Anyone have experience with…. Truck total loss

[LHC Kirby]

I have a 2000 tundra, wife did some minor adjustments to the front corner. I have owned it since brand new. 23 years

Insurance is going to total it. I’m thinking of getting salvage title and getting it converted to rebuilt title. It’s a great truck, value of 8-9k, Repair is estimated at $6,800.

Any advice ?

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Why total a functional vehicle with just that?

Are insurance companies working to take the vehicles and sell them themselves for more?

 

[NicPaus]

Buy it back for $1800. Take it to a body shop in Compton and offer 2500 to fix it.

 

[bagged97taco]

From the pic it looks like it needs a fender, side marker light, front bumper and possibly a headlight. Buy these parts and have a cheap paint job done, needs it anyways.

 

[bilz]

Looks like it got into the door.
Parts are like gold right now, hard to find cheap.

 

[707dog]

good trucks worth fixing to me... poke around you might be able to find a replacement fender that color

 

[ChrisV]

Buy it back and drive it.

 

[Shlbyntro]

Why total a functional vehicle with just that?

Are insurance companies working to take the vehicles and sell them themselves for more?

its more the liability of having to stand behind the vehicle, they dont want to do it. they much rather pay you 25% more than they were going to anyway and send it to auction where they will no longer be married to it. same goes if you were to "buy it back" if they total it

this is what happens in our wonderful sue happy world

 

[SBMech]

Find out what they want to buy it back, it's not always as easy as it looks. Some refuse to sell it back after they pay you out.

If it's less than a few thousand, you will be ahead to just to buy it back and fix it, after all you know all about it.

Seems like you could spend a few hours yourself and replace the fender and bumper, have someone paint it for a reasonable cost.

 

[LHC Kirby]

Thanks for all the advice… I’m working on getting their payout up. They have it listed as 221,000 miles, it only has 184,000. Several other things like, they say I don’t, but I do have. Power windows, power locks and side steps to name a few.

Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

They do offer me to buy it back $1680. That I’ll try to get lower.

 

[Gonefishin5555]

Co worker got sideswiped and it’s 4k quote from body shop 90% of the damage will buff out I told her I would do it on my lunch hour if she bought some rubbing compound. Her son just got 18k when insurance totaled his old Tacoma recently. I had told her to contest whatever they offered her but it was so high an amount she took the money without any negotiating.

Daughters old Tacoma got hit and busted rear axel and a bunch of stuff underneath it was 8k and insurance paid it instead of totaling it. The thing was I think it runs better now so I’m glad it got fixed. Part of the 8k was for some body damage and the guy didn’t want to do the work he said it wouldn’t match the rest of the car so just pocket the money he said so I did.

Prior owner of her car had sort of messed up the front bumper. There is plenty of aftermarket stuff I can swap it out if she ever stopped playing bumper cars with it

I know on my old suburban I got a rear bumper on CL and swapped it out myself.

Looking at it closely I’d try to swap out that panel if you can find one and the front bumper. Get a can of factory color auto spay paint and paint the panel yourself. The door has a little damage I’d just leave it. You can see if there is YouTube video showing you how it’s done and decide if you can do it yourself.

 

[LHC Kirby]

I appreciate all the do it yourself advice, unfortunately I am Jack of all trades, master of none type guy. Finish type work … I suck at.

 

[braindead]

Thanks for all the advice… I’m working on getting their payout up. They have it listed as 221,000 miles, it only has 184,000. Several other things like, they say I don’t, but I do have. Power windows, power locks and side steps to name a few.

Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

They do offer me to buy it back $1680. That I’ll try to get lower.

don’t forget anything you’ve done to the vehicle in the last couple months, depending on the insurance company, such as tires, oil change, maintenance, any additional aftermarket items you’ve installed can also be used to bring the price up

 

[FreeBird236]

Just wanted to say as a Tundra owner myself, sorry to see on such a nice truck. I agree that you should try to get it back. Good luck

 

[Riverbottom]

I think it got into the core support. Upper tie bar will need replacing as well as the headlight mounting panel. Can't remember if toyota sells them separately or the whole assembly. Very repairable truck, I would buy it back and repair. Sold my body shop four years ago, or I would help out.

 

[Big B Hova]

Buy it back for $1800. Take it to a body shop in Compton and offer 2500 to fix it.

2500 to fix plus a stolen catalytic converter if you drop it off in compton.

 

[NicPaus]

2500 to fix plus a stolen catalytic converter if you drop it off in compton.

My Tundra is already missing 2 of the 4 cats. Probably safer to park it in Compton than here.

I was referencing the stolen car thread. He said there are a lot of body shops in Compton. I have a good priced body guy in Harbor gateway. I would say under 3k from him.

 

[2FORCEFULL]

I have a 2000 tundra, wife did some minor adjustments to the front corner. I have owned it since brand new. 23 years

Insurance is going to total it. I’m thinking of getting salvage title and getting it converted to rebuilt title. It’s a great truck, value of 8-9k, Repair is estimated at $6,800.

Any advice ?

View attachment 1190353

how much is the salvage???? looks like just a fender??? bumper can probley be pulled out if it pushed in..

