Your car was repaired.
Your value wasn't.

After an accident, your car permanently loses market value — even after perfect repairs. The at-fault insurer owes you that difference. Most people never claim it.

Get Free Estimate → What Is Diminished Value
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Human-reviewed by a finance expert
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Insurer-specific demand letter
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Full refund if we don't beat the report cost
Real Claim Example
Settled ✓
2022 Toyota Camry XSE · Rear-ended · Structural damage confirmed
Repairs paid by insurer
$9,180
Insurer's first DV offer
$1,944
Actual market value loss
$6,850
Client's net gain after $499 fee
+$6,351
3 comparable local sales confirmed the drop. Demand letter sent. Settled in 11 days.
Scroll to explore
What Is Diminished Value

Your insurer owes you more than just repairs.

01
The accident
Another driver hits your car. Their insurance covers the repair bill. You assume you're made whole.
02
The hidden loss
Your car now shows an accident on Carfax. Every buyer knows. Every dealer knows. Your car is worth thousands less — permanently.
03
Your legal right
In 48 states, you can claim that loss from the at-fault insurer. Most people never do — and insurers won't tell you it's possible.
04
Value Reclaimed
We document your loss with a certified appraisal and a demand letter written specifically for your carrier. Delivered in 48 hours.
How It Works

Four steps. No phone calls. No lawyers.

1
Check if you qualify
Answer 6 questions. Get an instant estimated recovery range — free, no card required.
2
Submit your details
Upload your repair invoice and accident info. Takes under 10 minutes. One flat fee.
3
Receive your report
Within 48 hours: certified appraisal, insurer-specific demand letter, DOI complaint, and carrier strategy.
4
File and collect
Send the letter yourself. Most claims settle without escalation. Follow-up templates included if they push back.
48
States where DV claims are recognized
$3.2k
Average recovery on qualified claims
17c
The insurer formula we refuse to use
Free · No commitment

Does your claim qualify?

Not every accident supports a strong DV claim. Answer 6 questions and we'll tell you honestly — before you pay anything.

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Instant result — no waiting, no follow-up call
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Estimated recovery range based on your vehicle and damage profile
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If your claim doesn't qualify, we'll tell you now — at no charge
Free Estimate

Does your claim qualify?

6 quick questions. Instant result.

Step 1 of 6
Was the other driver fully at fault?
DV claims only work against the at-fault driver's insurer.
Yes — they were 100% at fault
Partially — fault was shared
No — I was at fault
Not sure / still being determined
Step 2 of 6
What state did the accident happen in?
We serve 48 states. We do not serve Nebraska or Oregon.
Step 3 of 6
How much were the repairs?
Claims under $1,500 rarely produce meaningful DV recovery.
My car was declared a total loss
Under $1,500
$1,500 – $3,500
$3,500 – $7,000
Over $7,000
Step 4 of 6
Tell us about your vehicle.
Age and mileage affect DV potential. Year and mileage required.
Step 5 of 6
Was there any structural or frame damage?
Structural damage significantly increases your potential recovery.
Yes — frame or structural damage confirmed
No — cosmetic damage only
Not sure — I'd need to check the repair invoice
Step 6 of 6
Did your vehicle have any prior accident history before this claim?
Previous accidents reduce a vehicle's pre-loss value and can lower your DV recovery.
No — clean history before this accident
Yes — minor prior damage (no structural)
Yes — significant prior damage
No credit card · No commitment
Insurer-Specific Strategy

Your demand letter is written
for your insurer specifically.

Every major insurer has a playbook for deflecting DV claims. They rely on proprietary formulas, lowball counters, and delay tactics designed to wear you down. Your report includes a dedicated strategy section — calibrated to how your insurer actually behaves — so you know exactly what to expect and how to respond.

