Connecticut Vehicle Valuation
Choose Your Connecticut Vehicle Valuation Path
Not every claim after a Connecticut car accident looks the same. If your vehicle was repaired but is now worth less on the resale market because of its accident history, that's a diminished value claim. If your insurer instead declared your vehicle a total loss and you believe the payout is too low, that's a total loss valuation dispute. The right path — and the right documentation — depends on which situation you're in, so choose the option below that matches your claim.
Connecticut Claim Information
This page is intended to help Connecticut vehicle owners understand their options for both diminished value and total loss claims. Premier Diminished Value Specialists has extensive experience nationwide, but we do not currently perform appraisals in Connecticut due to the state's licensing requirements. We believe clients are best served by working with a licensed local appraiser, such as The Body Shop Appraiser Inc., whose credentials won't become an issue during the insurance claim process or, if necessary, in arbitration.
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Connecticut courts have long recognized that a repaired vehicle can still be worth meaningfully less than it was before an accident — the Connecticut Supreme Court's decision in Littlejohn v. Elionsky (1944) established that the proper measure of damages includes the drop in market value, not just repair cost. That recovery generally runs against the at-fault driver's liability insurer, since Connecticut's own first-party auto policies typically cover only actual cash value or repair cost, not diminished value. Learn what Connecticut law requires and how to document your claim.
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Connecticut law requires insurers to calculate a total loss payout using at least the average of two approved industry valuation sources, and to disclose exactly how they arrived at that number (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-353). If that number still looks low, an independent appraisal from a licensed local appraiser gives you documentation you can use with your insurer, the Connecticut Insurance Department's Consumer Affairs Division, or the state's Auto Arbitration Program.
Still have a question?
Whether your vehicle was repaired and lost resale value, or your insurer declared it a total loss, we help Connecticut drivers understand their rights and connect with the right resources for a fair, market-based valuation.