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

Even after professional repairs, your vehicle can lose market value once its accident history appears on Carfax or AutoCheck. If your crash happened anywhere in Texas—including Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, and Fort Worth—a Texas diminished value appraisal helps document that loss and strengthen your insurance claim.

SnapClaim provides court-ready, data-driven appraisal reports trusted by Texas insurers, personal-injury attorneys, and Justice Courts statewide.

Does Texas Allow Diminished Value Claims?

Third-party (at-fault driver’s insurer)
Yes. Texas recognizes diminished value (DV) as recoverable property damage when another driver is at fault—the measurable difference between your car’s pre-accident and post-repair market value.

First-party (your own insurer)
Usually no, unless your policy expressly provides DV coverage. Most collision/comprehensive policies exclude it.

Key Texas Law & Claim Authority

• Statute of limitations: 2 years to file property-damage/DV claims (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003).
• Consumer protection: The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) regulates insurers and handles complaints.
• Small claims court: DV disputes up to $20,000 may be filed in Justice Court (Small Claims).

What Your Texas Diminished Value Appraisal Report Includes

• Vehicle specs: year, make, model, trim, mileage, options, and condition
• Comparable listings filtered by Texas ZIP codes (e.g., Houston, Dallas, Austin)
• Pre-accident vs. post-repair valuation using verified market data
• DV calculation reflecting repair severity and regional demand
• Transparent methodology aligned with USPAP and insurer standards
• Optional expert-witness testimony support for arbitration or court

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

Texas Areas We Serve

• Houston, TX
• San Antonio, TX
• Dallas, TX
• Austin, TX
• Fort Worth, TX
• El Paso, TX
• Arlington, TX
• Corpus Christi, TX
• Plano, TX
• Laredo, TX
• Lubbock, TX
• Garland, TX
• Irving, TX
• Amarillo, TX
• Grand Prairie, TX

How to File a Diminished Value Claim in Texas

1. Order your appraisal — get a certified report quantifying your loss in value.
2. Send a DV demand letter to the at-fault insurer with the appraisal attached.
3. Negotiate or escalate — our reports are formatted for attorney use and Justice Court filing.
4. Recover compensation — many Texas drivers recover thousands, depending on damage and vehicle type.

Texas Insurance Practices to Know

Some insurers rely on simplified formulas that undervalue DV. SnapClaim uses:

• Verified listings from AutoTrader, CarGurus, and Cars.com filtered to Texas markets
• Dealer input from major metros (Houston, DFW, Austin, San Antonio)
• Localized adjustments for mileage, trim, color, features, and condition

Example Texas Case Study

Vehicle: 2021 Ford F-150 XLT
Repair Cost: $7,300 (rear quarter & bed panel)
Initial Insurer Offer: $850 (formula-based)
SnapClaim DV Result: $4,900
Final Settlement: $4,600 after submitting our report and demand letter

Helpful Texas Resources

• Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003 — 2-year property damage limitation
• Texas Department of Insurance — complaints & insurer regulation
• Texas Justice Courts — small-claims filing info

Ready to Get Your Texas Diminished Value Appraisal?

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