A diminished value appraisal documents the market value your vehicle has permanently lost as a result of an accident — even after all repairs have been completed. No matter how skilled the body shop, a repaired vehicle commands less on the open market than a comparable vehicle with no accident history. That difference is your compensable diminished value.
Salt Lake City Auto Appraisers delivers ASCAA-certified, USPAP-compliant diminished value reports that break down every category of value loss in plain language, giving you the documented proof needed to collect what you are owed from the at-fault party's insurance carrier.
Utah is a tort-based (at-fault) state. Utah repealed its no-fault auto insurance law in 1991. Under Utah law, the at-fault driver (and their liability insurer) is responsible for all resulting damages, including bodily injury, property damage, and diminished value. Utah does not require Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage.
Utah courts recognize the right to recover diminished value through a third-party claim against the at-fault driver's liability insurer. The Utah Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Allstate v. Hawkins (2001) established that insurers must compensate Utah policyholders for the inherent diminished value of vehicles after a covered loss. Utah courts have consistently upheld the right to recover the difference between pre- and post-accident fair market value — in both first-party claims under collision coverage and third-party claims against the at-fault driver’s insurer. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-32, you generally have four years from the date of the accident to file a property damage claim.
Insurance companies often attempt to deny or minimize legitimate DV claims. A certified, USPAP-compliant appraisal from Salt Lake City Auto Appraisers provides the documentation courts and insurers must take seriously.
We review your repair documents and accident details at no charge to confirm you have a compensable DV claim.
Our certified appraiser conducts a thorough physical inspection of your vehicle, documenting all repair quality indicators and residual damage.
We research comparable vehicle sales and auction data throughout Utah and Utah to establish pre-accident fair market value.
You receive a comprehensive, USPAP-compliant written appraisal report you can submit directly to the insurance company or use in legal proceedings.
Inherent Diminished Value is the most common type — the permanent stigma attached to a vehicle's accident history that reduces its resale value regardless of repair quality. This is what most claimants seek to recover.
Repair-Related Diminished Value occurs when repairs are incomplete or of substandard quality, leaving the vehicle in worse condition than it could have been.
Immediate Diminished Value is the difference in value immediately after an accident before any repairs are made.
Salt Lake City Auto Appraisers evaluates all applicable forms of diminished value so your certified report captures the full extent of your loss. Our detailed methodology withstands scrutiny from insurance adjusters, defense attorneys, and judges alike.
Salt Lake City Auto Appraisers is the only ASCAA Certified Auto Appraiser throughout Georgia. ASCAA (American Society of Certified Auto Appraisers) certification — through certifiedautoappraisers.com — requires completion of a five-course USPAP-compliant curriculum covering ethics, vehicle inspection, damage analysis, valuation methodology, and appraisal report writing.
With 26+ years of experience in automobile claims and appraisals, a BBB A+ rating, and a proven track record helping thousands of the Wasatch Front vehicle owners recover fair compensation, we have the expertise and credentials to maximize your claim. We serve Salt Lake City, South Jordan, West Jordan, Draper, Murray, Sandy, and all of Fulton and DeKalb Counties.
Armed Forces members discount available.
Free evaluation — no obligation. Find out if you have a compensable claim before you commit.
