Property DamageDiminished Value
Diminished Value Calculator (17c + Market Method)
Estimate post-accident diminished value with the 17c floor and a market-based range, plus state availability notes.
JusticeFinder Tool
Loss-of-Use & Rental Reimbursement Calculator
While your car is in the shop or a total-loss claim is being processed, you're entitled to the value of being without it — loss of use. This calculator estimates what you're owed, what your own rental coverage caps pay, and the gap still claimable from the at-fault driver's insurer, even if you never rented a car.
Estimate your loss-of-use reimbursement
Enter the days without your car, a fair daily rate, and your coverage caps. The breakdown updates live as you edit any field.
Estimates update live. Use reset to restore starter examples.
Still claimable from the at-fault insurer
$180
Total owed $540 · your coverage pays $360.
How the reimbursement breaks down
Loss-of-use value owed
12 days × $45/day
$540
Paid by your coverage
capped per your policy
−$360
Gap from at-fault insurer
claimable from the other driver
$180
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$180 falls outside your own policy caps — that gap is claimable from the at-fault driver's insurer. For a repair scenario, days usually track the shop cycle plus reasonable rental or substitute-transport time.
Loss of use compensates you for being without your vehicle — it can apply even if you never rented one. Calculations run in your browser; nothing is saved.
How to use this tool
- Open the calculator. Scroll to the interactive tool section and review the starter inputs already filled in as educational examples.
- Enter documented numbers. Replace sample bills, wages, rates, fault share, or care costs with values you can support with records.
- Compare the live results. Read the result cards, ranges, and formula notes. If two methods appear, treat them as a working band—not a single guaranteed number.
- Save and keep documenting. Copy or print the estimate, open a linked spreadsheet if available, then pair the output with related guides before any insurer negotiation.
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The claim compensates you for being without your vehicle, not just for rental receipts.
Loss of use is the value of being deprived of your car while it's repaired or a total-loss claim is processed. You can frequently recover a reasonable daily amount even if you borrowed a car, used rideshare, or simply went without — the entitlement is about the lost use, not the receipt.
Your own rental reimbursement coverage helps, but it usually caps both the daily amount and the total. The reasonable value above those caps is generally claimable from the at-fault driver's insurer.
Repairs versus total loss
The compensable period differs depending on the scenario.
In repair
Loss of use generally runs for the reasonable time the vehicle is in the shop — including waiting for parts — not delays you cause.
Total loss
Even when the car is totaled, you're typically owed loss of use for the reasonable time it takes the insurer to evaluate and pay the claim.
Related Resources
Use these pages and documentation tools to validate the estimate, preserve evidence, and keep the claim file organized.
Related Tool
Net Settlement Calculator
See how property-damage recovery fits into your overall take-home after fees and liens.
Guide
Property Damage Claim Guide
Read how repair, total-loss, diminished value, and loss-of-use claims fit together.
Guide
Total Loss Claims Guide
Understand how insurers value a totaled car and how loss of use applies during processing.
Spreadsheet
Repair Cost Tracker
Log repair dates and rental days so your loss-of-use claim is fully documented.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim loss of use if I never rented a car?
Often yes. Loss of use compensates you for being deprived of your vehicle, not just for money spent on a rental. Many claimants recover a reasonable daily value even when they borrowed a car or went without one.
How many days does loss of use cover?
Generally the reasonable time your vehicle is unusable — the repair period, or the time it takes to process and pay a total-loss claim. Unreasonable delays you cause may not count.
What if my rental coverage runs out?
Your own rental reimbursement coverage usually has a daily and total cap. Anything beyond those caps, up to the reasonable loss-of-use value, is generally claimable from the at-fault driver's insurer.
Does loss of use apply to a total loss?
Yes. Even when a car is totaled, you're typically owed loss of use for the reasonable time it takes the insurer to evaluate and pay the claim, not just until the date they declare it a total loss.
Educational Use Disclaimer
This calculator is an educational property-damage estimate only and does not constitute legal advice. Loss-of-use entitlement, reasonable rates, and the number of compensable days vary by policy language and state law. Confirm your specific claim with your insurer or a licensed attorney before relying on any figure.
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