Bumper / Bed Damage - Not Sure What to Do

So I had someone hit me in the parking garage where I work a couple days ago. Insurance finally looked at it and quoted me at $1,091 for the whole thing, after the $1,000 deductible that leaves me with a whole $91 check to take to a shop to fix it.

I want some opinions from you all on the course of actions that I have.

1. Drop the claim - $91 will quickly be made up for with my insurance company charging me through an increased premium... This of course leaves me with a 2013 truck that's already scarred, so I'm not really liking this option.

2. Take the $91 and get a painted to match Spruce Mica bumper. Buff the paint, call it good. This one would cost me about $300 probably in the end out of pocket, certainly not something I wanted to do, but I've wanted a painted to match bumper anyway for a while now.

3. Fix the whole thing. Just bite the bullet and let them repair / repaint the bed-side, which they claimed would mean pulling the flares, bed-rail, decal and rock protector strips, repainting the whole thing and reapplying them all. Brand new bumper too... This of course would run me $1,000 out of pocket as quoted (my whole deductible).

Some pics of the damage (it's not nearly as badly scratched once I washed it, the fresh scratches looked way worse than it really was)

 

Sorry to hear about your truck.

For ME, I'd as much as it would bother the chit out of me for some time to come, I'd leave it be vs. having a paint and blend that may not get the results you may like. Being you're out of pocket for repairs basically, perhaps a body shop or person with a good rep can clean the paint up some. Then get another bumper? Dunno. YOU have to make that decision.

 

The paint damage looks like something I would go at with a compound/polish/glaze/sealant/wax combo. It might look acceptable after using some Meguiars ultimate polish and wax. Hard to tell from the pictures but if you already have a damage estimate then there's no reason not to give it a go and see what it looks like.

Metallic paints are hard to perfectly match. I would avoid a respray if possible. A Tacoma with a few scuffs and dings should be seen as "well loved"

That being said, if this was a hit and run State Farm covers it with no deductible and at no fault to you. Might be time to switch insurance companies.

I'm very sorry this happened to you. Good luck and all the best!

 

I gave it some more thought and if I was in this situation I would spend my $1,000 on one of these.

 

I'd buff it out and leave it. That's nothing.

 

Hit it with some wax and buffing, then let it be. Dents and dings are battlescars for trucks.

They're like pirates. Would you be intimidated by or respect a pirate without any scars? Didn't think so.

 

Get a rear high-clearance bumper. The scratched area is cut away... like cancer.

 

Agreed with above...or see if any of the longtravel guys who put fiberglass bedsides on their trucks have their stock bedsides laying around

 

I bet those scratches would look significantly better if you hit it with some rubbing compound. It would at the very least get rid of the white.

 

High clearance bumper would fix both of your problems!

If your in an area with a lot of Tacoma owners most likely someone has a stock rear bumper they'd let go cheap or FREE. Then just buff the scratched area and use some touch up paint. Some shops are pretty good with touch up and wet sanding.

 

High clearance or buff. That looks like a scuff not a scratch

 

There is a lot of truth to this. I've tried to avoid going too crazy with a truck that's only a year old and have told myself it wouldn't be an offroad machine (yet)... I have a cherokee based, tube-body buggy for that. But the high clearance rear bumper is certainly an idea I've been kicking around but didn't list mainly just because I really want to avoid cutting into the body in an area prone to very salty winters (Michigan)

 

Unable to find the person who hit you? CCTV access from the landlord or something. Next day see if anyone else's cars are dinged up in the same manner?

 

Did the person who but your truck come forward or was it a hit and run? If it's their fault they should pay your deductible. If it was a hit and run I would def not spend 1k to fix that.

 

I'm in the camp that that will buff out, or look 80-90% better if you took a wheel and some compound to it. As far as the bumper, perfect excuse to get a color match. Which you were near me, I want to sell my 2014, chrome bumper for a Sky Silver Metallic color matched one.