Repaired isn't restored.

Once an accident lands on a vehicle's history report, it's worth less at resale, even after a perfect repair. Repair Gap's independent diminished value appraisals help fleets recover that loss from the at-fault insurer, at wholesale volume.

Open a fleet account See how it works
  • Volume pricing
  • Independent appraisers
  • Total loss appraisals too
UNIT 0417 · SIDE VIEW Repaired panel
Diminished value

The repair gets paid. The value loss usually doesn't.

Diminished value (DV) is the difference between what a vehicle was worth before an accident and what it's worth after repairs. Insurers generally won't pay it unless you claim it, and back that claim with evidence.

01Most common

Inherent DV

The stigma of a reported accident. Even a flawless repair leaves a history that buyers and auction lanes discount.

02

Repair-related DV

Extra value lost to a poor repair: mismatched paint, aftermarket parts, uneven panel gaps, or structural work done wrong.

03

Immediate DV

The drop in value right after the accident, before any repair. It matters most when a unit is sold or traded as-is.

It follows the VIN. Accident reports on vehicle history services stay with the vehicle and surface at every resale.
Fleets feel it at remarketing. Auction and wholesale buyers price off history, so the discount hits your residuals directly.
Younger units lose the most. The same accident costs a 2-year-old vehicle more than a 10-year-old one, and most rental and lease units are sold young.
Built for fleets

Wholesale DV for businesses that run vehicles.

One account covers every unit and every claim. Send files one at a time or by the hundred, and get consistent, defensible reports at volume pricing.

  • Rental companies & franchisees
  • Commercial & service fleets
  • Leasing & fleet management
  • Dealer loaner fleets
  • Car-share & rideshare fleets
  • Damage recovery & subrogation teams

Wholesale pricing

Volume-based rates and consolidated invoicing. No per-file negotiating.

Bulk intake

Submit claims one by one or in batches straight from a spreadsheet export.

Defensible reports

Pre-loss and post-repair values from comparable market data, including commercial and upfitted units, with the math laid out for the adjuster.

Rebuttal support

When a carrier lowballs or applies a formula like 17c, we respond in writing to support the appraised value.

DV claim RENTALLEASESERVICEDELIVERY
How it works

Three steps. Every claim.

01

Send the file

Submit a unit once repairs are done: a single claim or a full batch.

VIN, mileage, repair invoice, photos, and the at-fault carrier's claim number.

02

We appraise it

An independent appraiser sets pre-loss and post-repair market value using comparable sales, damage severity, and history-report impact.

03

You recover

Attach our report to your demand to the at-fault carrier. If they push back, we stand behind the number.

Also available

Total loss appraisals.

When a unit is declared a total loss, the carrier's actual cash value (ACV) offer often misses equipment, upfits, condition, and the local market. We provide independent ACV appraisals and can serve as your appraiser under the policy's appraisal clause.

Ask about total loss
Total loss
  • Independent ACV valuation from comparable vehicles in your market
  • Upfit and equipment value that standard valuation reports often leave out
  • Your appraiser in the appraisal process when you and the carrier can't agree on value
  • One unit or many, under the same account as your DV claims
FAQ

Straight answers.

Can a business claim diminished value?
Yes. When another driver causes the accident, the vehicle's owner, whether a person or a company, can generally claim diminished value from the at-fault driver's insurer as part of the property damage claim. Claims against your own insurer are far more limited, and a few states have their own rules, so we'll tell you upfront if a file isn't a fit.
Is DV worth pursuing on working fleet vehicles?
Often, yes. DV is largest on late-model, low-mileage units, which describes most rental and lease fleets. Carriers sometimes argue that prior fleet or rental use means there's no value left to lose. A market-based appraisal answers that with real comparables. We'll flag files where the numbers don't justify an appraisal.
Why not accept the insurer's DV offer?
Many insurer offers come from formulas such as 17c, which start with a cap of 10% of the vehicle's value and then cut it further for damage severity and mileage. Higher-mileage units can be cut to zero. An independent appraisal built on actual market data gives you a documented number to put against the formula.
How long do we have to file?
It depends on the state where the accident happened. Each state sets its own statute of limitations for property damage claims. Either way, file soon after repairs are finished: a recent claim with complete documentation is easier to support.
Contact

Talk to us.

Questions about a claim, pricing, or getting your fleet set up? Send us a message and we'll get back to you by email.

We reply by email.