No Maine statute and no Maine court ruling spells out a diminished value claim in Maine against the other driver. The best guide comes from the state's own insurance regulator, and it leans toward the owner.
The Bureau of Insurance Leans Your Way
The Maine Bureau of Insurance auto claims page admits that Maine has no specific law on paying diminished value. It then adds a key point. When you claim against the insurer of the driver at fault, the vehicle's loss in value might be part of that claim.
That is not a promise, so the adjuster will want proof. The Bureau suggests advice from an attorney who handles car damage claims on how to prove the loss. Many owners start with a diminished value appraisal and a short demand letter that names one figure.
The Hall Case Settled Your Own Policy
Here the answer is firm. In Hall v. Acadia Insurance, from 2002, Maine's top court looked at a policy that only promised to repair or replace the car. It held that such a policy does not cover lost value. The ruling appears in the Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer survey, and the Bureau repeats it. Your collision claim ends with the repair.
Equal Fault Means No Recovery
Maine compares fault, with a 50 percent bar. Under 14 M.R.S. § 156, an owner found equally at fault may not recover. Below that line, the jury trims the award to fit your share of the blame. A split down the middle loses everything, so the facts of the crash matter.
Six Years, $25,000 and Small Claims
Maine gives you more time than most states. Under 14 M.R.S. § 752, all civil actions must start within six years after the cause of action accrues. Do not wait that long, though, because sales records and repair files get harder to find.
Every Maine policy must carry at least $25,000 for property damage. That sum caps what a minimum policy pays for your repair and lost value combined.
Small claims court takes money claims of $10,000 or less since January 1, 2026. Most lost value claims fit well under that. If an insurer will not deal fairly with you, use the Maine Bureau of Insurance complaint page.