Truck got rear-ended and totaled out.

If it's a reputable place they can show you where and why the frame is not repairable with measurements etc just like when you get an alignment.

 

Washington state totals vehicles for much less than other states. I wouldn't want to buy it back, you'll never get anything for a damaged title vehicle in resale. Especially given the frame damage. I'd start shopping, you'll find something.

 

Yeah I might just have to bite the bullet, I already found a comparable truck newer and with less miles but its around 22,000 I doubt I will get that much but I guess it beats having to buy new again...

 

If you decide to buy it back, one thing to keep in mind. If the frame is tweaked to one side, the truck will never drive straight. It will drive sideways, similar to a plane in a crosswind and will chew through tires.

 

I'd start gathering examples. Those trucks up here fetch a ton. My 05 sold last year for $19,500. When they low-ball, show them what it'll cost you to replace. Their offer to you can be negotiated.

 

Sorry for your luck OP. My 2011 is for sale, I can work with you on the price within reason.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2011-dcsb-4wd-tx-pro-for-sale-reno-nv.592723/#post-19963680

 

That's really good advice, I was looking at a few last night and grabbed some screen shots. I am glad to know that it is negotiable... now if I was actually a good negotiator.

I will have to keep you in mind JJ!

 

If they say the frame is bent, take their word for it and take the money. My Silverado was totaled when somebody ran a stop sign and I hit them at 30 mph. The body didn't take much damage at all but the suspension got pushed back and tweaked the frame. You can see in this picture how the pinstripe on the cab does not line up with the bed.

 

It doesn't work that way anymore. If the shop wants your truck, they'll have to buy it at the insurance auction. Usually if the shop wants your truck, they'll tell you to keep it and then offer to buy it direct from you. If an insurance company totals a vehicle and the owner doesn't keep it, they can't negotiate to sell directly to the shop.... this ended years ago after much fraud.


Edit: Just an FYI, I deal with this on a daily basis. My advice is that if you aren't capable of repairing it yourself or you're not turning it into an off-road only vehicle. Let it go, save yourself a headache.

 

He wouldn't give you a straight answer b/c he thinks it's probably safe to drive, but doesn't want to be held accountable if it isn't. I'd guess it's probably save to drive, but still a total.

The salvage value on these trucks is typically pretty high, you'd take a big hit on the buyback. Sometimes as much as 40% off of the value.

 

@YoungRed08 Not that its going to matter in the end, but did the bed (inner) crack? Just curious

 

That makes sense, I wouldn't want to be liable for that either.

I don't think it did, as far as I could tell it just scrapped it up a little.

 

Jiffy Lube and other similar places are chain stores too, and they'll fuck you 6 ways from Sunday to get an extra $50 outta ya.

Depending on the numbers of course, but I wouldn't be afraid to buy that fucker back, fix the tailgate (salvage yard, etc) and drive it til it just wouldn't go any more.

 

Frame damage can sometimes be hard to see, but that doesn't look too bad honestly. Did they give you an actual estimate for the frame work or just say "a lot of pull time"?? If you really want the truck back then I'd have another shop look at it.

This isn't true at all.

 

In my state and the one the OP is in, vehicles with rebuilt titles do not get loans from traditional banks. That shrinks the buying pool down to anyone who can pay cash. You bet it reduces the amount you can get.

My brothers work buys brand new GM Tahoe's from the factory that didn't pass inspection for their fleet. GM puts all the parts together from vehicles that couldn't pass and make a different vehicle, they're sold as rebuilt titles and a discount is given. He was in charge of selling one with 60k miles as they do once a vehicle hits that mileage. Everyone who called about it moved on once they found out the title was rebuilt. He then put it in the listing and had to drop the price a lot to comparable vehicles in order to sell.

 

Partout???????? Ill give you some $$ for your rear pass side door if its not damaged....

 

Keep in mind that even if it doesn't meet the states guidelines for a title branded as rebuilt, salvage or Junk. The resale will be affected by the vehicle history report. Once an insurance claim is filed it will be reported to a national database, it will be always be searchable by VIN. It's likely even to show up on a carfax report as a serious accident.

Branded titles always get lower resale:

2 identical trucks, one with a clean title and one with a savage title(but has been repaired) Salvage title will be worth less. Who would pay the same as a clean titled vehicle for branded title?

 

Yikes, damage doesn't look that bad, but I wouldn't want it back if the frame is indeed bent. I totaled my 2007 back in 2012/13 and got about 22k back for it (paid 25k originally). Glad everyone is ok, and hopefully you get a good payout.

 

So he listed it without saying the title was branded? Yeah, that's misleading, I would hang up on him too...

I live in WA also and have bought several vehicles at auction that were totaled with branded titles and subsequently repaired and sold them. What you said was "you'll never get anything for a damaged title vehicle." That isn't true. If the repairs are done properly and documented then it typically decreases the value by about 20%, and that isn't a guess. There is a threshold here for when it makes sense to do and when it doesn't. OP is going to get a check for the value of his truck and an option to purchase it back from the insurance for a fraction of that. Since the only body damage is a tailgate which he can easily replace on his own, the only real factor here is how long it's going to have to sit on a frame rack and it doesn't seem like he's gotten a straight answer on that yet. If the buy back plus the frame work can be done for 80% or less of the clean title value of the pickup then I would be buying this thing back in a heartbeat. The truck is otherwise super clean and will easily fetch that in the used market, or he can just drive it until it dies and still have some extra cash in his pocket.

No one is saying they are worth the same. See above....

 

If the rear ender made contact with your trailer hitch, which is possible seeing as you have a recovery hitch sticking out further than the bumper, then that may be the reason there is frame tweaking and why it is being totaled.