Two identical cars, one with a recorded accident repair and one without, do not always sell for the same money. That gap is what people mean by diminished value, and it is worth understanding before you settle.
What diminished value means
Diminution in value is the difference between what your vehicle was worth before the accident and what it is worth afterwards, once repaired to a proper standard.
It tends to matter most on newer, higher value or low mileage vehicles, and on cars where structural repair has been carried out and recorded.
↑ Back to contentsWhen it is worth raising
It is not a claim worth pursuing on every job. A small bumper refinish on a ten year old hatchback will not move the market value. A structural repair on a two year old premium car might.
- Vehicle is relatively new or high value
- Repair involved structural or chassis work
- The repair is recorded and will show on a history check
- You can evidence pre-accident value with comparable listings
How to evidence it
Keep the full repair documentation, keep photographs of the damage, and gather comparable advertised prices for the same specification with and without a recorded repair. An independent engineer's opinion carries far more weight than an estimate you have made yourself.
↑ Back to contentsFrequently asked questions
The insurance questions drivers ask us most
Straight answers on premiums, excess, write-offs and replacement vehicles, written by our Bristol repair team.
- Non-fault accident: what it means and what to do (UK guide)A plain-English UK guide to non-fault accidents: how liability is decided, your repair and replacement vehicle options, and the mistakes that cost drivers money.
- What to do after a car accident that wasn’t your faultThe exact steps to take at the scene, in the first 24 hours and in the first week after someone else hits your car in the UK.
- Will a non-fault accident affect my insurance? (UK)How a non-fault claim can show on your record, what happens to your premium and what to check with your insurer.
- Do I have to pay my insurance excess?When an excess applies after a non-fault accident, and the practical routes that can avoid paying one up front.
Your next steps
Based on what you have just read, these are the pages most drivers go to next.
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SAR Group is a repair-led accident support and bodyshop business, and your first point of contact after a non-fault accident. We are not an FCA-authorised claims management company: every non-fault case is handled through our authorised and regulated partner network.