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.
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Who it is for
Drivers whose vehicle was damaged by an at-fault driver and who want a documented diminished value demand.
What is inside
- Live demand letter generator with required-field validation
- 17c calculator: base value x 10% cap x damage modifier x mileage modifier, with the formula displayed
- Copy, print or save as PDF, and download as .txt
- What the letter must include, and FAQs on third-party versus first-party diminished value claims
- Paid version adds a Word letter and an Excel calculator with a comparable-sales section
AI prompt pack: fill this template with ChatGPT or Claude
Paste the prompt below into ChatGPT or Claude together with your own documents (declarations pages, certificates, P&L, contracts). It is written to return results in this template's column order.
Check anything an AI tool returns against the source document before you rely on it. The prompt is a starting point, not a substitute for reading the policy.
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.
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Free insurance tools
Use the letter generators in your browser, or download the free home inventory and proof-of-loss guide.