Can I Claim Vehicle Depreciation Costs If the Other Party Is Fully at Fault?
2 Answers
The other party being fully at fault does not entitle you to claim vehicle depreciation costs. Generally, vehicle depreciation is not covered under insurance claims. Introduction to Vehicle Insurance: Vehicle insurance, also known as motor vehicle insurance or auto insurance, refers to a type of commercial insurance that covers personal injuries or property damage caused by natural disasters or accidents involving motor vehicles. Categories of Vehicle Insurance: Commercial insurance is an open policy and is divided into basic insurance and additional insurance, where additional insurance cannot be purchased independently. Basic insurance includes third-party liability insurance and vehicle damage insurance. Additional insurance includes comprehensive theft insurance, on-board liability insurance, no-fault liability insurance, cargo drop liability insurance, standalone glass breakage insurance, vehicle downtime loss insurance, spontaneous combustion insurance, new equipment loss insurance, and deductible waiver insurance.
I dealt with a similar issue last year. At that time, the other driver changed lanes and hit my less-than-six-month-old new car, damaging both the frame and the trunk. Although the 4S shop repaired it to the point where no traces were visible, when I later tried to sell the car, the used car dealer immediately knocked off 30,000 yuan upon seeing the repair records. After consulting a lawyer, I learned that claiming depreciation compensation hinges on proving three key points: first, the car's condition before the accident—I kept all maintenance records; second, that the repairs affected the structural safety—I obtained the repair list and construction photos at the time; and third, the necessity of obtaining a depreciation assessment report from a professional institution. In the end, I sued and recovered 28,000 yuan, but the entire process took over five months. I recommend you get a depreciation assessment done immediately, ideally within 20 days of the accident, or the evidence may lose some of its validity.
