Been in an accident?
Your car appraiser in Schwelm.

In a no-fault accident in Schwelm with damage over 750 €, you pay 0 €. The opposing third-party insurer covers all costs under §249 BGB. Fees based on the BVSK-Honorartabelle in Schwelm range between 550–2.200 €.

Claimondo refers you in Schwelm to certified partner appraisers with local expertise. You report the damage online (5 min, no registration) — we match you with the nearest available appraiser from the partner network. On-site appointment in under 48 hours. Available in Schwelm (postcode 583) and the surrounding region of Nordrhein-Westfalen.

For claim settlement disputes in Schwelm, the Amtsgericht Schwelm has first-instance jurisdiction up to a claim value of 5,000 €; above that, the Landgericht Hagen (§ 23 no. 1 and § 71 (1) GVG). Most reduction disputes — cut appraisal fees, UPE surcharges, diminished value, loss of use — fall below this threshold and are therefore heard before the local court. If an insurer makes unlawful reductions or takes legal action against an assessment, our partner law firm for traffic law files at whichever court has jurisdiction. If successful, the opposing party bears legal and court costs. You pay 0 € (under §249 BGB, subject to acknowledgement by the opposing third-party insurer).

Yes. As the non-at-fault party you appoint the assessor — not the other side's insurer. You are not obliged to accept their offer to send their own inspector: an assessor instructed by the opposing insurer does not act in your interest.

Below roughly €750 in damage, yes — that is the minor-damage threshold. Above it, no: a cost estimate quantifies the repair alone. Diminished value, loss of use, replacement and residual value are missing from it, and those items account for a substantial share of the compensation.

Insurers such as HUK, LVM, and AXA typically reduce UPE surcharges, delivery costs, and diminished value through audit services (ControlExpert, K-Expert, DEKRA). However, the BGH supports injured parties in the landmark rulings VI ZR 65/18, VI ZR 174/24, and VI ZR 38/22 ff. Our partner law firm recovers the full reductions.

With the Sicherungsabtretung (security assignment) under §398 BGB, the injured party transfers the claim against the opposing insurer — up to the amount of the appraiser's fee — to the appraiser. You sign once; the appraiser then invoices the insurer directly. You pay nothing upfront. This is the industry standard.

The measurable diminished value (merkantile Wertminderung) according to the Sanden/Danner formula ranges between 500 € and 2,500 €. Rule of thumb: year 1: 25 %, year 2: 20 %, year 3: 15 %, year 4: 10 % of repair costs. No fixed age limit according to BGH VI ZR 357/03.

After a non-at-fault accident, yes — under § 249 BGB the opposing liability insurer covers a rental car of comparable class for the duration of the repair or replacement. Alternatively it pays loss-of-use compensation in cash, graded by vehicle group and days off the road. If you drive little, the cash option is often the better deal.

Yes, free choice of repair shop remains yours. The opposing insurer may not refer you to a partner workshop if you want the repair carried out at a brand-authorised specialist — this applies in particular to newer vehicles or those with a full service history.

The 130% rule (BGH VI ZR 67/91) allows repair costs of up to 130 % of the replacement value — provided the vehicle is professionally repaired in accordance with the assessment and is used for at least 6 months after.