The Connecticut legislature's own research office has looked at this question. Its answer shapes every diminished value claim in Connecticut. The negligent driver pays. Your own policy usually does not.
Case Law Puts the Loss on the Negligent Driver
A report from the Office of Legislative Research sums up the case law. The negligent person is responsible for the lost value of the car. You bring that claim against the other driver's liability coverage.
The cases go back to Littlejohn v. Elionsky in 1944. The MWL law firm's chart of all 50 states gives the rule. The owner gets fair repair costs plus any loss in value that remains. Proof still matters, so get a written appraisal.
Your Own Policy Usually Says No
The same report says a first-party claim for lost value is typically not covered. Policies pay for the repair, or the cash value if the car is a total loss. Some even exclude lost value in plain words.
Two Years Under Section 52-584
Do not wait. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584 requires a suit for negligent injury to personal property within two years from when the injury is first sustained or discovered.
Connecticut also compares fault. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h, your negligence cannot exceed the total negligence of all the parties you sue. A driver who is half to blame can still recover half.
Policy Limits and Small Claims
The minimum property damage coverage is $25,000 per accident, says the Connecticut Insurance Department. A large repair plus lost value can pass that amount on a newer car, and the driver then owes the rest.
Small claims court hears money claims up to $5,000, per the Connecticut Judicial Branch. Larger claims go to the regular civil docket. If the insurer stops answering, use the department's complaint page. You can compare nearby rules for New York.