Resurrecting a Total Loss (2005 Tacoma), Possible? Worth it? Experience Needed.

I can invoke an appraisal clause apparently (‘been googling), where I hire an appraiser, they hire one, then the two appraisers hire a 3rd party to help them decide on a final value. It can take months and there’s no guarantee I’ll get a better (or comparable) offer though. I also have to pay for half the appraisal cost, ie 1.5 appraisals. I’m losing faith in AAA. They’re supposed to be the best but I’m not seeing it. I honestly don’t know what to do.

 

Let's see if math helps.

1. Option 1, they give you $12.5k to start the journey again, and you spend another $10-15k to get back to where you were. You're out the $10-15k, but you'll likely buy a truck that just needs 'decorating' rather than the baking the whole cake. Non-branded title, solid truck, just like you had.

2. Option 2, you give up $8k to keep the mods you have, and I presume they give you the balance of $4500. If your mods are worth more than $8k to take off the truck and re-use on a new truck, or that you part out/sell, then this is the route. Fixing the truck after the discussions on here seems like a ton of work and also not likely to yield the end result you're after. You still have the balance of a truck purchase to come up with but might save on the mod end of the deal.

Both option 1 and 2 are shit sandwiches from an insurance standpoint, but it may help to clear away a little of the emotion and just run the numbers. You end up buying either another truck that is similar to what you had, or most of a truck to try to save yours. If you tell me the mods aren't all worn out, your winch is good, you can salvage the rear bumper, etc., then I'd say go option 2 and buy a used truck to put it all on. If the mods were really pretty hammered and you wouldn't sell or transfer them, then option 1 and start over.

 

I have been here with motorcycles i got ran over by a lady on my 07 R6 bike was a total loss due too a dent in the swing arm and cosmetics, i stale mated the insurance company for a month they slowly went higher and higher on the appraisal value it started at $4k with me giving them $2k too keep the bike and ended somewhere around $7600 with $2k to keep the bike even got them too buy me new gear helmet etc. Insurance company's want too move cases as fast as possible and if you refuse too take their comparable offers you might need too wait it out or contact a lawyer. I did do a lot of legwork finding comparable bikes and faxing them into their offices color, mileage. Saw the Video btw glade to hear you are healing.

 

After watching the recovery, you are one lucky guy. You could have ended upside down. Enough of the ‘could-haves’
I would part out what you can, take what is reasonable from insurance and put it towards your recovery. You will not be wrenching on anything anytime soon, and you will have bills to pay. There will be another Taco to buy when you are ready. Take this time to window-shop Tacoma’s that will work for you in the future.
I know it’s painful, but consider you first, not the truck.
Advice given with respect. Get well sir!!

 

Well said and absolutely agree. This could've been so much worse. Very glad it didn't.

 

From what I have read, bent toyota frames really aren't fixable, due to the high strength materials and thin gauges used. which is probably why they are deciding it is totaled.

As far as their low ball offer, just don't accept it. They want is closed and the longer you keep saying no, the more they will work with you typically. Send them local examples that are similar condition, year, mileage, then highlight what yours had that the example didn't and build a case for true replacement value. Or better yet ask them to show you some examples of "equivalent" trucks for sale for the money they are proposing...

worked for me with my 1st gen 6 years ago, original insurance offer was $7500 and I got them up to $11500 in the end