2013 Tacoma wrecked, do i keep it, sell it, let insurance have it? Salvage worth it value?

Wrecked, now what. Insurance totalled my truck based on frame damage. All i can see is rear frame rails tweaked, bed is a bit bent up and tailgate smashed, but still works suprisingly. The other guy wasn't so lucky. ANyhow, insurance is going to give me above 20k for it. It has 161k miles. It is a TRD Sport, Long Bed, Silver, with JBL, remote start/alarm, and in otherwise great shape.

Any opinions on what this might be worth to buy back for? Like if they say $1000 bucks, shoudl i keep it, it'll have a Salvage title and not be street legal... Really sucks to give it to a junk yard when it runs like a top.

I have dreams of someone just chopping off the rear rails behind the wheel mounts and welding some frame back in there, attaching the same bumper, adding a tailgate or a air gate and you are good to go for a long time with a hell of a toy.

I'm thinking someone might be willing to trade it for a nice golf cart or something? I have no idea really if it's worth squat or just like insurance taking it for the extra couple grand?

 

You could pull the motor and sell it for $1500, same with the Tranny. You can’t bob the back and get it certified again for road use?

 

I guess it just depends on how much work you are wanting/willing to put into. With the insurance giving you $20k+ on a ~7 year old vehicle with 161k, it may be worth it just to take the money and run. On the other hand, if you could buy back for an insanely low price, it may be worth it to turn it into a toy.

The insurance probably totaled it because of age and mileage. I can offer from personal experience that this amount of damage is absolutely repairable, if you could find a shop willing to do it. You could then go through the effort of getting the title rebranded. This of course is going to cost a fair amount and may not be worth the effort in the long run. You will likely turn a profit but is it worth your sanity?

As for bobbing the rear end I know @EatSleepTacos recently did an amazing job(bob) on his and he has plates sooooo... street legal? But I wouldn’t know how that would go if you bobbed it and then attempted to get a rebranded title.

Sorry about your truck.
Drivers keep trying to kill mine but it’s still truckin!

 

And I even got my states safety inspection today and passed!

 

20k & itsa memory

can figure why when its 1/2 used up & bent .............

U could find a cherry driven by a senior citizen LESS miles

20k is a solid down payment on most anything on wheels

good luck

 

He’s getting the 20k, he wants to know if he should buy it back for a couple thousand.

 

If you can get it for 1K. Do it!!!!! I'd bet they'll want a lot more than that though. My 02 TJ was worth 8.5K and they wanted 2.5K to buy it back.

 

Before you get all giddy about making a wheeler out of it, ask the ins. company how much the buyback is. It wouldn’t surprise me if they come back with $5K. I Seriously doubt it would be less than $2.5K. Tacos fetch insane money at the salvage auctions and the insurance company is looking to come out the best that they can.

 

You could easily buy it back and fix it. If I was in your shoes i'd have a straight axle, new wheels,tires, an atlas 4 spd, and coilovers headed my way. 20k will get you started on a sweet offroad toy. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

i get that ?

yet 20k c a $ h !! standing in ANY toyota dealership will get you a damn good deal...............

or Ur in the wrong zip code

2019s --2020s sittting around..........or they WILL get U 1 pretty damn quick !! ( $200 monthly )

or if U are so inclined find one

near or better condition than Ur total loss

if U buy back

good deal goes to average

no less the more $$ U spend...........it dont get better

id be driving a new taco

 

Ummmm

He gets the $20K no matter what

The buyback is a separate transaction

He buys the wrecked truck for a couple thousand

Then parts it out or builds it into a bush buggy

Or maybe a dedicated wheeler

Savvy?

 

everyone wants to be clever

buy back =spend $$$ .........not even at that point

parts out.....maybe make back whats spent ( time , effort maybe )

keep total only to spend More $$$$$

none o that beats a new taco

 

I'm an insurance adjuster.
They totaled it out because that frame is done and it probably doesnt have toyota approved repair procedure on repairing just that section so it has to be replaced. Lot of hours into that replacement.

Havent seen a salvage on one recently but my guess is definitely more than even $2.5k. My guess without going on my computer and checking would be closer to $5-6k. They bring in good salvage values

 

Looka like with some minor fab work you could get a solid bumper on it especially an aftermarket plate steel one.

But...

One, has this truck been on a frame machine for measurements?
Two, any other visible buckles further upstream?
Three, is this truck with buyback plus a frame replacement worth it?

If this was a beater off road truck then I wouldn't care but in this situation more often then not just dump the problem, take the money, and get something that isn't F'd.

If it has that much damage near the bumper brackets I have good money on it being waffled somewhere else. Not a big crease, just a little buckle hiding somewhere. Rear Taco frames are like beer can strong.

 

Great wisdom guys. As tempting as it is. Sounds like a money pit and headaches, not to mention fights with the wife if I start sinking money into it. I actually hope they come back with 5-7k buyback so it’s an easy no brainer, don’t touch it. I’m worried the hillbilly in me will want to flip it for cash if under 3 grand. I have an offer from Carbrain for $5300 for it as it sits. Anyone ever sell anything to them?