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State rules

Diminished value laws by state (2026)

Diminished value is recoverable from the at-fault driver's insurer in 31 jurisdictions, limited in 6 (Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New York, Tennessee and West Virginia), not recoverable in North Dakota and unclear in 13. On your own policy, it may be recoverable only in Georgia, Oregon and Washington, depending on the policy wording; it is generally not covered in 24 jurisdictions and unclear in 24.

Last reviewed from statutes, regulations and Department of Insurance publications.

Key findings

  • Diminished value is recoverable from the at-fault driver's insurer in 31 jurisdictions, limited in 6 (Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New York, Tennessee and West Virginia), not recoverable in North Dakota and unclear in 13.
  • On your own policy, it may be recoverable only in Georgia, Oregon and Washington, depending on the policy wording; it is generally not covered in 24 jurisdictions and unclear in 24.
  • The deadline to sue over damage to a car runs from 2 years (17 jurisdictions) to 10 years (Rhode Island, a figure we have not checked against the statute text); 3 years is most common (18 jurisdictions).

Diminished value rules in every state

State At-fault driver's insurerYour own policyDeadline to sueSource
AlabamaRecoverableGenerally not2 yearsMartin v. Scaife, 587 So. 2d 995 (Ala. 1991)
AlaskaUnclearUnclear2 yearsWillett v. State, 826 P.2d 1142 (Alaska Ct. App. 1992)
ArizonaRecoverableGenerally not2 yearsOliver v. Henry, 227 Ariz. 514, 260 P.3d 314 (App. 2011)
ArkansasRecoverableUnclear3 yearsDaughhetee v. Shipley, 282 Ark. 596, 669 S.W.2d 886 (1984)
CaliforniaRecoverableGenerally not3 yearsCACI No. 3903J
ColoradoRecoverableUnclear3 yearsAirborne, Inc. v. Denver Air Ctr., Inc., 832 P.2d 1086 (Colo. App. 1992)
ConnecticutRecoverableUnclear2 yearsOrlando v. Liburd, 353 Conn. 845 (2026)
DelawareUnclearGenerally not2 yearsO'Brien v. Progressive N. Ins. Co., 785 A.2d 281 (Del. 2001)
District of ColumbiaRecoverableUnclear3 yearsAmerican Serv. Ctr. Assocs. v. Helton, 867 A.2d 235 (D.C. 2005)
FloridaRecoverableGenerally not2 yearsSiegle v. Progressive Consumers Ins. Co., 819 So. 2d 732 (Fla. 2002)
GeorgiaRecoverableMay be covered4 yearsState Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Mabry, 274 Ga. 498, 556 S.E.2d 114 (2001)
HawaiiUnclearUnclear2 yearsSource
IdahoUnclearUnclear3 yearsMitchell v. Dyer, 81 Idaho 344, 341 P.2d 891 (1959)
IllinoisRecoverableGenerally not5 yearsTrailmobile Div. of Pullman, Inc. v. Higgs, 12 Ill. App. 3d 323 (1973)
IndianaRecoverableGenerally not2 yearsAllgood v. Meridian Sec. Ins. Co., 836 N.E.2d 243 (Ind. 2005)
IowaRecoverableUnclear5 yearsLong v. McAllister, 319 N.W.2d 256 (Iowa 1982)
KansasRecoverableUnclear2 yearsBroadie v. Randall, 114 Kan. 92, 216 P. 1103 (1923)
KentuckyRecoverableGenerally not2 years806 KAR 12:095 Section 7(2)
LouisianaRecoverableGenerally not2 yearsLa. R.S. 9:2800.17
MaineUnclearGenerally not6 yearsHall v. Acadia Ins. Co., 2002 ME 110, 801 A.2d 993
MarylandRecoverableUnclear3 yearsFred Frederick Motors, Inc. v. Krause, 12 Md. App. 62 (1971)
MassachusettsLimitedGenerally not3 yearsCubberley v. Commerce Ins. Co., SJC-13563 (Mass. Jan. 30, 2025)
MichiganLimitedGenerally not3 yearsMCL 500.3135(3)(e)
MinnesotaUnclearUnclear6 yearsCarolla v. Am. Family Mut. Ins. Co., No. A03-0021 (Minn. Ct. App. Sept. 9, 2003)
MississippiRecoverableGenerally not3 yearsIshee v. Dukes Ford Co., 380 So. 2d 760 (Miss. 1980)
MissouriRecoverableGenerally not5 yearsRook v. John F. Oliver Trucking Co., 556 S.W.2d 200 (Mo. Ct. App. 1977)
