Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about diminished value, total loss claims, and how we help.
General
What does Property Damage Pros do?
We help accident victims get more money from insurance companies. When your car is totaled or damaged in an accident, insurance companies typically underpay. We use professional appraisals and real market data to prove your car's true value and negotiate a higher payout.
How much does it cost?
You have two options. You can purchase a standalone certified appraisal for $350 flat. But most of our clients prefer our full-service option — where our fee is only contingent on results. We charge a percentage of what we recover above the insurance company's initial offer, so you only pay if we get you more money. If we don't beat their offer, you owe nothing. It's truly a win-win.
Do I need a lawyer?
You need a certified vehicle appraiser — not necessarily a lawyer. Property Damage Pros handles the entire claim process directly with the insurance company. If your claim requires legal action, we work closely with partner law firms including LawyerUp, the Brad DeBry Law Firm, and Craig Swapp & Associates for a seamless case handling experience. About 50% of our cases end up in court because we will sue the insurance company if they don't treat you fairly.
How long does the process take?
Most claims are resolved within 30 days. If we need to take the insurance company to court, it can take longer — complex cases may take up to 90 days. Remember: if the accident wasn't your fault (or you have rental coverage on your own policy), you're owed a rental car for every day you're without your vehicle during this process.
Do you serve all of Utah?
Yes. We have offices in Clearfield and Sandy, Utah and serve clients across the entire state — Salt Lake City, Provo, Ogden, Park City, St. George, and everywhere in between. We also help clients from other states through our nationwide network of certified appraisers. Our process is fully remote — you rarely need to visit an office in person.
Diminished Value
What is diminished value?
Diminished value is the loss in your car's market value after an accident — even after a perfect repair. Buyers pay less for cars with accident histories. If the accident wasn't your fault, the at-fault driver's insurance owes you this lost value.
How much is my diminished value claim worth?
Most claims range from $3,000 to $8,000, but high-value vehicles can see $10,000–$20,000+ in lost value. The amount depends on your vehicle's year, make, model, pre-accident value, and the severity of damage.
Can I file a diminished value claim if the accident was my fault?
Generally, diminished value claims are filed against the at-fault driver's insurance. If you caused the accident, you typically cannot file a DV claim against your own insurance in Utah. However, every situation is different — contact us and we'll review your case.
Is there a time limit to file?
In Utah, the statute of limitations for property damage claims is 4 years from the date of the accident. However, we recommend filing as soon as possible after repairs are completed for the strongest claim.
Total Loss
What does total loss mean?
Total loss means the cost to repair your vehicle exceeds its market value (or a percentage set by your state). The insurance company pays you the car's pre-accident value instead of repairing it.
How do insurance companies determine my car's value?
They use internal tools like CCC ONE or Mitchell that pull comparable vehicle data. These tools are configured to minimize payouts — they often pick the cheapest comparables and ignore factors that increase your car's value like low mileage, recent maintenance, or premium features.
Can I negotiate a total loss offer?
Absolutely — and you should. The first offer is almost never the best. Our clients receive an average of $6,500 more than the initial offer by providing proper documentation of the car's true market value.
What if I still owe money on my car loan?
If you owe more than the insurance payout, that's called being 'upside down.' Gap insurance covers this difference. Regardless, you should still fight for the highest possible payout to minimize or eliminate any remaining loan balance.
Do I have to accept the insurance company's offer?
No. You have the right to dispute any total loss valuation. Insurance companies count on people accepting the first offer because they don't know they can fight back. That's where we come in.
Process & Payment
What information do you need to get started?
Just your vehicle info (VIN, mileage, condition), the insurance company's offer (if you have one), and basic details about the accident. We handle everything from there.
How do I pay for the appraisal?
We accept all major credit cards and can take payment over the phone. The $350 fee is due when we begin your appraisal.
What if the insurance company won't budge?
In our experience, insurance companies almost always increase their offer when presented with a professional appraisal backed by real market data. If they refuse to negotiate fairly, we can refer you to legal counsel to pursue the claim further.
Insurance Negotiations
How do I negotiate with an insurance adjuster?
Never accept the first offer. Respond with a formal demand letter backed by an independent appraisal, comparable vehicle data, and Utah law citations. Get everything in writing — verbal agreements mean nothing.
What is a demand letter?
A formal document sent to the insurance company stating the amount you believe you're owed, supported by evidence. It establishes your legal position and creates a paper trail. We prepare these as part of our service.
What are common insurance adjuster tricks?
Quick lowball offers before you can research, requesting recorded statements to use against you, using wrong comparable vehicles to undervalue your car, delaying the process hoping you'll settle, and claiming diminished value or loss of use 'aren't covered' when they legally are.
Can I file a complaint against my insurance company in Utah?
Yes. If your insurer delays, denies valid claims, or makes unreasonable offers, file a complaint with the Utah Insurance Department at insurance.utah.gov or call (801) 957-9200. Utah Admin Rule R590-190 requires fair settlement practices.
