Can I file a diminished value claim in Maine?

Generally yes — if another driver was at fault, Maine typically lets you pursue diminished value (the resale value your car lost just from having an accident on its record) against that driver's insurer. Diminished value applies to a repaired car, not a totaled one.

Can I recover diminished value from my own insurer in Maine?

Usually not. In Maine, as in most states, your own auto policy generally doesn't cover diminished value — it's typically pursued against the at-fault driver's insurer instead.

How long do I have to file a diminished value claim in Maine?

In Maine the statute of limitations is generally 6 years, and the clock usually starts on the accident date — not when the car was repaired. Waiting too long can permanently bar the claim.

Maine · Diminished value

Diminished value claims in Maine

If your car was repaired after a crash someone else caused, it's now worth less on paper simply because it has an accident on its record. In Maine, that lost value — “diminished value” — can generally be pursued. Here's how Maine treats it.

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Maine at a glance

Third-party DV (at-fault driver's insurer): Yes
First-party DV (your own insurer): No
How DV is measured: Market comparison (before-vs-after value)
Time limit to file (statute of limitations): 6 years

Diminished value in Maine

Maine is NOT a strong first-party DV state on .gov / courts.maine.gov sources — no controlling Maine Supreme Judicial Court first-party DV opinion located, and no express statutory first-party DV provision in 24-A M.R.S. Bureau of Insurance consumer FAQs do not affirmatively recognize first-party DV under standard auto policies. Third-party DV (against the at-fault driver in tort) IS recoverable under the standard tort property-damage measure (pre-loss FMV minus post-repair FMV). DV is property damage; there is no tort threshold in Maine to gate it.

How Moe handles diminished value in Maine

Knowing the rule is one thing — applying it against a carrier is another. Moe builds your case to Maine’s rules, drafts every letter for your approval, tracks the deadlines, and only pings you when there’s a decision to make.

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Maine diminished value — common questions

Can I file a diminished value claim in Maine?: Generally yes — if another driver was at fault, Maine typically lets you pursue diminished value (the resale value your car lost just from having an accident on its record) against that driver's insurer. Diminished value applies to a repaired car, not a totaled one.
Can I recover diminished value from my own insurer in Maine?: Usually not. In Maine, as in most states, your own auto policy generally doesn't cover diminished value — it's typically pursued against the at-fault driver's insurer instead.
How long do I have to file a diminished value claim in Maine?: In Maine the statute of limitations is generally 6 years, and the clock usually starts on the accident date — not when the car was repaired. Waiting too long can permanently bar the claim.

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All Maine accident-claim rules · Other states

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This page summarizes Maine’s car-accident claim rules for general information — it is not legal advice, and the rules can change. What applies to your claim depends on your policy and the specific facts.