Car policy confusing? Ask Poli.
Can I claim the value my car lost after being repaired?
Diminished value is usually excluded from your own physical damage coverage, and treated very differently when someone else was at fault.
What filed auto forms generally say
Most filed physical damage forms state that the limit of liability does not include any reduction in the vehicle's value resulting from the loss.
When another driver was at fault, a diminished-value claim is generally pursued against that driver's liability coverage as part of the damages, and state law decides whether it is recoverable.
Repair-quality disputes are a separate track handled under appraisal and repair provisions rather than a value claim.
Why your policy can still say something else
Diminished-value language, appraisal rights and state case law all vary; some states allow first-party recovery that most forms otherwise exclude.
Clauses to look for in your own document
- Limit of Liability — Diminution in Value
- Part D — Payment of Loss
- Appraisal
- Part A — Liability Coverage
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PoliSays explains document wording. It is not an insurer, broker, or law firm, and nothing here is advice.