SladeX

Sadly, I'd take the money and get a replacement car. It's what I did when my car got totaled and my replacement ended up being a color I always wanted with all the options I wanted.

saplumr

gowenfast

No, pardon me, but my credentials are the best of the best. Please read the post. It is not the duty/responsibility of ANY state to get involved with diminished value. The insurance companies have the say so. The damage report will show up on your Denali, eventually unless there was no police report, no insurance claim, no mainstream shop involved in fixing it, etc. Diminished value is NOT a law. It is a section in insurance claims that virtually every insurance company has had to begin to pay. Come back and preach to me, only after you have 40+ years in the car business, and own/operate a firm suing insurance companies to pay diminished value claims.

saplumr

phileaglesfan

My 07 Impala SS had $8k of damages when someone t-boned it in 2008. Chevys don't hold their value but I was given a quote from the dealer on a trade in of around $12k (about $26k new). So I had $8k of damage including the B pillar being bent. I checked the diminished value laws for my state (which do vary a lot between each state if they allow it at all). The Diminished Value company I went with ($350) sent out an appraiser and he said about $4k in diminished value. Then I had to submit the paperwork to his insurance company (Allstate). A few letters back and forth and they agreed to around $2500 from what I remember. My next step was to take them to court if I wanted more.

Sold the car about 4 years later and I disclosed the accident. No issues from the accident with the exception of a sensor in the door failed twice. Yes, I ended up selling it for about $2k less than other similar cars. They may even say your damage is just 'cosmetic' and not cover it all. They were about to do that to me until I reminded them the b pillar is part of the frame for that car. Will the value even out eventually? Probably for most cars.

That is why I said "dump" it earlier in the post. $21k would be tough to get (especially from a dealer) even before the accident. Once you decide to keep it that is the final decision no matter what issues it has down the road. Yes, I know we love our Corvettes but in the end it is just a car. Cars are expendable so don't be attached to it too much. I actually seen one guy almost have a breakdown over a rock chip on his C6 that he "rarely drove because he fears it may be damaged."

gowenfast

When your Denali turns up with prior damage on the Carfax, autocheck, or the like. We'll see who had the correct answer, me. Don't scream too much when you trade it, or sell it outright and you get whacked for the damage. Someone tried to help you, but you are obviously an expert. Best of luck

saplumr

I didn't keep it , traded a long time ago. When my dealer listed it as available for sale carfax was clean. None of us know everything, regardless of what some think.