Tag: carfax

ACURA DIMINISHED VALUE AND LOSS OF USE CLAIMS

September 30, 2025September 30, 2025 by stlucieappraisal

St. Lucie Automobile and Diminished Value Appraiser

There is a new phenomenon in the automotive world and it is called Diminished Value. For those who haven’t heard this term, it means the loss in value a vehicle experiences after undergoing collision repairs. The Acura, being a car that attracts more discriminating buyers, suffers a great deal more diminished value than an ordinary car. Used car buyers simply won’t pay as much for a previously wrecked car so dealers, in turn, have to offer less come trade-in time. Acura owners are typically upscale folks who expect a first-class level of service. Those expectations extend to the treatment they receive from insurance companies after their cars are wrecked by the negligence of others. Seeking fair compensation for diminished value and loss of use is part of it. You need an expert appraiser. At The St. Lucie Appraisal Company, Acura Diminished Value and Loss of Use claims are our specialty.

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

Our methodology for preparing automobile diminished value appraisals is unique within the industry because we don’t rely on formulas, algorithms, auto auction results or other short cuts to determine the amount of value lost after collision repairs. Each situation is unique and the only way to provide tailor-made reports is to query the people who actually do the buying and selling of these bad Carfax vehicles – new car dealers. It is important, of course, that the dealers who participate in our surveys know full well that the subject vehicles are not for sale or available for trade. This prevents insurance companies from alleging collusion or vested interest. This approach has made our company the best at what we do – Diminished Value and Loss of Use appraisals. Magistrates and mediators alike have recognized the validity of our reports because they are comprehensive and they aren’t complicated.

Insurance Company defense attorneys can instantly recognize which independent appraisals will stand up in court and advise their adjusters accordingly when it comes to offering fair settlements. We are rarely called upon to appear as expert witnesses in legal proceedings because our customers generally receive fair settlements that preclude taking civil actions. Acura diminished value and loss of use claims should present no problems if appraisals are prepared correctly.

So where does this leave the Acura owner when it comes to receiving fair compensation for Diminished Value and Loss of Use? The independent appraisers that use formulas and algorithms arrive at numbers that don’t remotely represent the Acura used car market. As for the independent appraisers that use automobile auction results, they are completely out of luck since so few high-end Acuras are put up for auction.

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company has gained more than our share of diminished value and loss of use requests from Acura owners due chiefly to word of mouth. It has been not only Acura owners but also the certified Acura repair shop managers who have sent their customers, friends and families to us.

Finally, with regard to Loss of Use claims, it costs up to $500 per day to rent a Dream Car such as the Acura NSX from one of the Hertz locations in California. Anywhere else in the US, you can rent a late model Acura or comparable car for $125.00 per day. Why do insurance companies feel that they can get away with offering lower-priced replacement vehicles to Acura owners? It is common knowledge that a wrecked Acura can take up to 60 days to repair. A typical Loss of Use report for an Acura owner whose car is laid up for two months is in excess of $7,500.00. Of special note: It is not necessary to actually rent a car in order to receive compensation for Loss of Use.

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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.

After making your secure payment please email the body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@autodiminishedvalue.com TESLA AND OTHER EXOTIC CAR OWNERS PLEASE CALL FOR RATES.

Service throughout Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming

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
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A Range Rover Diminished Value Claim in Louisville, Kentucky

September 17, 2025September 17, 2025 by stlucieappraisal

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

Each week we report on the most interesting and informative articles concerning auto diminished value claims. Regarding our diminished value appraisal of a Range Rover Sport Autobiography AWD SUV with 32,000 Miles that was involved in a rear-end collision that caused $1,800.00 in damage. The car was not disabled & towed and did not have structural damage.The claimant hired an independent auto appraiser near Louisville 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

We learned from these three examples – dealers would definitely take this on a trade however there may or may not be a 10-20% loss at trade in when you have an accident on a Carfax report, also that that when you get an accident and you have a minor accident on the report it would be normal to maybe lose ballpark 10% and also that a vehicle that is new like this with an accident report is never good to potential buyers and you may lose up to 10-15% at trade. The opinions of unbiased experts form the basis for a comprehensive Auto Diminished Value Appraisal. We obtain six of them which puts an appraisal prepared by The St. Lucie Appraisal Company in the ballpark. This is what the car owner will experience in the real world.

Dealers providing opinions regarding diminished value were given information specific to this vehicle including year, make, model, mileage, 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 Land Rover dealers in order 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: Non-disabling collision damages to the Rear not including structural components. Repair cost $1,800.00. 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 11.25%. This is the percentage of Diminished Value to be taken from the Fair Market Value at the time of loss.

