Category: Auto Diminished Value

There Is Only One | St. Lucie Appraisal

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, commonly known as a “Bad CARFAX.” 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 […]

Old School Diminished Value Appraisals | St. Lucie Appraisal

Inherent Diminished Value Explained: History of CARFAX, Third-Party Claims & Modern Auto Appraisals Since CARFAX began compiling vehicle repair histories in 1986, transparency in the used car market has dramatically increased. Buyers can now easily check whether a vehicle was previously wrecked, repaired, or involved in a major incident. While this empowered consumers, it also […]

Diminished Value Cases – Why State Farm Loses in Court

Why State Farm Loses Diminished Value Cases in Court – Real Examples & Expert Testimony Insurance companies like State Farm frequently deny or lowball diminished value claims after vehicle accidents. However, when claimants present strong, credible evidence, State Farm and other major insurers often lose in court. At The St. Lucie Appraisal Company, we have […]

TASADOR DE DISMINUCIÓN DE VALOR DE AUTOMÓVILES – St. Lucie Appraisal

Mejor Tasador de Disminución de Valor de Autos en EE.UU. | St. Lucie Appraisal Company – Servicio Nacional ¿Su vehículo perdió valor después de un accidente? Contrate al mejor tasador de disminución de valor de automóviles del país. La St. Lucie Appraisal Company es una empresa independiente líder a nivel nacional en tasaciones de disminución […]

Why do insurance Companies get away with Claim Denials Based on their Contention that a properly-repaired Car does not Suffer any Diminished Value?

Why do insurance Companies get away with Claim Denials Based on their Contention that a properly-repaired Car does not Suffer any Diminished Value? It is an obvious falsehood yet no insurance department has stepped up to the plate to sanction these actions. This is a common insurance industry stance. The idea that a properly repaired […]

New Car Diminished Value | St. Lucie Appraisal

Volvo XC60 T5 R-Design AWD Diminished Value Claim in Southern California A diminished value appraisal of a new loaner Volvo XC60 T5 R-Design AWD SUV with 9,723 miles that was involved in a right-side collision causing $4,850.33 in damage. The vehicle was not disabled or towed, had no structural damage, and no air bag deployment. […]

Auto Diminished Value in Small Claims Court| St. Lucie Appraisal

St. Lucie Automobile and Diminished Value Appraiser

NOTICE: The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a form of legal advice. Diminished Value in Small Claims Court: A Case Study What happens when an irate vehicle owner decides to become a plaintiff and escalates an inherently unfair insurance denial into small claims […]

Determining the Amount of Diminished Value | St. Lucie Appraisal

The Three Types of Diminished Value Claims: Inherent, Repair-Related, and Insurance-Related Diminished Value Most vehicle owners know their car is worth less after an accident, but few understand there are actually three different types of diminished value claims. Understanding the differences between inherent diminished value, repair-related diminished value, and insurance-related diminished value is critical when […]

SEARCH OUR DATABASE OF AUTO DIMINISHED VALUE REPORTS | St. Lucie Appraisal

For those of you who are interested in learning about automobile diminished value, the following articles explain to car owners what to expect when filing a third-party inherent diminished value claim. This is an Open Education Resource focused on auto diminished value, collective knowledge and the sharing of scholarly content. The fact that a car […]

Win Your Diminished Value Case | St. Lucie Appraisal

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company’s remarkable success in the field of Auto Diminished Value claims and Total Loss Disputes has reminded us that justice can triumph over shameless corruption despite seemingly impossible odds. Through diligent work and a sound methodology, our appraisals afford consumers with the tools necessary to combat the traps and the minefields […]

The Independent Appraiser’s Role in Auto Diminished Value Claims

The independent appraiser should not be part of the claim in which the automobile diminished value is in question, but is usually brought in from the outside to preserve impartiality. The St. Lucie Appraisal Company’s purpose and function is definite and simple. We must determine the existence and amount of diminished value in order to […]

THE EVOLUTION OF AUTO DIMINISHED VALUE

A DIMINISHED VALUE PRIMER What is Diminished Value? This article explores the evolution of diminished value. This recently coined term is most often applied to the reduction in value of a car or truck after collision damages have been repaired. Regardless of how well the repairs were done, used car buyers would rather purchase an […]

How to Make a Successful Diminished Value Claim | St. Lucie Appraisal

There is a gold standard when it comes to automobile diminished value appraisers and it is known as AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM, a service of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company available in all 50 states. If you ask any insurance adjuster or any of our competitors and you are liable to hear it from them as well. Insurance […]

Diminished Value in Older Cars

Can I make a diminished value claim on an older car? You wrote “there’s no way I’d probably recover the diminished valuation on the car” and I’m wondering why? Once upon a time, insurance companies denied that diminished value even existed. Well, some still try to get away with it but most insurers resigned themselves […]

A Toyota Diminished Value Claim in Hialeah, Florida

A diminished value appraisal of a Toyota Scion tC 2 Door Hatchback with 30,952 miles that was involved in a Rear-end collision that caused $2,109.18 in damage. The vehicle was not disabled/towed, had structural damage and no air bag deployment. The claimant hired AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM and made a third-party inherent auto diminished value claim for the […]

YOUR CAR WAS WRECKED AND REPAIRED.WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT?

