Diminished Value Demand Letter + 17c Calculator
After a repair, your car is worth less than an identical car that was never wrecked. This generator builds a demand letter to the at-fault driver's insurer and calculates a 17c figure in front of you, with the formula shown, so you can see how the number was reached and argue for more.
Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to this site or anyone else. Copy, print, or download the result.
What this letter must include
- The claim number, the at-fault driver, the date of the accident, and your vehicle (year, make, model, VIN)
- The pre-accident retail value and its source (NADA/J.D. Power, KBB, or a dealer appraisal)
- The repair cost
- The 17c calculation with each factor shown, presented as a floor
- Any evidence that actual diminished value is higher: comparable listings, a dealer trade-in quote, or an independent appraisal
- A specific amount demanded and a response deadline
- A list of enclosures
Questions
What is the 17c formula?
A method some insurers use, originating in a Georgia class action settlement, that caps diminished value at 10 percent of the vehicle's pre-loss value and then reduces it by a damage severity modifier and a mileage modifier. The calculator shows each factor so you can argue against ones that undervalue your loss.
Can I claim diminished value against my own insurer?
Usually not under a standard auto policy, which pays to repair your vehicle. Diminished value claims are typically third-party claims against the at-fault driver's liability coverage, with a few state exceptions. Check the policy and the applicable state rules.
Is 17c the right number?
It is the insurer's number. Comparable sales of repaired versus clean-history vehicles, or an independent appraisal, often support a higher figure. The letter presents 17c as a floor.
How long do I have?
The statute of limitations for property damage in your state, often two to four years, but demand early because the vehicle's value and the repair records are easiest to document right after the repair.
Need the Word and Excel version? — $9
The paid version adds an editable Word letter, an Excel 17c calculator with a comparable-sales section, and a worked example so you can argue for more than the formula.
Free insurance tools
Use the letter generators in your browser, or download the free home inventory and proof-of-loss guide.