Check if your claim qualifies
Seven quick questions about the accident. We’ll tell you right away if a claim makes sense.
Two minutes in. A ready-to-send claim out.
You shouldn’t need a research project or a stack of phone calls to ask for money you may be owed.
- Tell us what happenedSeven questions about the accident, the repairs and your state. If a claim doesn’t make sense for you, we say so up front.
- We build your claim fileAn evidence checklist, prices of similar cars near you, your numbers, a ready-to-send letter, and a reply for each excuse insurers use.
- You send it. We keep you on track.Email it to the insurer. Reminders tell you when to follow up and what to send if they come back with a low offer.
A small cost next to what’s at stake
- Evidence the insurer can check, line by line
- A written reply ready for the excuses insurers use
- You decide what to ask for and whether to accept an offer
What’s inside your claim file
Not just a letter. A complete package built around what insurers look for. Tap through a sample. Yours is built from your own car, repairs and local market.
Free to check. You only pay if you want the file.
Why you can trust your file
We can’t promise what an insurer will do. Here’s what we do stand behind.
Every price has a link
Each similar car in your file links to the real listing. The adjuster can open it and check the price themselves.
Built around what insurers ask for
Repair invoice, photos, history report, market prices and dealer offers. Our checklist follows published consumer guidance on diminished value claims.
We tell you when you don’t have a claim
Were you at fault? Is the car leased? Did you sign a release? We say so up front instead of selling you a file you can’t use.
You review it. You send it.
Nothing goes to the insurer without you. You read every letter, choose your numbers and decide whether to accept an offer.
What we can’t promise
We’re not a law firm, an insurer or a licensed appraiser. Insurers decide each claim, and results vary. For large or disputed claims, we point you to a licensed professional.
Questions
Straight answers, including the limits.
Is it really my right to ask for this? Is it legal?
Yes. Diminished value is a recognized kind of claim. In most states, the driver who causes a crash is responsible for the losses it causes, and that includes the drop in your car’s market value after repairs. If you weren’t at fault, you can send a diminished value claim to the at-fault driver’s insurance company. You don’t need anyone’s permission, and you don’t need a lawyer to ask.
What to keep in mind:
- It isn’t automatic. The insurer decides whether to pay and how much, and it may negotiate or dispute your number. That’s why a documented claim matters.
- Rules and deadlines vary by state, and a few states limit or don’t recognize this kind of claim at all.
- The claim belongs to the legal owner of the car, and it generally doesn’t apply if you were at fault.
Whose insurance pays?
The at-fault driver’s. You make a third-party claim against their property damage liability coverage. Your own policy isn’t involved.
What is diminished value?
The drop in your car’s market value after an accident, even when the repairs are perfect. Buyers pay less for a car with an accident on its history.
How much can I ask for?
There’s no fixed number. It depends on your car’s value and mileage, how severe the damage was and your local market. Your claim file shows the numbers behind your figure so you can ask for an amount you can support.
How is this different from a free calculator or a chatbot?
A calculator gives you a number. A chatbot can draft a letter. Neither pulls prices of similar cars near you or tells you what to collect. Neither has a reply ready for each insurer excuse, or a log to track the claim. Your file puts all of that in one place.
How long do I have?
It depends on your state. Many states allow a few years for a property damage claim and some allow less. Evidence is also easier to gather while the accident is recent, so don’t wait.
Do I need a lawyer or an appraiser?
Not to send a claim. Many people handle it themselves with good documentation. For a large or contested claim, a licensed appraiser or attorney can be worth hiring.
Is this legal advice or an appraisal?
No. FairClaim Auto isn’t a law firm, an insurer or a licensed appraiser. We organize market evidence and paperwork so you can make your own claim.
Which states are covered?
Most states. We’re not available yet in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. This kind of claim is limited or not recognized in Michigan and Nebraska.