I think my Taco has been totalled. How much should I expect from insurance and what should I get now

A large branch fell on my truck today while I was driving. Luckily I am ok, but the truck is not. I had it towed to a shop and they told me insurance would likely total it. Its a 97 3.4l 4x4 manual xtra cab dlx. Any guesses about what I might get for it? Insurance is comprehensive through Progressive.

I loved that truck and I am pretty sad it's most likely gone. I'd love another just like it, but they are so expensive now and in demand. It'll be my only vehicle and work truck as well (forestry and wildlife surveys). I need 4wd, not a ton of power but nothing super wimpy like the 22re or v6 3.0, and preferably manual. Which truck, after the first gen taco, is the most reliable and best value used? I also do as much of the repairs as I can so something simple to work on is definitely a plus.

 

You're lucky. I know a guy who was killed by a falling branch while he was driving to work one morning. As for your truck I suspect they will give you less than what you need to replace it but then again, you're lucky so you may get more.

 

In my experience insurance companies can be quite generous if you're not at fault. My son bought a 2009 Honda Fit for $2500. He drove it for 3 years commuting to work and put almost 100,000 miles on it. He was stopped at a traffic light when a distracted driver rear ended him and totaled it. He got a check for $5000 + they paid him $500 for the set of tires he had recently put on it.

I'd look at 2007-2015 2nd gen trucks with the 4.0. Forget the manual transmission. The 05 and 06's had minor issues corrected by 2007. You're more likely to find a lower mile truck 2010-2015 but they cost more too. I wouldn't be afraid of those with 200,000 miles on them

 

Buy it back, put windshield in it, fix wipers and drive it.

 

I agree. If the photo shows the extent of the damage, replace the windshield and buy a large ball-peen hammer and go to work on the fender and hood.

 

Good luck with Progressive.

 

Insurance will probably give you the amount for the value of the truck, if it is determined totalled. They're going to look at the estimate for the repair and see what is the most cost effective route.

 

That looks very fixable. Windshield, hood, and a fender. As long as your fender aprons aren't super damaged I think you can fix it easily.

 

I see this is an older post. I’ll add this anyway in case it helps someone else.

I just spoke with my insurance agent. I’m in ma, up for renewal & whilst it was already up there, I hit the 1,000 mark. 1,080!

So I was saying how the crazy thing is if I got nailed, I’d only get 6,000 (not quite sure on that), yet if I did a private sale, I might get (& I just threw this out there) 10,000 - 12,000. She said if you can prove that similar vehicles sell for that, then that’s what they have to pay. She kept saying “dealer” & “on a lot”. I reiterated “private sale”. She said yes. So if a similar one was posted, say, on here & sold or was posted on some other online site, that’s what they’d have to pay.

 

A- pilar looks damaged on the drivers side. If so the structural integrity of the cab has possibly been compromised.
An Insurance company will not want the liability.