Cardinal Appraisal Group, LLC
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Arizona Diminished Value & Total Loss

Find out what the accident really cost you.

Your car got repaired — but the day it went on record, its resale value dropped. We prove exactly how much, in a signed report that insurers and attorneys take seriously.

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Licensed & certified appraiserAttorney-accepted reportsDelivered in 3–5 business daysFree eligibility check
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What brings you in today?

Answer a few quick questions — no cost, no obligation. If you qualify, we'll tell you exactly what a signed appraisal will cost and what happens next.

Something elseAppraisal clause disputes, post-repair inspections, or you're an attorney sending us a client — start here.Talk to us →
The simple truth

Two identical cars. One's been wrecked and repaired. Which one sells for more?

Same year, same miles, same flawless bodywork. But one has an accident on its history report. Almost every buyer picks the clean one — or demands a discount on the other. That discount is real money, and it's coming out of your pocket.

Clean history
🚗
$33,348
What a buyer will happily pay
Your loss
−$3,335
diminished value
Accident on record
🚙
$30,013
Same car — now with an accident on its history report

Illustration only. Your actual loss depends on your vehicle, the damage, and your local market — that's exactly what our appraisal measures.

The catch

The insurance company's first number is built to be low.

Their job is to close your file for as little as possible. Here's how the opening offer works against you — and how an independent appraisal flips it back in your favor.

A one-size-fits-all formula

Many carriers start from a rigid internal formula that caps your loss and barely looks at your car's make, condition, or what it'd actually sell for near you.

It's their number, not yours

The first offer is a starting point designed for them, not a fair settlement designed for you. It's meant to be accepted quickly and quietly.

You need independent proof

A signed, market-based appraisal replaces their opinion with evidence — and gives you the leverage to ask for what your car is really worth.

How it works

Three steps. About ten minutes of your time.

1

Upload your documents

Your repair bill, a few photos, and your vehicle details. About ten minutes, all online — no office visit, no phone tag.

2

We build your appraisal

A licensed appraiser pulls real market data for your exact vehicle and applies our published methodology — every figure disclosed, nothing hand-waved.

3

You get a signed report

A certified PDF in 3–5 business days, ready to send to the insurer or your attorney. Every report is signed and independently verifiable.

The deliverable

See exactly what you're buying

The report is the product. Comparables with the adjustment math shown, the full calculation chain, a signed certification, and the vehicle history that proves the accident record.

Cover — the conclusion, up front

Comparables with disclosed adjustments

The calculation, figure by figure

Signed certification with fingerprint

Vehicle history attachment

Download sample report (PDF)
Straightforward pricing

One flat fee. No percentage of your settlement.

No contingency and no percentage of your recovery. One flat fee for the report — everything you recover is yours.

Most requested

Diminished Value

$399.99
per signed appraisal
  • Licensed market & comparable-sales analysis
  • Published methodology, every figure disclosed
  • Signed by a licensed appraiser
  • Delivered in 3–5 business days
  • Independently verifiable online
Check if I qualify

Total Loss Review

$99
when your car is totaled
  • Independent actual-cash-value analysis
  • Comparable-vehicle market pull
  • Shows what the insurer's offer misses
  • Signed & ready to submit
  • Same fast turnaround
Review my offer

Referred by a shop or attorney? Their discount code applies at checkout.

Real results

Owners who stopped taking the first offer.

Every claim outcome feeds our calibration log. As reports issue, this section fills with real numbers — never testimonials we can't stand behind.

“Geico offered me $32,945 for my totaled 4Runner. Cardinal's appraisal came in at $40,745, and I settled for $39,800 — almost $7,000 more than the first offer.”

— Chloe T., Scottsdale AZ

[CLIENT QUOTE — pending first logged outcomes]

[ATTORNEY QUOTE — pending partner launch]

Read our reviews on Google

16
Reports issued
4 days
Average turnaround
1
Attorney partners
Common questions

Everything you're probably wondering.

Can I claim if the accident wasn't my fault?
That's exactly when diminished value applies. The claim is made against the at-fault driver's insurance for the value your car lost — even after a perfect repair.
What if it was my fault?
Diminished value is usually recovered from the other driver's insurer, so an at-fault accident generally doesn't qualify. Not sure who was at fault? Start the free check and we'll tell you.
How long do I have to file?
Every state sets a deadline, and it's often a couple of years from the accident — but the sooner you act, the stronger your claim. Don't leave money on the table by waiting.
Do I need a lawyer?
Usually not. Most owners send our signed report straight to the adjuster themselves. If it does go further, the report is built to hold up — and we work with attorneys every day.
What if the insurer ignores my report?
Our appraisals are documented and defensible, which is what moves an adjuster off a lowball number. If your claim escalates, everything in the report is ready for your attorney or an appraisal-clause dispute.
How fast will I get it?
Most reports are delivered in 3–5 business days after you upload your documents. You'll get a signed PDF you can forward immediately.
Do you negotiate with the insurance company?
No — and be wary of anyone who both values the claim and negotiates it. We produce the independent evidence. You or your attorney submit it and negotiate the settlement; we can refer you to attorneys who handle DV claims regularly.
Do you work outside Arizona?
Our practice and this site focus on Arizona claims and Arizona law. If your loss happened in another state, contact us — recoverability varies by state, and we'll tell you honestly whether we can help.
Total loss appraisals

When the settlement offer doesn't add up

When an insurer declares your vehicle a total loss, they owe you its actual cash value — what it was genuinely worth the moment before the crash. That number comes from their valuation vendor, and it frequently trails the real market: the comparables skew low, the options and condition get averaged away, and the offer lands hundreds or thousands below what replacing your vehicle actually costs.

