Insurance Lowballing Me - Won't Fix My Truck

how many miles? what engine? we can plug those details into KBB and get a ballpark amount.

 

The insurance company is going to a lowball you and total a 20 year, old car; mileage, upgrades, and Internet value don’t really mean that much to them.

I would also argue that a lawyer or an appraiser are going to waste your money.

Whatever extra money a lawyer might get you will just go to pay his legal fees.

Appraisers are typically for arguing value for collectible vehicles or they tend to work for auction houses, but once again whatever money you spend on the appraiser you’re not going to get back.

 

if you have a v6 engine, around 200k miles, and "very good" condition, KBB lists the median private party value at just under 6k.

https://www.kbb.com/toyota/tacoma-xtracab/2002/prerunner-pickup/?condition=verygood&intent=trade-in-sell&mileage=200000&modalview=false&offeroptions=true&options=188721|true|188721|false|6320342|true|6320423|true&pricetype=private-party&vehicleid=4881

they aren't really going to give you anything for the upgrades. the suspension would be considered a maintenance item as well as the filter and tires. the sound system would only be a few hundred bucks at most. the rack is probably not damaged but not sure if they would even consider that part of the vehicle as it is an accessory. I would try and take as many upgrades out of the vehicle and sell them if you are able to.

someone rear ended my tacoma last year and i was out of a truck for months and i need mine for work. it was one of the most stressful times I've had in years. they wanted me to wait 9-11 months for a new frame instead of totaling it. finally got them too after months of stress.

you seem angry, and i would be too. but don't take it out on us. we are trying to help you. we can't help if your truck isn't worth what you'd like it to be. don't pull that sorry to bother you passive aggressive BS. no one is going to disable your account. what do you want us to do?

wish you good luck on finding a suitable replacement vehicle.

 

I think the OP has left the building...

 

Take the 6 grand, Buy yourself a reliable but well-loved minivan, use the remainder to go find your meaning in life. Done.

 

I would take the $6k, and go buy a reliable late 90's Corolla for $500-$1500ish and use the rest of the money to get back on your feet.

If you have the opportunity to move to where work is more available, this would be a good time to do this.

No upgrades or mods to a wrecked truck is going to improve your life at this point.

Cut your loses now, rebuild your position in life and when you are ahead again, find a reputable insurance agent that sit down in person with and go over everything and get it in writing before paying anything.

 

It's a cold cruel world and you'll freeze if you're weak.

 

You need to find a free social services counseling center and get professional help. Your paranoia and depression are difficult things to work through, and a truck web forum isn't the place to get the help.

Part of the reason you are tired of talking is because you are not listening or understanding. Doesn't matter if you like certain things, what matters is if it's truth. And you are having truth spoken to you from several sources, you're just choosing to not accept it.

Best wishes for resolving the truck issue, but even more for getting your life back on track.

 

True, but why not break the stigma?

Not talking about the insurance situation (insurance is a business) but generally speaking we should get out of this mentality.

Change how we are towards one another.

Just saying; everyone's got their own battles and none of us would even know about it

 

Considering (if I read your intro post correctly) that you picked up this truck with a salvage title 10 years ago, I'd say you definitely got your money's worth out of the truck. I don't know if 10 years ago you were disabled, and in a similar financial situation, but if you were, it doesn't seem that a salvage title vehicle would have been the best long-term transportation investment. But all that aside, insurance is not always a given on a salvage titled vehicle, so $6k seems more than fair.

 

In the past I have shown comparative vehicles sold for more AND successfully had them come back with a higher pay out. For anything custom I asked to have it brought back as I had stock components and I swapped them out before they picked up the vehicle. One netted me 30% more payout as they compared my vehicle to a base model when I had a limited model that was not even listed in what they can look up. Any maintenance items that were replace due to needing new ones won't help, wheels generally do not. they may end up giving you another $25 for the intake but for insurance purposes OEM parts are king.

Wit the payout hey should have given you how they determined that with other vehicles of similar being sold in the area. That will give you a rough idea of the "value". If what they offered is below you have something to barter with. Mileage, model 2wd vs 4x4 etc all will have major factors in payout.

edit: I did not notice the salvage but being salvage the value generally is cut in half. My brother assesses vehicle for auction on trade ins and other things and anything with repair, frame, paint etc the value is cut in half when it goes to Auction. If the expectation is $15k then its worth at most $7,500 unless I read that wrong.

Anything over 50% of fair market value (likely lower than what its assumed to be worth) they will total it. My last car overall did not look that bad but ended up getting totalled.

 

Ain’t that the truth

 

Take the minivan to Walmart

 

TW has a little bit of everything

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/personal-emotional-support.88/