 

[2FORCEFULL]

Thanks for all the advice… I’m working on getting their payout up. They have it listed as 221,000 miles, it only has 184,000. Several other things like, they say I don’t, but I do have. Power windows, power locks and side steps to name a few.

Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

They do offer me to buy it back $1680. That I’ll try to get lower.

i'll give you the 1680 if you don't wanna mess with it....

 

[rivermobster]

@jetboatperformance

Tom does insurance estimates. He can probably give you the best advice.

At first glance, it looks like an easy fix? Does the door still open and close normally? Does the hood?

You might want to post a pic of the engine bay damage if there is any...

 

[jetboatperformance]

Theres no real "shame" in a salvage title (especially with copius before and after pics) , You might even score a prepainted fender and marker light on Ebay or from LKQ , replacment t is simple , doubtful theres any significant under lying damage

used fender 2000 tundra - Google Search

 

[lbhsbz]

Or just cancel the claim and fix it yourself....Look on Car-part.com and call some local yards...you can probably find a green fender. Bumpers and lights are available aftermarket for not much.

That's about $500 in parts and a few hours of work if you shop around....then the title is not affected. This is how I would handle it if it were my problem.

Edit: Just checked....a yard in Sun Valley and another in NOHO are showing green fenders in stock for about $150 each

Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market

 

[dribble]

Why total a functional vehicle with just that?

Are insurance companies working to take the vehicles and sell them themselves for more?

You basically pay whatever the salvage value is when you buy it back. They don’t care if it’s you or the salvage yard.

 

[GreenEnergy28]

I would definitely buy it back and fix it. I bought my sons 2002 Ranger with 43,000 miles on it from an 80yo gentleman who took out the headlight and fender on the driver's side. He got a pole at the gas station... His insurance totaled it out. I bought it "repaired" by his friend. After looking it over, truck had no damage other than that and the bumper was tweaked a bit. Had to get the vehicle inspected then went to the DMV for a vin verification. I cleaned up a few things and now my son has a nice little low mileage truck. There is an unrelated dent in the bedside but figured he can deal with that LOL.
I was also able to get full coverage insurance on the truck which was my biggest concern considering this was for my son.

When I picked it up

After I dialed it in for my boy

 

[Riverbottom]

Depending on the insurance company, they will just have you sign a document saying that you agree to obtain a salvage certificate. The Toyota is already in your name, no need to go to DMV and get a salvage certificate on a perfectly good truck.

 

[Jimmyv]

Or just cancel the claim and fix it yourself....Look on Car-part.com and call some local yards...you can probably find a green fender. Bumpers and lights are available aftermarket for not much.

That's about $500 in parts and a few hours of work if you shop around....then the title is not affected. This is how I would handle it if it were my problem.

Edit: Just checked....a yard in Sun Valley and another in NOHO are showing green fenders in stock for about $150 each

Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market

Id do this.

Cancel claim, ghetto fix, Still have fully functional Toyota truck.
No branded titles, no issues with future insurance. Drive it.

FYI, some insurance won’t cover a salvage vehicle and your likely to have policy drop you after paying out and letting you keep the truck. (AAA)

 

[warpt71]

Im convinced that the insurance will total a "good" vehicle because they will make more selling the good parts off of it.

 

[HST4ME]

6800 to repair that? You could do it yourself for under a grand if you have any mechanical abilities

 

[SLT Kota]

You could always ask the insurance if they will give you cash instead of fixing it. My truck was right at the point of being totaled in a hail storm, I asked if they would not total it and just give me cash instead. I ended up getting 1500 bucks less than the truck was worth before the storm and I got to keep it with a clean title.

 

[Happy Smitty]

I appreciate all the do it yourself advice, unfortunately I am Jack of all trades, master of none type guy. Finish type work … I suck at.

Well go ahead and take it apart and start to fix it and never finish it. You'll be like most of us on here.

 

[wishiknew]

6800 to repair that? You could do it yourself for under a grand if you have any mechanical abilities

take it to Tijuana and $500 bucks in 2 days just like new

 

[2Driver]

I worked for one of the major IT companies that provide Total loss figures and collision estimating software to Insurance companies. The TL number is negotiable primarily because arriving at the figure is not an exact science. Like you mentioned, they didn’t apples to apples your truck. But the biggest item is what condition grade they gave your truck if they are using a compatible vehicle total loss service like CCC or Audatex. I’ve helped a number of people get more for their totals after they thought they had hit a ceiling in negotiations.

That said, why in the world would you want to buy back your own truck with a salvage title then have to foot all the repairs when you could just get it fixed without insurance involvement. You may run into an issue trying to back out of the claim but it would be my first attempt. You’ll save the buy out cost and have a clean title.

Post up the damage estimate so we can see what they want to do to fix it. That too can be negotiated and you may not be in total loss range which is usually around 70% of value.

 

[Cole Trickle]

IMHO buying back a salvage is a pain. the trip to have it inspected and then the paperwork with the dmv is tricky for a lot of people.

I understand it in this case as its a nice truck for cheap. Make sure you understand going forward the value will be about half for future losses and some insurance companies won't insure salvaged titles or surcharge for them.