I recently was in a rear-ender that is the process of getting repaired. Based on the great advice in this forum, I started to look into the Accident Diminished Value and seeing if/how I can be compensated.

After calling a bunch of local dealers in the area, I've received a wide variety of responses. Some have given me a dollar figure, others have said if it's repaired correctly it will be negligible and still others have said once a quarter panel is replaced the car is considered to have 'frame damage'.

I then spoke with the other person's insurance who told me that diminished value will only be paid if the car is sold within the first 2 years of the accident and based on the sale price at the time. My insurance has a different opinion of that interpretation. Time will tell on how this plays out.

This is probably more information than you care to know Since I've only had the car a month, I was wondering if it's prudent to plan for finding another G35 or, in all likelihood, the car will be as good as it was before.

 

To me it depends on the extent of damage. When I was younger I sold every car that had any damage that was repaired at all. Apparently I had more money to burn before kids. Almost ANY used car will have some work done whether from a fender bender to just repainting a chipped front end.

I would not concern myself with it if it was a simple replacement and no frame damage. All cars seem to have disposable fenders, bumpers, etc. Almost any piece if damaged warrants a new piece for replacement just due to the cost of attempting to repair the old one to the cost of a new one.

It really is a personal opinion. If you have money to burn or the car suffered major damage, dump it. If not, it will be fine.

 

I'm in the same boat. I just got my car back from the shop, which I know does good work after a rear end collision. I followed the repairs pretty closely and I know they were done right. However the pass rear frame rail was replaced. Many people say that's not a huge deal as it's a part infiniti sells. So.. if I sell it I'm sure the accident is on its record. If I take a loss on it, I won't be able to get another car( g sedan 2nd gen) for a while(couple years) due to having a baby and wedding coming up. I'm not seeing an upside to selling it now taking the hit, or taking it later. I have a well repaired car to drive that looks and drives great in the meantime.

 

I guess the only way to tell that is to drive it; drive it hard, and see if there is ANY detectable difference for you. If you can't tell, and you would have otherwise planned on keeping the car for a good while, then you may as well consider doing the same now. Diminished value will be most significant in the near term. If you keep the car for another 5 years/75k miles or so, it's not going to make much difference when you sell it that it was once in an accident many years, and many miles, prior.

If however, you feel ANYTHING different, you may want to consider pursuing a sale and claim settlement in the very near term. If you don't do it soon, it will not only haunt you and diminish your enjoyment of owning/driving the car, it will most likely become harder to smoothly orchestrate a proper sale and settlement for any diminish value claim.

One last thing, DON'T be afraid you'll never find another car that meets that compares to your pre-accident G; there's LOTS of cars out there; you will find one if you're patient.