Diminished Value Appraisal in Tennessee
Get Your Free Estimate in a Minute!

Tennessee Diminished Value Appraisal — Recover What Your Vehicle Lost After an Accident

Even after professional repairs, your vehicle can lose resale value once its accident history appears on Carfax or AutoCheck. If your crash happened anywhere in Tennessee—including Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Franklin—a Tennessee diminished value appraisal helps you recover what your car lost in value after an accident.

SnapClaim provides court-ready, data-driven appraisal reports trusted by Tennessee insurers, personal-injury attorneys, and small-claims courts statewide.

Does Tennessee Allow Diminished Value Claims?

Third-party (at-fault driver’s insurer)
Yes. When another driver is at fault, diminished value (DV) is recognized under Tennessee law as a recoverable property damage loss. You can claim the difference between your vehicle’s pre-accident and post-repair market values.

First-party (your own insurer)
Usually no, unless your policy explicitly covers diminished value. Most collision and comprehensive policies exclude DV.

Key Tennessee Law & Claim Authority

• Statute of limitations: You have 3 years from the accident date to file a property-damage or DV lawsuit (Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-105).
• Consumer protection: The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance oversees auto insurers and handles consumer complaints.
• Small claims court: DV cases up to $25,000 can be filed in Tennessee General Sessions Court (small claims division).

What Your Tennessee Diminished Value Appraisal Report Includes

• Vehicle specifications: year, make, model, mileage, trim, and condition
• Comparable listings filtered by Tennessee ZIP codes (e.g., Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville)
• Pre-accident vs. post-repair market valuation using verified data
• DV calculation based on repair severity and regional market factors
• Transparent methodology aligned with USPAP and insurer standards
• Optional expert-witness testimony for arbitration or court

Most reports are completed and delivered within 1 hour, ready for insurance submission.

Tennessee Areas We Serve

• Nashville, TN
• Memphis, TN
• Knoxville, TN
• Chattanooga, TN
• Clarksville, TN
• Murfreesboro, TN
• Franklin, TN
• Johnson City, TN
• Jackson, TN
• Hendersonville, TN
• Bartlett, TN
• Kingsport, TN
• Smyrna, TN
• Collierville, TN
• Cleveland, TN

How to File a Diminished Value Claim in Tennessee

1. Order your appraisal — get a certified report quantifying your loss in value.
2. Send a DV demand letter to the at-fault driver’s insurer with your report attached.
3. Negotiate or escalate — our reports are formatted for attorney use and small-claims submission.
4. Recover compensation — many Tennessee drivers recover thousands depending on damage severity and vehicle value.

Tennessee Insurance Practices to Know

Some insurers use simplified formulas that undervalue loss. SnapClaim uses:

• Verified listings from AutoTrader, CarGurus, and Cars.com filtered by Tennessee market data
• Local dealer input from Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville regions
• Adjustments for mileage, trim, color, and condition

Example Tennessee Case Study

Vehicle: 2021 Honda Accord EX-L
Repair Cost: $6,900 (front bumper & fender)
Initial Insurer Offer: $700 (formula-based)
SnapClaim DV Result: $4,200
Final Settlement: $4,000 after submitting our report and demand letter

Helpful Tennessee Resources

• Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance — insurer regulation & complaints
• Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-105 — 3-year property-damage limitation
• Tennessee State Courts — small claims & filing guidance

Ready to Get Your Tennessee Diminished Value Appraisal?

• No credit card required
• Delivery in about 1 hour
• Includes appraisal and demand-letter template