When your car is involved in an accident — even one where repairs are completed correctly — it permanently loses market value. Buyers and dealers pay less for vehicles with accident history on Carfax or AutoCheck, regardless of how flawless the repair work was. This loss is called diminished value, and if the accident was not your fault, you are entitled to recover it from the at-fault driver's insurance company.
Austin Auto Appraisers is the only ASCAA Certified Auto Appraiser in Central Texas. Our certified, USPAP-compliant diminished value appraisal reports are accepted by all major insurance carriers, personal injury attorneys, and Texas courts. We have over 24 years of experience helping Austin-area vehicle owners collect what they are rightfully owed.
Diminished value is the difference between your vehicle's market value before the accident and its market value after repairs. There are three types recognized in the industry:
The most commonly claimed type in Texas is inherent diminished value. Even a perfectly repaired vehicle is worth measurably less than an identical vehicle with no accident history. Our certified appraisals document and quantify that difference with precision.
Austin Auto Appraisers uses an industry-recognized dual-methodology approach that produces accurate, legally defensible diminished value figures. Our process includes:
Reports are typically delivered within three to four business days after vehicle inspection and document receipt. We also provide a free initial evaluation — if we determine that your vehicle does not qualify for at least triple our fee in recoverable diminished value, we will tell you before you pay anything.
Yes. Texas law fully recognizes third-party diminished value claims. Under Texas tort law, you are entitled to recover "reasonable cost of repair or restoration with due allowance for any difference between the original value and the value after repairs." The statute of limitations in Texas is two years from the date of the accident, so acting promptly protects your claim.
You file your claim against the at-fault driver's liability insurer. Our certified appraisal report serves as the evidentiary basis for your claim. If the insurer disputes the value, our documentation is designed to withstand scrutiny — we have had reports accepted by State Farm, GEICO, Allstate, Progressive, USAA, and dozens of smaller carriers.
You likely qualify if all of the following apply to your situation:
Older, high-mileage vehicles may have limited recoverable diminished value, which is why our free initial evaluation is important. We give you an honest assessment before you invest in a full appraisal.
Austin Auto Appraisers serves all of Travis County, Williamson County, and the greater Central Texas area including Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Kyle, and Leander. Call us at (877) 868-9123 or use our online order form to submit your vehicle information and get started.
Don't leave money on the table. Contact us today for your free initial evaluation.