We have established that the above captioned vehicle had a Fair Market Value (Average Trade-In Value) of approximately $62,500.00 at the time of loss. Diminished Value = $7,031.25.

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After making your secure payment please email the body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@autodiminishedvalue.com TESLA AND OTHER EXOTIC CAR OWNERS PLEASE CALL FOR RATES.

Services available in Bowling Green, Covington, Elizabethtown, Frankfort, Georgetown, Henderson, Hopkinsville, Independence, Jeffersontown, Lexington, Louisville, Nicholasville, Owensboro, Paducah, Richmond and throughout Kentucky.

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FORD DIMINISHED VALUE AND LOSS OF USE CLAIMS

September 17, 2025September 17, 2025 by stlucieappraisal

There is a new phenomenon in the automotive world and it is called Auto Diminished Value. For those who haven’t heard this term, it means the loss in value a vehicle experiences after undergoing collision repairs. Ford models that attract more discriminating buyers, suffer a great deal more diminished value than an ordinary car. Used car buyers simply won’t pay as much for a previously wrecked car so dealers, in turn, have to offer less come trade-in time. New and late model car owners expect a first-class level of service. Those expectations extend to the treatment they receive from insurance companies after their cars are wrecked by the negligence of others. Seeking fair compensation for diminished value and loss of use is part of it. You need an expert appraiser. At The St. Lucie Appraisal Company, Ford Diminished Value and Loss of Use claims are our specialty.

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

Insurance Company defense attorneys can instantly recognize which independent appraisals will stand up in court and advise their adjusters accordingly when it comes to offering fair settlements. We are rarely called upon to appear as expert witnesses in legal proceedings because our customers generally receive fair settlements that preclude taking civil actions. Ford diminished value and loss of use claims should present no problems if appraisals are prepared correctly.

So where does this leave the Ford owner when it comes to receiving fair compensation for Diminished Value and Loss of Use? The independent appraisers that use formulas and algorithms arrive at numbers that don’t remotely represent the Ford used car market. As for the independent appraisers that use automobile auction results, they are completely out of luck since so few high-end Fords are put up for auction.

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company has gained more than our share of diminished value and loss of use requests from Ford owners due chiefly to word of mouth. It has been not only Ford owners but also the certified Ford collision repair shop managers who have sent their customers, friends and families to us.

Finally, with regard to Loss of Use claims, it costs up to $250 per day to rent a Dream Car such as the Ford Mustang GT Convertible. A late model high-end Ford or comparable car or SUV can cost $125.00 per day on a long-term basis. Why do insurance companies feel that they can get away with offering lower-priced replacement vehicles to Ford owners? It is common knowledge that a wrecked high-end Ford can take up to 60 days to repair. A typical Loss of Use report for an Ford owner whose car is laid up for two months is in excess of $7,500.00. Of special note: It is not necessary to actually rent a car in order to receive compensation for Loss of Use.

Current Ford models include C-Max Energi and Hybrid, Escape, Expedition, Explorer, F-150, Fiesta, Focus, Fusion, Mustang, Super Duty F-250, F-350 and F-450 along with the Transit line of vans. Phased out recently were the Taurus, Econoline Vans, Edge and Flex models. All of these Fords will lose value after collision repairs. Diminished Value can result in as much as 50% of the vehicle’s value lost, especially if frame damage or air bag deployment was involved. While “the older the car, the less it will suffer diminished value” is true, that statement can be misleading. While a 2008 Ford with a bad Carfax will lose less in value, percentage-wise, than a newer model, older cars can still be worth thousands of dollars less.

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

After making your secure payment please email the body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@autodiminishedvalue.com TESLA AND OTHER EXOTIC CAR OWNERS PLEASE CALL FOR RATES.

Service throughout Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi , Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming

AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM and TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM are services of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company

This is an Open Education resource focused on auto diminished value, collective knowledge and the sharing of scholarly content.

Defining Diminished Value

August 21, 2025August 21, 2024 by stlucieappraisal

What is diminished value? This newly 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 automobile with no accident history, thereby making the previously repaired vehicle worth less than its counterpart.

DIMINISHED VALUE IN NEW CARS

June 4, 2024June 3, 2023 by stlucieappraisal

IS THERE SUCH A THING AS DIMINISHED VALUE IN NEW CARS?

