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Loss-of-Use & Rental Reimbursement Calculator
Compare rental costs and entered coverage limits, including a maximum number of days.
JusticeFinder Tool
Diminished Value Calculator (Formula Comparison)
Compare a 17c-style calculation with a fixed illustrative percentage band. See the assumptions and mileage cutoff. Neither output is measured market evidence, an appraisal or a payment prediction.
Compare diminished-value formulas
Enter vehicle value, sample severity and mileage. The two illustrative calculations update together; eligibility is checked separately.
How to use this tool
- Open the calculator. Scroll to the interactive tool section and review the starter inputs already filled in as educational examples.
- Enter documented numbers. Replace sample bills, wages, rates, fault share, or care costs with values you can support with records.
- Compare the live results. Read each result card and its formula notes separately. These educational calculations are not a settlement range or a prediction of what an insurer or court will pay.
- Save and keep documenting. Copy or print the estimate, open a linked spreadsheet if available, then pair the output with related guides before any insurer negotiation.
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Recommended Guides for Claim Strategy
Pair this calculator with the free adjuster tactics playbook and the paid claim kit to keep documentation, valuation, and negotiation aligned.
Worked example: $28,000, moderate damage, 45,000 miles
These numbers explain the model, not a market valuation.
The mileage factor is 0.6. The 17c-style calculation is $28,000 × 10% × 0.5 × 0.6 = $840. The illustrative band is $28,000 × 4%–10% × 0.6 = $672–$1,680. The combined span is $672–$1,680 because $840 already falls inside it.
Changing severity selects another fixed factor and sample band. Changing claim context leaves the numbers unchanged. A zero vehicle value prompts you to enter a positive value.
Understand the mileage cutoff
A formula limit does not settle a valuation question.
The mileage factors are 1.0 below 20,000 miles, 0.8 from 20,000, 0.6 from 40,000, 0.4 from 60,000, 0.2 from 80,000 and zero from 100,000. Both calculations use this table. Their abrupt changes reflect the table, not observed changes in buyer prices.
Do not use the zero output as evidence that there is no loss. Likewise, do not use a positive output as proof that a payment is owed.
Keep the calculation separate from the claim
The tool does not inspect the car, compare sales or read your policy.
For your own insurer, ask which policy provisions and state rules apply. For another driver’s insurer, ask what evidence of responsibility and vehicle-value loss is required. Record the response and the reasons for any valuation.
Keep repair records, vehicle history and relevant market evidence together. If you obtain an appraisal, read its assumptions and supporting comparisons; this calculator is not a substitute for that analysis.
Related Resources
Use these pages and documentation tools to validate the estimate, preserve evidence, and keep the claim file organized.
Method Guide
Diminished Value Calculator Guide
Walk through the inputs, both formulas, mileage cutoff and worked examples.
Related Tool
Loss-of-Use Calculator
Compare rental and loss-of-use inputs while documenting vehicle downtime.
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Net Settlement Calculator
See how a property-damage recovery fits into your overall take-home after fees.
Guide
Property Damage Claim Guide
Read how diminished value, repairs, total loss, and loss of use fit together in a claim.
Spreadsheet
Repair Cost Tracker
Document repair quality and cost — key support for a diminished-value demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this calculator compare?
One calculation multiplies entered value by 10%, a severity factor and a mileage factor. The other uses fixed sample percentages and the same mileage factor. The headline spans those outputs; it does not predict a likely loss.
Are the sample percentages market data?
No. The minor, moderate, major and severe bands are fixed examples of 2–5%, 4–10%, 8–16% and 12–25% before the mileage factor. They are not measured buyer discounts or comparable sales.
Why do both outputs become zero at 100,000 miles?
Both calculations use a mileage table with a zero factor from 100,000 miles. The zero is a model limitation; it does not prove that the vehicle has no diminished value.
Is 17c a minimum payment or maximum claim?
Neither follows from this calculator. Its formula output cannot establish a legal minimum, a ceiling, coverage or an insurer’s actual offer.
Does choosing my own insurer change the numbers?
No. It changes the questions to check about coverage and evidence. Eligibility must be checked separately under the applicable policy and state rules.
Educational Use Disclaimer
This calculator is an educational estimate only and does not constitute legal or appraisal advice. Diminished value, the 17c formula's appropriateness, and whether a first-party or third-party claim is allowed all vary by state, insurer, and vehicle. A professional appraisal and a licensed attorney are the right sources before you rely on any figure.
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