Per-state stance, statute of limitations, citable case law, and typical recovery range.
See the insurer's anchor before you negotiate — built from the actual formula State Farm uses.
USPAP-compliant market-data report that documents true DV using your VIN's comp set.
17c Diminished Value Calculator
The 17c formula is the industry-standard starting point used by State Farm, GEICO, and most adjusters. Real recoveries are usually higher — this gives you the insurer's anchor.
17c is the insurer's opening figure, not a court-adopted measure. An independent, market-data DV appraisal citing your VIN's comp set is the appropriate rebuttal — the amount it recovers depends on your policy language, damage, mileage, and local comparables.
Diminished value by state
Stance, citable law, and statute of limitations vary widely. Pick your state for the specifics.
First-party DV states (you can claim from your own insurer)
Third-party DV states (claim from the at-fault driver's insurer)
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- District of Columbia
Mixed jurisdictions (third-party affirmed, first-party case-dependent)
Frequently asked
What is a diminished value claim?
Diminished value (DV) is the loss in resale value a vehicle suffers after a reported accident, even when fully repaired. A buyer will pay less for a car with an accident on Carfax. You can recover that gap from the at-fault driver's insurer (third-party DV), and in a handful of states, from your own insurer (first-party DV).
How much is a diminished value claim worth?
Most claims fall between $1,500 and $6,500. The 17c formula caps DV at 10% of pre-loss ACV, but real market-data appraisals usually exceed that. A 3-year-old vehicle with structural damage routinely loses 18–25% of value.
Which states allow first-party diminished value claims?
Georgia (Mabry v. State Farm), Washington (Moeller v. Farmers), Massachusetts (Bulletin 2016-04), Kansas, and Kentucky have squarely affirmed first-party DV. Every other state allows third-party DV against the at-fault driver's insurer.
How long do I have to file a diminished value claim?
Statute of limitations varies by state — typically 2–6 years for property damage. Florida and Texas are 2 years; California and Colorado are 3 years; Illinois is 5 years. File early; insurers stall.
Is the 17c formula accurate?
No. 17c was created by State Farm in a Georgia consent decree and has no statistical basis. Adjusters use it as an opening anchor. An independent market-data appraisal (comparing your VIN's pre-loss vs post-loss comps) almost always recovers more.