New cars at dealerships can get damaged in various ways that aren’t the fault of the dealer. These include customer mishaps in the lot, damages caused by car carriers and, of course, the inevitable accidents that customers get into with their loaners. After repairs are completed, the automobile or truck goes back into the new car inventory. But these vehicles are different in that they have been devalued by the repair history, sometimes by tens of thousands of dollars. New car buyers that would even consider buying them will be looking for deep discounts. Can the dealerships recoup this loss in their bottom line? The answer is yes, if the damages to the vehicle were caused by someone else’s negligence. It is known as Automobile Diminished Value and the insurance companies of responsible parties – the rubbernecking customer, the trucker from hell or the careless loaner driver – are on the hook for it in every state. Diminished Value is not a claim that only pertains to used cars. New cars are also subject to diminished value and The St. Lucie Appraisal Company is pleased to be providing Automobile Diminished Value Reports to new car dealerships in all 50 states.

DIMINISHED VALUE IN NEW CARS – SOME ANSWERS
Q: As a new car dealer seeking a diminished value appraisal from your company, what information do I need to provide in order to get started?

A: At the bottom of the page you will find a blue rectangular box in which reads “Request an Automobile Damage Report.” Click on it to make a $275.00 payment to The St. Lucie Appraisal Company then email both a completed repair estimate and the new car sticker to contact@autodiminishedvalue.com

Q: Once we receive your report and forward it to the adjuster handling our claim, what type of response can we expect from the insurance company?

A: Our reports are based on the unbiased opinions of six General Sales Managers at recognized new car dealerships. Unlike appraisals based on formulas or appraisers’ expert opinions, ours are very difficult to dispute.

Q: How much value per car or truck should our dealership expect to lose as a result of new cars now having prior repair histories?

A: Unlike some of the unfortunate private passenger car and truck owners whose vehicles lose significant value, especially when frame repairs or air bag deployments were noted, most new cars aren’t usually wrecked too badly. There are, of course exceptions to the rule. A new Corvette Z07 Coupe which got pinballed around the dealer lot by a customer’s car lost 37.08% of its value, or $39,814.65, after undergoing $44,000.00 in repairs that included structural components. A new Kia Soul! lost 43.75% of its value after similar circumstances occurred. Most new cars with Carfaxes showing minor repairs typically lose only 10% to 20% in value. It is the dealer’s choice whether to recover it or not. The general manager of an automotive dealership has a high level of accountability. They are chiefly responsible for its continuous profitability. Being compensated thousands of dollars every time diminished value occurs fits in with that objective.

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

After making your secure payment please email the body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@autodiminishedvalue.com TESLA AND OTHER EXOTIC CAR OWNERS PLEASE CALL FOR RATES.

Vehicle Valuation Report for Title, Registration – Auto, Truck, RV, Motorcycle and Heavy Equipment

May 14, 2023February 1, 2023 by stlucieappraisal

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company prepares valuation and diminished value appraisals for all types of cars, trucks, RVs, motorcycles and heavy equipment in all 50 states. In each county of every state, motor vehicles being titled and registered for tags and license plates are assessed a tax based on the vehicle’s fair market value. If your car was ever involved in a collision, especially one involving severe damage that included structural (frame) damage or air bag deployment, you are paying up to double the amount you pay for motor vehicle title and registration taxes. For example, if you own a late-model Audi, Bentley, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, INFINITI, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Lotus, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Rolls-Royce or Tesla which the state values at $50,000, your motor vehicle tax is approximately $3,500.00. However, the same car showing a bad Carfax, Autocheck or other repair history report may have an actual value of up to 50% less. The resultant tax saving would be $1,750.00. If your motor vehicle is worth more, your savings increase exponentially. RVs such as Prevost, Newmar or Featherlite and heavy trucks such as Mack, Kenworth, Peterbilt or Volvo that have been repaired after collisions aren’t worth nearly as much as those that were never wrecked. The motor vehicle tax saving on a half-million-dollar vehicle could be in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Our valuation reports are also sought after for total loss disputes, financing, insurance underwriting, estate dissolution, divorce, bankruptcy and charitable donations.

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

Call The St. Lucie Appraisal Company at 772-359-4300 to inquire about obtaining a vehicle valuation appraisal when you obtain a title for a high-end vehicle or next time you renew your registration.

The cost to obtain a vehicle valuation appraisal is $275.00. Use the payment button above and email vehicle information to contact@stlucieappraisal.net. You will receive a signed vehicle valuation appraisal from a licensed motor vehicle appraiser via email in one week.

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