This is not a generic letter. Your demand is written with your carrier's specific objections in mind — their preferred formula defenses, their settlement thresholds, and the language that gets results with them in particular.
State Farm
Typically high resistance
Has historically favored the 17c formula, which tends to produce lower figures than market-data methodology
Response timelines can be slow in our experience — patience and documented follow-up help
May request additional supporting documentation before engaging
Your report includes counter-language specifically addressing the 17c formula's documented limitations and market-data rebuttal points.
GEICO
Typically high resistance
Has been known to challenge DV liability before engaging on amount — early escalation language helps
Initial offers have often come in well below documented loss
In our experience, regulatory escalation tends to move things more than direct negotiation alone
Your demand is front-loaded with DOI complaint language and state statute citations to signal escalation readiness from the outset.
Allstate
Typically moderate resistance
Generally acknowledges DV as a valid claim type, though initial offers tend to come in low
Has been known to rely on internal valuation tools that may underweight comparable market data
Strong comp evidence has historically improved negotiation outcomes
Your report front-loads market comp data to establish the actual loss figure before their internal tools are introduced into the conversation.
Progressive
Typically moderate resistance
Generally acknowledges DV obligations, which puts the negotiation on amount rather than liability
Initial offers have often reflected a fraction of the documented loss — counter-response is usually necessary
In our experience, USPAP-certified documentation tends to receive more serious engagement
Appraiser certification language and credentials are prominently featured in your demand to set a professional tone from the first letter.
USAA
Typically lower resistance
Has been more cooperative on DV claims than many carriers in our experience
With solid documentation, settlements closer to the documented value have been more achievable
Member-focused culture tends to make them more responsive to professional, well-supported claims
Your demand leads with the certified valuation figure — thorough documentation is typically what moves the needle here.
Farmers
Typically moderate resistance
Handling can vary significantly across adjusters and regions
May request an independent appraisal review before making a final offer
DOI complaints have historically tended to accelerate resolution when direct negotiation stalls
Your report includes a pre-drafted DOI complaint ready to deploy if the adjuster stops engaging — having it ready tends to sharpen timelines.

Coverage includes 10 major carriers including Liberty Mutual, Nationwide, Travelers, and more. Your operator strategy notes are included in every report — they stay between you and us, not shared with the claimant.

Carrier behavior patterns described above are based on general industry experience and publicly reported claims-handling practices observed across the appraisal industry. They reflect typical tendencies, not guarantees. Individual outcomes vary by adjuster, regional office, policy terms, and claim specifics. Value Reclaimed has no affiliation with any of the carriers named above, and nothing herein should be construed as a statement of fact about any specific claim or claims-handling policy.

Flat Fee Pricing

One flat fee. No hidden charges. No hourly billing.

Not sure which applies? Check your repair invoice. If it mentions frame, structural, or unibody damage — or if airbags deployed — that's the $499 Structural Report. If the damage was purely cosmetic with no structural involvement, that's the $399.

Most Claims
Structural Report
Frame or Structural Damage
Frame damage, airbag deployment, unibody repair, structural confirmation
$499
✓ Certified USPAP-compliant appraisal
✓ Market comp analysis — NADA, Black Book, live sales
✓ Demand letter written for your specific insurer
✓ Carrier negotiation strategy
✓ Pre-drafted DOI complaint letter
✓ Counter-response templates
✓ Structural Impact Statement (Exhibit B)
✓ Frame damage Carfax analysis
✓ Reinforced demand letter language
Start My Claim — $499
Standard Report
Cosmetic Damage Only
Panel damage, dents, paint, glass — no structural involvement, airbags did not deploy
$399
✓ Certified USPAP-compliant appraisal
✓ Market comp analysis — NADA, Black Book, live sales
✓ Demand letter written for your specific insurer
✓ Carrier negotiation strategy
✓ Pre-drafted DOI complaint letter
✓ Counter-response templates
Start My Claim — $399
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Full Refund Guarantee
If your documented diminished value is less than the cost of the report, you get a full refund. No fine print. If we can't find you more than you paid us, you don't pay.
How We Compare

Everything included. Nothing upsold.