We prepare an independent actual-cash-value appraisal — built from licensed valuation data and documented comparable sales, adjusted to your exact vehicle, and signed by a credentialed appraiser. The same evidence standards and the same published methodology as every report we issue.

Owners use it to evaluate the offer before accepting, to support negotiation — their own or their attorney's — and, where a policy provides an appraisal clause, as the owner-appointed appraisal that clause calls for.

Diminished value, total-loss valuations, and independent appraisal

Understanding Vehicle Valuation Claims in Arizona

Arizona law recognizes circumstances in which vehicle owners may have claims involving loss in vehicle value. The information below explains some of the legal and valuation principles that may apply. It is general information, not legal advice, and the outcome of any particular claim depends on its facts, the applicable insurance policy, and governing law.

Diminished value
Is diminished value recoverable in Arizona?
Yes. Arizona law recognizes diminished value as a component of property damage in an appropriate third-party claim. In Oliver v. Henry, the Arizona Court of Appeals held that a vehicle owner may recover proven diminished value even when the vehicle has been repaired and has not been sold or traded. The court also recognized expert appraisal evidence as a means of proving diminished value. Whether a particular claim is recoverable, and the amount of any recoverable diminished value, depends on the facts and applicable law.
What's the deadline?
For an ordinary Arizona property-damage claim, A.R.S. Sec. 12-542 generally provides a two-year limitations period for an action for injury to property, measured from when the cause of action accrues. Other deadlines may apply depending on the parties, the insurance policy, and the law governing the claim. An appraisal can usually be completed much sooner than litigation deadlines, so if you disagree with a valuation, it is generally advisable to address the issue promptly rather than wait until a deadline approaches.
Who actually pays?
In a typical third-party diminished-value claim, the claim arises from the at-fault party's liability for the vehicle damage. The at-fault party's liability insurer will ordinarily handle the claim and, subject to applicable coverage and the circumstances of the claim, may make payment on the insured's behalf. Because diminished-value claims generally arise from third-party property damage, the circumstances of the accident and responsibility for the loss are important to determining whether a claim may be available.
What you'll need
For a diminished-value appraisal, we typically ask for information such as the insurance carrier and claim number, vehicle information, repair documentation, and photographs of the repaired vehicle. Additional information may be requested depending on the circumstances. You provide the information and documentation concerning the vehicle and loss. Cardinal Appraisal Group performs the valuation analysis, including the market research, comparable-vehicle analysis, and calculations used in the appraisal.
Total loss
What should a total-loss settlement reflect?
When an insurer is responsible for settling a vehicle total loss on an actual-cash-value basis, the valuation should reasonably reflect the vehicle's value under the applicable law and policy provisions. For Arizona first-party automobile total-loss claims, Arizona insurance regulations address the use of comparable vehicles and other valuation methods, and applicable taxes and transfer fees may also be part of the settlement. Arizona regulators have also required insurers to correct total-loss settlements in which applicable taxes, title, registration, or other fees were not properly included. An insurer's valuation is not necessarily the only evidence of a vehicle's value. An independent appraisal may provide additional evidence when you believe the valuation does not adequately reflect the vehicle's condition, equipment, market, or other relevant characteristics.
You may obtain your own appraisal
You are not necessarily required to accept an insurer's valuation as the only evidence of your vehicle's value. You may obtain an independent appraisal or other valuation evidence to help evaluate or dispute the insurer's valuation. Some insurance policies also contain a contractual appraisal provision that establishes a formal process for resolving certain valuation disputes. The terms and effect of an appraisal provision depend on the particular policy and applicable law. Cardinal's appraisal report is an independent valuation report. Unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing, it is not a formal appraisal conducted under an insurance policy's appraisal clause.
Cardinal Appraisal Group provides independent appraisal services and prepares valuation reports based on the information and methodology described in each report. Cardinal does not negotiate or settle insurance claims, communicate with insurers on your behalf, or provide legal advice.Cardinal's appraisal services do not determine whether an insurer is legally obligated to pay a claim or what legal remedies may be available to a particular customer. You remain responsible for deciding how to use an appraisal and whether to submit it to an insurer or other party. You may consult an attorney or other professional of your choice concerning your individual circumstances.The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. Arizona law may not apply to every vehicle loss or insurance claim.
Read the full Arizona DV guide →
Why Cardinal Appraisal Group

Built to survive an adjuster reading it

Licensed data behind every number

Archival valuations and market listings from licensed sources — cited by name and retrieval date in the report.

A published, versioned methodology

Every report states the methodology version it was prepared under. Change the rules, change the version.

Signed by credentialed appraisers

Name, credential, and certification on the signature page — with a compensation-independence declaration.

Every report verifiable by ID

A cryptographic fingerprint registered at signing. An altered copy fails verification — publicly, instantly.

About the firm

The appraiser behind the signature

Ryan Chonka

Ryan Chonka

Licensed Appraiser

Ryan has held an adjuster line of authority since 2009 and is licensed in Arizona, Texas, and Florida. He signs every report this firm issues — sixteen years of reading repair files from the carrier's side of the table is exactly what makes a valuation hold up when a carrier reads it back.

Arizona Adjuster License #14641509 — Active (resident)

Effective through 08/31/2029 · also licensed in Texas (Adjuster — All Lines, #1671971, since 2011) and Florida (Adjuster — All Lines, non-resident) · NPN 14641509 · Adjuster line of authority held since 2009 · verifiable on the NAIC state licensing registry · Errors & omissions coverage: [E&O CARRIER & POLICY]

For attorneys

The appraisal half of your property damage practice, handled

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Contact

Talk to the firm

appraiser@cardinalappraisalgroupllc.com

14555 N. Scottsdale Rd. Ste. 320, Scottsdale, AZ 85254

Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm MST

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