St. Lucie Appraisal, automobile, personal property, diminished value, appraiser

If the crash was the someone else’s fault, you can file a diminished value claim to recover your car’s loss in value. The terminology for this type of claim is a Third-Party Inherent Auto Diminished Value Claim. It is part of the overall claim that can include Bodily Injury, Collision, Loss of Use, etc. With […]

Auto Diminished Value Case in Small Claims Court

NOTE: This article is intended as a guide and not as a form of legal advice. Among the various and many articles that have been written about automobile diminished value, there are but a scant few that describe what happens when an irate claimant decides to become a plaintiff and escalates his claim into small […]

Fullerton Diminished Value

Each week we report on the most interesting and informative articles concerning auto diminished value claims. A diminished value appraisal of a Lexus IS350 Sedan with 21,832 miles that was involved in a Front-end collision that caused $26,942.00 in damage. The vehicle was disabled/towed, had structural damage and air bag deployment. The claimant hired an […]

Questions About Free Diminished Value Appraisals

QUESTION – ARE FREE DIMINISHED VALUE APPRAISALS REALLY FREE? It’s a wonder that The St. Lucie Appraisal Company is still in the business of providing diminished value appraisals in all 50 states. If you are wondering why we’re making such a statement – especially in light of the fact that we’re the best at recovering […]

How Diminished Value Impacts New Car Sales

Turn “Bad Carfax” Trade-Ins into New Car Sales – How Diminished Value Claims Can Save the Deal The Challenge Many trade-ins come with an accident history, often cutting $10,000+ off their trade-in value. Most customers walk away, and the dealership loses the sale. But if the accident was another driver’s fault, your […]

Baker Arena

After my truck was totaled, my insurer’s offer came in well below what the vehicle was worth, based on a valuation report nobody would explain. I hired Franklin Colletta at St. Lucie Appraisal, and it was the right call. His appraisal was thorough and well documented. More importantly, he handled the negotiation with the carrier’s appraiser himself engaged on the substance, worked the comparables line by line, and pushed back where the other side’s report contradicted itself. He was responsive throughout, kept me in the loop, and when I sent him documentation he actually read it and used what held up. We resolved it without needing an umpire. One note: getting the completed report in hand took longer than I’d initially expected, and I’d recommend confirming the timeline up front if you’re working against a deadline. It didn’t affect the outcome, but it’s worth knowing. If you’re facing a total loss offer that doesn’t reflect what your vehicle was actually worth, hiring an independent appraiser is worth it, and Franklin is a good one.

Ghulam Murtaza

Our insurance company tried to give us a ridiculous number for our vehicle. Frank was able to get a huge bump and help us settle for what the car was actually worth. Would highly recommend anyone dealing with the same situation to reach out!

Goober Barzeski

We found St. Lucie Appraisal through ChatGPT which highly recommended them. Lucky we use AI to educate ourselves because we were getting the business from our insurance company. St. Lucie represented us in appraisal clause negotiations and helped us to get $3K+ more than we were originally offered.

Max

Highly recommend St. Lucie Appraisal Co. Franklin was able to get me over $10,000 more for my stolen car than what the insurance company originally offered. Communication throughout the process was excellent. Great ROI.

Sonique Sanasarian

From the very first conversation that I had with Franklin at St Lucie Appraisal, I was extremely impressed with his professionalism, patience, and knowledge. When I had questions, Franklin quickly answered emails and answered phone calls. I highly recommend this company.

Gabriella Digiovacchino

I cannot recommend Franklin Colletta/St. Lucie Appraisal Company highly enough. From the very beginning, Franklin was incredibly knowledgeable, professional and responsive throughout my diminished value claim. He took the time to thoroughly explain the appraisal process, answered all of my questions and provided a detailed, well-supported diminished value report that gave me confidence moving forward. When my case went to small claims court, Franklin made himself available to testify as an expert witness. His testimony was clear, professional and backed by his experience, which helped explain the impact the accident had on my vehicle's value. Having an expert who was willing to stand behind his appraisal in court made a tremendous difference. Progressive originally offered me $1,750 even after Franklin's estimate of $10,000 in DV. They increased their offer to $2,500 after I filed in court and Franklin's testimony increased it even further... I walked away with $5,700 after judgement! If you're dealing with an insurance company that is undervaluing your diminished value claim, I highly recommend reaching out to Franklin and St. Lucie Appraisal Company. Their expertise, professionalism and dedication to their clients are truly outstanding. Thank you again, Franklin, for all of your help!

HiAuthority

Franklin helped me through the entire process in dealing with the insurance company. They started with a $3,000.00 dollar offer for my diminished value and with St Lucie Appraisal's report and knowledge, I was able to get policy limit of $16,595.00. Thank you Franklin and your team.

Gayle Fearday

I cannot recommend St. Lucie Appraisal highly enough! After my vehicle was declared a total loss, I was frustrated with the insurance company’s initial valuation. St. Lucie Appraisal (Frank)stepped in and thoroughly researched the true market value of my vehicle. Their expertise, professionalism, and attention to detail made all the difference. They handled the process efficiently, communicated clearly every step of the way, and ultimately helped me receive top dollar for my total loss claim—far more than I expected from the original offer. If you’re facing a total loss situation and want someone in your corner who truly knows how to maximize your vehicle’s value, St. Lucie Appraisal is worth every penny. Outstanding service and results! Thank you for helping turn a stressful situation into a successful outcome!