Ford F150 XL Diminished Value Claim – Duval County, Florida
A Ford F150 XL SuperCrew Pickup with 17,941 miles lost $3,333.00 in fair market value after a rear collision in Duval County, Florida caused $2,951.70 in damage, even though the truck was never towed, sustained no structural damage, and had no air bag deployment. The St. Lucie Appraisal Company, a Licensed Florida Independent Adjuster, was retained to prepare a third-party inherent diminished value appraisal, and the case includes a notable detail: one dealer priced the loss directly off Kelley Blue Book rather than an independent estimate.
Once a vehicle has been in a collision and repaired, buyers generally pay less for it than they would for an identical vehicle with a clean history, regardless of how well the repair was performed. Presenting a diminished value claim and following it through to a satisfactory conclusion is a daunting task for the average person, which is why obtaining a comprehensive report from a Licensed Florida Independent Adjuster is key. Below is a breakdown of the case-specific findings from this appraisal.
Case Details
| Vehicle | Ford F150 XL SuperCrew Pickup |
| Mileage at Time of Loss | 17,941 miles |
| Location | Duval County, Florida |
| Type of Loss | Rear collision |
| Repair Cost | $2,951.70 |
| Structural Damage | None |
| Air Bag Deployment | None |
| Vehicle Disabled/Towed | No |
| Parts Used in Repair | LKQ (used) and/or aftermarket parts were used; not factored into the diminished value |
| Average Dealer Deduction | 11.11% |
| Fair Market Value (Pre-Loss) | $30,000.00 |
| Diminished Value | $3,333.00 |
Licensed Adjuster in Florida
What North Florida Ford Dealers Said About This F150
As part of this appraisal, The St. Lucie Appraisal Company contacted Ford dealerships serving North Florida to determine how this specific repaired vehicle would be valued in the wholesale marketplace. Six unbiased sales professionals at recognized Ford dealerships were each given the vehicle’s year, make, model, mileage, pre-accident condition, color, options, and other pertinent equipment, along with the date of loss and the nature and manner of the repaired damages. Each sales professional was advised that the vehicle had been properly repaired, and their opinions were based on personal knowledge of the F150 market along with access to auction results.
One sales representative worked directly from Kelley Blue Book, estimating a $5,000 reduction and noting that her dealership’s pricing generally tracks KBB values closely. Another sales team member took a more conservative view, explaining that if the repair was done properly, the loss should come in at no more than about 10%, if that much. These opinions reflect what actual Ford dealerships indicated they would deduct from the vehicle’s trade-in value after reviewing its repair history.
Across all six dealerships contacted, the average deduction came to 11.11% of the vehicle’s fair market value at the time of loss — the figure used to calculate the diminished value on this claim.
Methodology and Background
Once a car is repaired after a collision, it is generally worth less than an identical vehicle that was never in an accident, often significantly so depending on the severity of the damage. In this case, dealer opinions ranged from a fixed-dollar KBB-based estimate to a straightforward percentage, illustrating that dealers use varied approaches to arrive at a similar real-world conclusion: buyers generally pay less for a truck with a disclosed accident history. Presenting a diminished value claim and following it through to a satisfactory conclusion is a daunting task for the average person, which is why obtaining a comprehensive report from a licensed independent appraiser 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
The St. Lucie Appraisal Company does not rely on formulas, algorithms, or generic ad comparisons to determine diminished value. Instead, six sales professionals at dealerships matching the vehicle’s make are contacted directly for each appraisal, and their opinions are averaged to produce a defensible, real-world figure that reflects what the vehicle would actually bring in the wholesale marketplace.
Questions & Answers About This Diminished Value Claim
Does it matter that LKQ or aftermarket parts were used in this repair?
LKQ (used) and aftermarket parts were utilized in this particular repair, but they were not factored into the diminished value calculation for this claim. The deduction was based on the vehicle’s disclosed accident history and the dealer opinions gathered, not on the specific parts used.
How much value did this Duval County Ford F150 lose after the collision?
The truck had an estimated Fair Market Value of approximately $30,000.00 at the time of loss. Based on an average 11.11% deduction from six Ford dealerships, the diminished value was calculated at $3,333.00.
Why did one dealer quote a flat dollar figure instead of a percentage?
Some dealers price vehicles directly against Kelley Blue Book values rather than working in percentages, particularly for high-volume, easily comparable vehicles like full-size pickups. In this case, that dealer’s flat $5,000 estimate landed in a similar range to the percentage-based opinions from other dealerships.
Why do six dealer opinions matter more than a formula-based estimate?
Insurance company formulas often apply a flat percentage regardless of the vehicle’s make, mileage, or local market conditions. Six independent opinions from sales professionals actively buying and selling that specific make in that specific region capture real wholesale market behavior, which is generally far more accurate and harder to dispute.
How do I get a diminished value appraisal for my vehicle in Florida?
The St. Lucie Appraisal Company, a Licensed Florida Independent Adjuster, prepares Automobile Diminished Value Reports nationwide for a fee of $275.00. You can review customer feedback, submit payment, and get started using the links below, or call 772-359-4300 with any questions.
Get Your Diminished Value Report
READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF stlucieappraisal.net/
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.
Before making your secure payment, please email the body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@stlucieappraisal.net
TESLA AND OTHER EXOTIC CAR OWNERS PLEASE CALL FOR RATES.
Service Areas – Florida
Service in Altamonte Springs, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Bradenton, Cape Coral, Clearwater, Coconut Creek, Coral Springs, Davie, Daytona Beach, Delray Beach, Deltona, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Pierce, Gainesville, Hialeah, Hollywood, Homestead, Jacksonville, Jupiter, Kissimmee, Lakeland, Largo, Lauderhill, Margate, Melbourne, Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Gardens, Miramar, North Port, Ocala, Orlando, Palm Bay, Pembroke Pines, Pensacola, Plantation, Pompano Beach, Port Orange, Port St. Lucie, St. Petersburg, Sanford, Stuart, Sunrise, Tallahassee, Tamarac, Tampa, Vero Beach, Wellington, Weston and throughout Florida.
Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, De Soto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton and Washington Counties.
Dealing With a Total Loss Instead?
If your vehicle was declared a total loss rather than repaired, visit TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM for help disputing a low insurance settlement offer.
This is an Open Education Resource focused on auto diminished value, collective knowledge and the sharing of scholarly content.
DIMINISHED-VALUE-FLORIDA.COM and TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM are services of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company.