MontanaUnclearUnclear2 yearsHop v. Safeco Ins. Co. of Illinois, 2011 MT 215, 361 Mont. 510, 261 P.3d 981
NebraskaLimitedUnclear4 yearsChlopek v. Schmall, 224 Neb. 78, 396 N.W.2d 103 (1986)
NevadaUnclearUnclear3 yearsDugan v. Gotsopoulos, 117 Nev. 285, 22 P.3d 205 (2001)
New HampshireUnclearUnclear3 yearsSource
New JerseyRecoverableGenerally not6 yearsFanfarillo v. East End Motor Co., 172 N.J. Super. 309 (App. Div. 1980)
New MexicoRecoverableGenerally not4 yearsUJI 13-1817 NMRA
New YorkLimitedUnclear3 yearsMiller v. Sanchez, 6 Misc. 3d 479 (Civ. Ct. 2004)
North CarolinaRecoverableUnclear3 yearsG.S. 20-279.21(d1)
North DakotaNot recoverableUnclear6 yearsN.D.C.C. § 32-03-09.1
OhioRecoverableGenerally not2 yearsRakich v. Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, 172 Ohio App.3d 523, 2007-Ohio-3739
OklahomaRecoverableUnclear2 yearsBrennen v. Aston, 2003 OK 91, 84 P.3d 99
OregonUnclearMay be covered6 yearsGonzales v. Farmers Ins. Co. of Oregon, 345 Or. 382, 196 P.3d 1 (2008)
PennsylvaniaRecoverableUnclear2 yearsHolt v. Pariser, 161 Pa. Super. 315, 54 A.2d 89 (1947)
Rhode IslandUnclearUnclear10 yearsCazabat v. Metropolitan Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 2000 WL 1910089
South CarolinaRecoverableGenerally not3 yearsNewman v. Brown, 228 S.C. 472, 90 S.E.2d 649 (1955)
South DakotaUnclearGenerally not6 yearsCulhane v. Western Nat'l Mut. Ins. Co., 2005 SD 97, 704 N.W.2d 287
TennesseeLimitedGenerally not3 yearsBlack v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 101 S.W.3d 427 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2002)
TexasRecoverableGenerally not2 yearsAm. Mfrs. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Schaefer, 124 S.W.3d 154 (Tex. 2003)
UtahRecoverableUnclear4 yearsMetcalf v. Mellen, 192 P. 676 (Utah 1920)
VermontRecoverableUnclear3 yearsDFR (BISHCA) Insurance Bulletin 164 (Aug. 10, 2011)
VirginiaRecoverableGenerally not5 yearsAverett v. Shircliff, 237 S.E.2d 92 (Va. 1977)
WashingtonRecoverableMay be covered3 yearsMoeller v. Farmers Ins. Co. of Wash., 173 Wn.2d 264, 267 P.3d 998 (2011)
West VirginiaLimitedGenerally not2 yearsEllis v. King, 400 S.E.2d 235 (W. Va. 1990)
WisconsinRecoverableGenerally not3 yearsHellenbrand v. Hilliard, 687 N.W.2d 37 (Wis. Ct. App. 2004)
WyomingUnclearUnclear4 yearsAetna Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Langdon, 624 P.2d 240 (Wyo. 1981)

What the labels mean

Recoverable
The state's courts or rules allow the claim. You still have to prove the loss with evidence.
Limited
Allowed only in some situations, for example new or rare cars, or within a capped claim. The state page explains the limit.
Not recoverable
State law generally does not allow it on top of the repair cost.
Unclear
We found no decision or rule that settles it either way. Unsettled is not the same as barred.
May be covered (own policy)
The state's courts or rules allow it under some policies. Your own policy wording decides.

States where your own policy may pay

How to prove the loss

Where a claim is allowed, the insurer still pays only what you can show. Written dealer offers on the repaired car, an independent appraisal and the accident entry on its history report carry more weight than a formula. How to file a diminished value claim · Why the 17c formula comes up short

How to cite

Fairmark, Diminished value laws by state, fairmarkvalue.com/diminished-value-laws-by-state, last reviewed November 4, 2026.

Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with a link to this page. Download the full dataset: CSV · JSON.

General information, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with your state Department of Insurance or a local attorney.