Did you know even after repairs, your car may still be worth less after an accident?
This is called diminished value, and you might be able to get money from the insurance company to make up for the difference.
Here’s how it works:
Before the accident: Your car has a certain value.
After the accident: Even with repairs, your car might be worth less. This is called the diminished value.
The insurance company will never offer diminished value automatically and they typically avoid paying you, if you let them. We can help with a comprehensive report which demonstrates the loss in value and provides a path to collection.
Collision Safety Consultants can Help!
We’re independent experts who can assess the damage to your car and determine how much value it lost. We do this for a flat fee and work directly with your insurance company to resolve your claim.
We specialize in:
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Diminished Value Claims
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Total Loss Valuations
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Post-Collision Repair Inspections
We work for you, not the insurance company, to ensure you get a fair deal.
Types of Diminished Value
Immediate: This is the difference in what your car could be sold for before the accident and what it’s worth now.
Inherent: This is the value lost simply because your car has been in an accident, even if perfectly fixed. Many buyers prefer cars with no accident history.
Repair-related: This happens when repairs are done poorly, and your car isn’t as safe or reliable as before. A proper inspection can help prevent this.
FAQ: Getting the Most After an Auto Accident
What is diminished value, and how does it affect me?
Diminished value is the decrease in your car's market value because it has been in an accident and repaired. Even with perfect repairs, a car with a repair history may sell for less than a similar car without prior damage. This is called inherent diminished value.
There are other ways repairs can further decrease your car's value:
- Repair-Related Diminished Value: This happens when repairs are poor quality. Maybe the paint doesn't match perfectly, or there are rattles or leaks. These imperfections can make buyers suspicious of more significant underlying damage and lower their offer.
- Insurance-Related Diminished Value: This occurs when the insurance company's repairs don't fully restore your car's value. They might use cheap parts or cut corners on repairs, leading to diminished value.
If you're concerned about diminished value, Collision Safety Consultants can help. Call us today at (855) 648-8800 for a free consultation to discuss your specific situation.
How can I tell if my car has diminished value?
Several factors can affect diminished value, including:
- Age of the car: Older cars with higher mileage generally have less overall value to begin with, so diminished value might be less significant.
- Severity of the damage: More extensive damage will likely lead to higher diminished value.
- Quality of repairs: Poor repairs significantly increase diminished value.
Unsure if your car has diminished value? Don't wait! Call Collision Safety Consultants at (855) 648-8800 today. Our specialists can review your case and help you determine if you have a claim.
How do I collect diminished value from the insurance company?
Unfortunately, collecting diminished value from insurance companies can be a complex and lengthy process. They often try to deny or minimize diminished value claims. Here's where Collision Safety Consultants can help:
- Diminished Value Claim Specialists: Our team has the expertise to navigate the process and fight for the compensation you deserve.
- Expert Documentation: We'll gather evidence to support your claim, including repair invoices, appraisals, and market data on similar cars without accident history.
- Negotiation and Advocacy: We will negotiate aggressively with the insurance company to ensure you receive a fair settlement for diminished value.
Don't let the insurance company undervalue your car! Call Collision Safety Consultants today for a free consultation and get what you're owed!
MEL RAMADAN2025-12-18I was referred by my body shop in Illinois in October 0f 2025 to speak with Mr. Tim P. with Collision Safety Consultants via email communication, in regards to my total loss claim on my 2021 Toyota Camry hybrid. My insurance carrier was low-balling me for the appraisal and total settlement amount of only $20,000. Email communication was precise and on point every time with Tim, he was extremely knowledgeable and helpfull in guiding me along the insurance process and really was just looking out for me and to acquire the best possible money amount from the insurance. With Tim's extensive professional experience in this industry we acquired a settlement amount of an additional $6,000 by mid December 2025.I was extremely ecstatic with the fast result Tim was able to achieve in a short amount of time. My friends and family were always asking me updates on my total loss claim and I told them God forbid you are in this situation you definitely want to have Collision Safety Consultants with Tim on your side for all of his incredible work. Thank you Sir!
Dawn Scott2025-12-17Pete Did an excellent job of staying in touch even though my insurance company was dragging their feet for over a month! And… when my insurance company finally came through he got me way over what I thought was possible! 🙏 I honestly could not have done it without the experience and knowledge of these guys.
Kevin Harrington2025-12-13Tim fought for me and my car will now be repaired to pre-accident condition. Professional, prompt and thorough. Thank You Tim!!
Woodrow Harrison Jr2025-12-05Collision Safety Consultants deserves five stars. After an electrical fire damaged my 2003 Mercedes SL500, Progressive denied my claim despite the vehicle being in excellent condition. The Mercedes dealer estimated $28,000 in repairs, leaving me in a terrible financial position. A recommendation led me to Tim at Collision Safety Consultants, and he immediately took action. He communicated directly with the insurance supervisor, challenged the denial, and continued pushing for a fair outcome. Progressive first offered only $700, but thanks to Tim’s persistence, they ultimately totaled the vehicle and paid a fair settlement. Tim is knowledgeable, professional, and truly advocates for his clients. I highly recommend Collision Safety Consultants to anyone dealing with an unfair insurance decision.
John C2025-11-28I had an excellent experience working with Tim. He was extremely professional, thorough, and easy to communicate with. The diminished value report he prepared was detailed, well-organized, and clearly explained you can tell he really knows his field. If you need a trustworthy expert who takes pride in his work, I highly recommend Tim.
Hal U2025-11-13Highly recommended. We used them to obtain another $6000 on our claim with our insurance company. We went back-and-forth with our insurance company for weeks before bringing in CSC who resolved everything in under a week.
Michael Renzi2025-09-05Pete did an incredible job, he increased my payout from Allstate by nearly $10,000 after they tried to scam me when my truck was stolen! Great communication throughout the whole process and extremely honest!!!
Ehi Onwudiwe2025-09-02Had a total loss for my car from insurance with a settlement offer. I reached out to Tim Pfeifle for guidance, based on a referral. He was able to provide value by sharing insights of what my car’s true value was, and with that I was able to negotiate a better offer with insurance. He did this promptly and was very honest about whether or not I needed him to get a better offer. Appreciate his responsiveness and candor. It was a breath of fresh air.
Cam Cohen2025-08-28Tim was extremely easy to work with/continuously follows up with the at-fault carriers inusrance and despite their continuous attempts at stonewalling/making it difficult, they raised their amounts a couple times. I'm aware this process can take a while, but if you are unknown the world of DV claims, you have to pack your patience as its a game of wearing these companies down until you are happy with the settlement. This was a pretty convoluted DV claim as well considering it was a vehicle part of my rental fleet that was new (under 1500 miles) and our customer was hit by another individual. Overall, we ended up netting additional money back from the inital DV claim they provided me, prior to hiring CSC of DMV. Thank you! -Cam C.
Aamina Chaudry2025-08-27It has been an absolute pleasure to deal with Tim, he is completely dedicated, very professional and absolutely most competent representative to have, couldn’t have asked for better representation. Recommend extremely highly with absolutely no reservations.