Moore, Morris, Motley, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Nolan, Nueces, Ochiltree, Oldham, Orange, Palo Pinto, Panola, Parker, Parmer, Pecos, Polk, Potter, Presidio, Rains, Randall, Reagan, Real, Red River, Reeves, Refugio, Roberts, Robertson, Rockwall, Runnels, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, San Saba, Schleicher, Scurry, Shackelford, Shelby, Sherman, Smith, Somervell, Starr, Stephens, Sterling, Stonewall, Sutton, Swisher, Tarrant, Taylor, Terrell, Terry, Throckmorton, Titus, Tom Green, Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Ward, Washington, Webb, Wharton, Wheeler, Wichita, Wilbarger, Willacy, Williamson, Wilson, Winkler, Wise, Wood, Yoakum, Young, Zapata and Zavala Counties. auto appraiser near 78681, auto appraiser near 78741, auto appraiser near 78745, auto appraiser near 78748, auto appraiser near 78753
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.
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.