Your car lost value in that accident. Get paid for it.
Even after a perfect repair, a car with an accident on its record sells for less. That loss is called diminished value, and the at-fault driver's insurer owes it to you. Fender Financial takes the claim off your hands: we send you $500 when you sign, we collect from the insurer, and the rest, less our fee, comes to you when they pay.
- 5 min
- To submit your claim
- $500
- Sent the day you sign
- 0
- Calls with the insurer
Three steps.
No insurer on the phone.
You've already dealt with enough adjusters. Hand us the paperwork and we take it from there.
Claim my $500- 01
Tell us about the accident
Verify your cell phone, then upload two documents: the repair estimate or order from the body shop, and the police crash report. A photo of the damage helps. About five minutes.
- 02
We review the claim
Our team checks the vehicle, the repair, and the other driver's coverage. If the claim qualifies, we send you the agreement to sign electronically. No printing, no notary.
- 03
You get $500 now and more later.
Once you sign, we send you a $500 check and take over the claim against the at-fault driver's insurer. When they pay, you get the rest, less the $500 you already have and our $350 fee.
Two payments. One is guaranteed.
Insurers can take months to pay a diminished value claim. You shouldn't have to wait on them, so we don't make you.
We FedEx a check to the address you give us. It's yours no matter what happens next.
Whatever the insurer pays, minus the $500 you already have and our flat $350 fee, comes to you within 90 days.
You never owe it back. We only ask that you help with paperwork if we need it.
The insurer pays $2,000. You already have $500. We keep our $350 fee and send you the remaining $1,150. You end up with $1,650, and you never spoke to the insurer.
If the insurer pays less than $850, there's nothing left to split and you simply keep the $500.
You likely qualify if
- Another driver caused the accident, and you know who they are (not a hit-and-run)
- Their insurance company, not yours, is paying for the repair
- Your car or truck is a 2020 model year or newer
- It has fewer than 100,000 miles
- It had no prior accidents
Have these ready
- The repair estimate or repair order from the body shop
- The police crash report (a PDF, or a photo of each page)
- A photo of the damage (optional)
Don't have the police report yet? Your insurer or the police department can provide a copy. You can start now and add it later from your status page.
Insurers count on you not asking.
$500 sent when you sign
A check goes out to you as soon as you sign. It's yours whether or not the insurer ever pays.
You never pay us
Our flat $350 fee comes out of what the insurer pays, never out of your pocket. If they pay nothing, we earn nothing.
The $500 is yours to keep
If the insurer refuses to pay, that's our problem. You never owe the $500 back.
Doesn't touch your repair
Diminished value is separate from the repair claim. Your body shop bill and your insurance check are unaffected.
Licensed attorneys
Our attorneys build the evidence for every claim and press the insurer, so you don't have to.
Veteran owned
Fender Financial is veteran-owned and based in Illinois.
Vehicle owner"Fender Financial got me a check within 24 hours and then settled with Farmers Insurance company a week later."
Vehicle owner"Thank you so much for your help!"
What is diminished value?+
The difference between what your car was worth before the accident and what it's worth now that the accident is on its history report. Buyers and dealers pay less for a car that's been hit, even one that was repaired perfectly. When another driver caused the accident, their insurer owes you that difference.
The repair is already paid for. Can I still claim?+
Yes. Diminished value is a separate claim from the repair. Most people never file it, which is exactly what the insurer is counting on.
What does it cost?+
Nothing. You never send us money. When the insurer pays, we keep a flat $350 to cover our costs and the $500 we already sent you, and forward the rest to you. If they pay nothing, we earn nothing and you keep the $500.
What if the insurer refuses to pay?+
That's our risk, not yours. The $500 is yours the day you sign, no matter how the insurer responds to us. All we ask is that you help with paperwork if we need it, like signing a form or confirming a detail.
How much will I get in total?+
$500 right away, plus whatever the insurer pays minus that $500 and our $350 fee. Say they pay $2,000: you already have $500, we keep $350, and you get the remaining $1,150, so $1,650 in total. If they pay less than $850, you simply keep the $500.
When do I get paid?+
The $500 check ships to the address you give us when you sign. The rest comes within 90 days after the insurer pays us. Most claims settle without court; if one does go to court, it takes longer and legal costs come out of that final payment, never out of your $500.
Do I have to talk to the insurance company or go to court?+
No. After you sign, we're the ones dealing with the insurer. If you've already been contacted by their adjuster about diminished value, don't accept anything before we've reviewed your claim.
What if my car is older or has more miles?+
Diminished value is largest on newer, low-mileage vehicles, so that's where we focus. If your car doesn't fit the checklist above, you can still submit and we'll tell you honestly whether it's worth pursuing.
How will I know what's happening with my claim?+
Sign in with your cell phone at fender.financial/status any time. We'll also text or call you at the number you verified when we have an update or your agreement is ready to sign.
Five minutes. Two documents.
Have your repair estimate and police report handy and start now. We'll contact you at the number you verify.