TRM Auto Appraisals produces certified diminished value appraisals backed by BlackBook® market data, USPAP-compliant methodology, and legally defensible documentation — for individual claimants and law firms who need results that insurers take seriously.
When an insurance adjuster challenges your appraisal, the first thing they check is who signed it and whether those credentials stand up. TRM Auto Appraisals is operated by Desmond Mason, a certified diminished value appraiser whose credentials are recognized by courts, insurance commissioners, and personal injury attorneys throughout the country.
Every appraisal issued by TRM reflects the same rigorous methodology — BlackBook® historical adjusted retail data, verified retail comparable analysis, and full USPAP Standard 8 disclosure — regardless of vehicle type or claim complexity.
Insurance adjusters are trained to find weaknesses in appraisals. TRM appraisals are built to have none — grounded in independent third-party data, transparent calculations, and full USPAP disclosure at every step.
Pre-accident fair market value is established using BlackBook® Clean Retail values — the same data source used by dealers, lenders, and insurers nationwide. Post-accident value uses BlackBook® Rough Retail, reflecting the market's response to a disclosed accident history.
Active dealer listings for comparable vehicles — same year, make, model, trim, and mileage range — are sourced from verified retail inventory to confirm pre-accident market value. Comps are drawn locally first, then regionally, then nationally.
Every appraisal is prepared as a Summary Appraisal Report in conformity with Standard 8 of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice — the recognized professional standard for vehicle appraisals in litigation and insurance disputes.
The 17(c) formula commonly applied by insurers to minimize payouts has been explicitly rejected by multiple state insurance commissioners as a mandatory or exclusive methodology. TRM appraisals cite the applicable state regulatory authority rejecting this formula.
Demand letter templates cite the applicable state case law, statutes, and insurance commissioner directives by name — giving attorneys and claimants a legally grounded document from the start, not a generic template.
Every appraisal includes a complete scope of work, source disclosure, methodology explanation, and certification statement signed by the appraiser of record — the documentation an adjuster or court would expect from a professional appraisal.
Personal injury firms leave significant revenue on the table when diminished value isn't pursued alongside injury claims. TRM provides fast, consistent, court-quality DV appraisals that integrate into your existing demand package workflow — without adding paralegal hours.
Appraisals delivered within 24 hours of intake — no waiting on a field inspector. Desktop appraisal methodology fully disclosed per USPAP SR 8-2.
Full USPAP disclosure, certified appraiser signature, BlackBook® data citations — the documentation package an adjuster or opposing counsel would expect in a formal dispute.
Appraisals and demand letters cite applicable state law by name — case citations, statutes, and insurance commissioner directives — ready to attach to your demand package as-is.
Law firms with consistent volume qualify for discounted per-appraisal rates. Contact us to discuss your caseload and structure a firm agreement that works for your practice.
Most personal injury firms don't pursue DV — which means your clients are leaving money on the table and you're leaving revenue in the claim. A DV appraisal adds a documented damage line that's difficult for insurers to ignore and straightforward to include in any settlement demand.
Preferred partner platform: Law firms seeking a fully automated intake, appraisal generation, and negotiation coaching platform for their clients may also be interested in WhatTheyOwe.com — built on TRM's appraisal methodology and designed for high-volume firm workflows.
Learn more about the firm platform →Every TRM appraisal is a professionally formatted, multi-page document that follows the same structure adjusters and attorneys expect — not a one-page summary or a form letter.