Diminished Value Calculator: Check a 17c Worksheet

Check the math on an actual 17c worksheet using the insurer’s stated inputs. Identify the disputed input and your next evidence or correction request.

By Moogwang Jin, Publisher — TurnYourClaim·Published ·Content updated ·How we verify facts →

In this guide 8 sections

Use this calculator to check an insurer's actual 17c worksheet. Copy the vehicle value and multipliers from that worksheet, then compare the result with its total. If you have not received a written valuation, request one first; this tool cannot estimate your market loss or choose a claim amount.

Diminished value concerns market value remaining lost after repairs. Checking a formula answers a narrower question: did the insurer multiply its stated inputs correctly? It does not establish eligibility or show whether those inputs fairly describe your vehicle.

Check a 17c worksheet

The calculation here is vehicle value × 10% × damage factor × mileage factor. Use it only when that matches the method shown on your worksheet. Insurers can use other valuation methods or different factors, so a mismatch is a reason to ask for an explanation.

17c Worksheet Check

Use only if your insurer's worksheet uses vehicle value × 10% × damage factor × mileage factor. Copy its actual inputs. If an input is missing, ask for it first.

Enter the multiplier used in the worksheet, such as 0.50, rather than a mileage reading or a percentage such as 50. Do not choose a factor by guessing how severe the damage looks.

How the calculator works

StepIllustrative worksheet inputWhat to check
Pre-accident value$25,000The vehicle value used, rather than the loan balance or repair bill
10% base$25,000 × 0.10 = $2,500Whether the worksheet actually uses this base
Damage factor$2,500 × 0.50 = $1,250The multiplier and explanation shown on the worksheet
Mileage factor$1,250 × 0.60 = $750The multiplier used for the recorded mileage

This is a made-up arithmetic example, not a settlement prediction. Changing the damage multiplier from 0.50 to 0.25 gives $375 with the other inputs unchanged. That identifies an input difference; it does not prove either amount is the car's actual loss.

What is the 17c formula?

17c is a diminished-value calculation associated with the Georgia Mabry litigation. Its use in a particular claim does not make it the required method for every insurer or every state. The 10% starting point constrains this calculation; it is not a universal legal cap on recoverable market loss.

This tool accepts the worksheet's actual damage and mileage multipliers from 0 to 1, including factors between commonly shown categories. It does not assign those factors from a repair description or an odometer reading. Ask the insurer how it selected them.

Does a zero result mean the car lost no value?

No. A zero multiplier makes the product zero. The calculator has not inspected the car or compared market transactions. A positive result also does not establish that a claim is covered or that the insurer owes that amount.

What should you compare with the insurer's number?

Compare the inputs and reasoning with your records. Do not replace a formula total with an automatic appraisal percentage.

  • Vehicle details: year, model, trim, options, mileage, pre-accident condition, and prior damage.
  • Damage and repairs: the original estimate, final invoice, photographs, and explanations of major repair work.
  • Valuation: the written offer, value used, calculation, and reasons for the result.
  • Market evidence: relevant comparable vehicles, contextualized dealer valuations, or an appraisal explaining its method and supporting data.

Your next step after checking the worksheet

  1. If the arithmetic differs: send the calculation and ask the insurer to correct or explain the difference.
  2. If the arithmetic matches but an input is wrong: identify that input and attach the record supporting a correction.
  3. If the dispute is the market loss: ask what evidence the insurer considered. Add relevant market evidence; consider a paid appraisal only when it can supply a specific missing analysis.
  4. If the dispute is eligibility: resolve the claim route before spending on valuation evidence. Start with the claim eligibility and filing guide.

Get the free diminished-value document checklist. You can download it without providing contact details or uploading claim records.

Choose the guide for your unresolved task

Disclaimer: TurnYourClaim is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This page provides general educational information only. Laws vary by state and change frequently — always consult a licensed attorney in your state for advice specific to your situation. This is not medical advice; if you have been injured, seek immediate medical attention.