Just recently purchased new 2005 Altima.  Paid approximatly $17,500. 
Within 6 weeks and 1500 miles later car was damaged by third party. 
Cost to repair approx
$9,000.  I have told their insurance co I would trade the car in and
buy another just like the one I had, subtract $1000 for depreciation
and want them to pay the difference as diminished value.   Am I out of
line or what suggestions would you have.  Any articles explaining
process?  Thanks

We had a Chevy Tahoe that after 18 months was in an accident caused by
a third party.  The damage to the vehicle was around $11,000 with a
bent frame.  I kept telling the other person's insurance company (who
was at fault) that since they frame was damaged I'd never get a
full-value trade in for the vehicle.  The insurance company told me
that since they were able to repair the frame within legal limits that
thier would be no diminished value.  Well, there was.  I went to two
different dealerships to get a quote on a new car and had them give me
a quote on my trade-in (I did not tell them that it was in an
accident).  Each dealer came back to me and asked if it had been in an
accident and I said "yes."  Each dealer took off $2,000 - $2,250 for
the diminished value.  All I asked of one dealer is that I need a copy
of the quote for my trade-in that specifically stated the dimished
value in order to get the money from the insurance company, after
which, I'd come back and buy a vehicle.  After I got this copy I
called the claims adjuster and they had me fax the copied invoice
along with the salespersons business card.  The insurance company paid
out fairly quickly, but they used some formual to calcualte wha they
thought the dimished value was and I ended up with around $1,400.  No
the full value, but something.  By the way, the other person's
insurance company was Amica.

Regards.

http://www.ican2000.com/dvfaqs.html

http://www.collisionclaims.com/?OVRAW=diminished%20value&OVKEY=diminished%20value&OVMTC=standard

http://www.csiofnc.com/DVtoyou.html

http://www.auto-claims-help.com/diminished_value.html

Hi denavid-ga,
You needed Gap Insurance.  Something to think about next time around. 
If your car is stolen or declared totaled, your auto insurance company
will pay you the actual cash value of the car. The actual cash value
can be a lot different from what you still owe on your lease or loan.
Without gap insurance your lender will hold you responsible for paying
the difference between the actual cash value and the amount left on
the loan. This might mean you having to come up with hundreds even
thousands of dollars to pay that debt. Gap insurance will eliminate
you having to pay the difference and eliminate the stress of having to
come up with that money.  Check out http://www.easyquoteinsurance.com
for more information. That's where i read about this.  They also have
insurance companies where you can get quotes for this.  Good luck.