Most appraisal services charge a base fee and layer on extras. Here's what's actually in the box.

What's included Value Reclaimed Typical competitor
Certified USPAP-compliant appraisal ✓ Varies
Market comp methodology — not the 17c formula ✓ ✗
Demand letter written for your specific insurer ✓ ✗
Carrier negotiation strategy included ✓ ✗
DOI complaint letter — pre-drafted, ready to send ✓ Sometimes extra
Counter-response templates for lowball offers ✓ ✗
Free pre-screening before you pay anything ✓ ✗
Human-reviewed by a finance expert ✓ Varies
48-hour turnaround ✓ 5–7 days typical
30 days of post-delivery support ✓ ✗
Outcome-based refund guarantee ✓ ✗
Flat fee — no contingency, no add-ons ✓ Often contingency-based

"Typical competitor" reflects general market observations across online DV appraisal services. Individual providers vary — do your own research before choosing.

Bryan Dastmalchi, Founder of Value Reclaimed
Who's Behind This
Bryan Dastmalchi
Founder, Value Reclaimed
I spent over a decade in financial analysis and asset valuation — at Deloitte, Chevron, and Microsoft — before building Value Reclaimed. I started this because I watched insurers systematically underpay diminished value claims using a formula everyone in the industry knows is broken. Every report that leaves this desk is personally reviewed by me before delivery. If I wouldn't stake my name on it, it doesn't ship.
MBA, UC Davis
BA Accounting, UW
14+ Years in Finance
Every Report Personally Reviewed
Who We Work With

Built for drivers. Trusted by attorneys and body shops.

🚗
Vehicle Owners
You got your car back. The value didn't come with it.
Your car now has an accident history on Carfax. Any buyer will discount it — permanently. No lawyers required. You file yourself with our ready-to-send documents.
Check if you qualify →
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Personal Injury Attorneys
Add a certified DV appraisal to every auto case.
USPAP Standard 8 certified, court-ready, with full methodology documentation. Order-by-order, no retainer. Delivered in 48 hours.
Contact us →
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Independent Body Shops
Give customers a complete recovery path.
Your customers leave thousands on the table after every repair. We work exclusively with non-DRP shops on a simple referral basis — no paperwork, no complexity.
Become a partner →
Common Questions

Still have questions?

Is this report generated by AI?
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No. Every report is reviewed and finalized by a human finance expert with over a decade of experience in asset valuation and appraisal. Technology helps us research market data efficiently — but your appraisal is a professional, human-certified document, not an automated output.
What if my claim was already settled?
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It depends on what you signed. If you signed a full release that specifically included diminished value, you may have waived your right. If the settlement only covered repairs and medical bills, your DV claim may still be open. When in doubt, get the free estimate — it costs nothing to find out.
What states do you serve?
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We serve clients in 48 states. We do not serve Nebraska (no established legal basis for third-party DV claims) or Oregon (Oregon law requires DV reports to be signed by a state-licensed appraiser, a credential we do not hold).
What's your refund policy?
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Simple: if the diminished value we document is less than the cost of the report, you get a full refund. If we can't find you more than you paid us, you don't pay. We also pre-screen every claim before accepting payment — if we don't think your claim has merit, we'll tell you that for free before you spend anything.
How long does it take to get my report?
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Standard turnaround is 48 hours from the time you submit your completed intake form with all required documentation. In most cases it's faster. Your full appraisal, demand letter, DOI complaint letter, and insurer strategy notes are delivered by email — all human-reviewed before they leave our desk.

Ready to claim what you're owed?

Start with a free estimate or go straight to ordering your report. Either way, you'll have your complete claim package within 48 hours.

Start My Claim → Free Estimate First
✓ Free estimate — no card required
✓ Report delivered in 48 hours
✓ If we don't beat the report cost, you don't pay
✓ 48 states · No lawyers needed