When an insurance company declares your vehicle a total loss but you choose to retain the vehicle and have it repaired, the diminished value implications are significant. A "total loss" or "salvage" entry on your vehicle's title and Carfax report is one of the most damaging notations possible — often reducing your vehicle's market value by 30% to 60% compared to a clean-title equivalent. While the DV calculation on a retained total loss is complex, the diminished value loss is real and can represent thousands of dollars.
Orlando Auto Body has experience repairing retained total-loss vehicles and navigating the rebuilt title process required by Arizona MVD. Our I-CAR Gold certified technicians restore these vehicles to safe, road-worthy condition using OEM parts and factory-approved procedures. For drivers who choose to retain and repair a total-loss vehicle, we provide a free $450 Diminished Value Appraisal Packet that documents the gap between the vehicle's rebuilt value and what it would be worth with a clean title — critical evidence if you're pursuing additional compensation from the at-fault insurer.
It is important to understand that pursuing diminished value on a repaired total loss is more complex than a standard DV claim. The insurance company's initial total loss payout was based on the vehicle's pre-accident market value, so arguing additional DV requires demonstrating that the total loss settlement did not fully account for the permanent branding on your title. This is exactly the kind of documentation our DV appraisal provides. If you've retained and repaired a total-loss vehicle, call Orlando Auto Body to discuss your options.