What is insurance bad faith?
Bad faith occurs when an insurer unreasonably denies, delays, or underpays a valid claim. In Utah, this can include failing to investigate properly, misrepresenting policy terms, or refusing payment without reasonable basis. You may be entitled to additional damages.
How long does the insurance company have to settle my claim in Utah?
Under Utah Administrative Rule R590-190, insurers must acknowledge claims within 15 days and settle or deny within 30 days of receiving all documentation. Violations can be reported to the Utah Insurance Department.
Car Rental & Loss of Use
How long will insurance pay for a rental car?
For repairs: until your car is fixed. For total loss: a 'reasonable' period after the settlement offer, typically 7-14 days. Insurance often tries to cut rental early — we fight to extend it.
What is loss of use compensation?
Even if you don't rent a car, you're owed the equivalent daily rental value for every day without your vehicle. Used a friend's car? Took the bus? Went without? You still get paid. Most people don't know to claim this.
Who pays for my rental car after an accident?
The at-fault driver's liability insurance pays — separate from your own policy's rental coverage. Their coverage has no per-day cap. You're entitled to a comparable vehicle, not a compact if you drove an SUV.
What if insurance cuts off my rental early?
Document the cutoff date and your continued need for the vehicle. Under Utah R590-190, insurers must act fairly. We can negotiate continued coverage or file for loss of use compensation for the remaining days.
Utah Law
What is the statute of limitations for property damage claims in Utah?
Utah Code §78B-2-307 provides a 4-year statute of limitations from the date of the accident. This applies to diminished value, total loss disputes, loss of use, and all other property damage claims.
What is the appraisal clause in my auto insurance policy?
Most Utah auto policies include an appraisal clause that lets you demand an independent appraisal when you disagree with the insurer's valuation. Each side hires an appraiser; if they disagree, a neutral umpire makes the final binding decision.
What if I was partially at fault for the accident?
Utah follows modified comparative fault. If you're less than 50% at fault, you can still recover damages — reduced by your fault percentage. At 50% or more, you cannot recover. Most DV claims involve clear liability.
Does insurance have to pay sales tax on a replacement vehicle?
Yes. For total loss claims, the insurer should include the sales tax you'll pay on a replacement vehicle (typically 7.25% in Utah) plus registration and title transfer fees.
What is Utah Admin Rule R590-190?
Utah's Unfair Claims Settlement Practices rule. It requires insurers to acknowledge claims within 15 days, settle within 30 days, conduct fair investigations, and provide documentation justifying low offers. Violations can be reported to the Utah Insurance Department.
Specific Situations
Can I file a diminished value claim on a leased vehicle?
Yes. The diminished value belongs to the vehicle owner — which for a lease is the leasing company. However, the DV loss affects your buyout/return value. Some lessees can file with the leasing company's cooperation.
What about diminished value on an electric vehicle or Tesla?
EVs and Teslas often have some of the highest diminished value claims. Buyers are especially wary of accident history on electric vehicles due to battery and structural concerns. We see EV DV claims of $8,000-$20,000+.
How much value does frame damage take off a car?
Frame or structural damage causes the highest diminished value — often 20-40% of the vehicle's pre-accident value. Even properly repaired structural damage significantly impacts resale value because it raises safety and durability concerns for buyers.
My car was financed and totaled — insurance isn't paying enough. What do I do?
This is common. If you owe more than the payout, gap insurance covers the difference. If you don't have gap insurance, fighting for a higher settlement is critical. An independent appraisal typically recovers $3,000-$10,000+ above the initial offer.
Can insurance force me to use aftermarket parts?
In Utah, insurers can specify aftermarket parts, but they must be of 'like kind and quality.' If aftermarket parts reduce your vehicle's value or don't meet safety standards, you can dispute the use. We help document when aftermarket parts result in diminished value.
Does an accident on Carfax lower my car's value?
Yes. Carfax transaction data shows accident-history vehicles sell for 10-25% less than identical clean-title vehicles. 39% of buyers won't even consider a car with accident history regardless of repair quality. This permanent value loss is exactly what diminished value claims recover.
Insurance Companies
How do I file a diminished value claim with State Farm?
Submit a formal demand letter with a USPAP-certified appraisal to the at-fault driver's State Farm adjuster. State Farm often uses the 17c formula to minimize payouts — counter with real market data. We handle this entire process.
Does GEICO pay diminished value claims?
GEICO will pay DV claims when presented with proper documentation, but they typically offer 50-60% of actual diminished value on the first response. A professional appraisal with Black Book data significantly increases your recovery.
How do I dispute a Progressive total loss offer?
Request the full itemized valuation report showing their comparable vehicles. Challenge each comparable that doesn't match your vehicle's year, trim, mileage, and condition. Submit an independent appraisal as a counter-demand.
Still Have Questions?
Call us or fill out our contact form. We're happy to answer any questions about your specific situation.