Someone hit my brand new truck

Hello. I have 1200 miles on my brand new tacoma and it got backed into the other day. They were at fault so geico will pay for expenses. Geico is being cheap and is saying it will only pay for a "repair" of my bed panel and will not replace it. Does anyone have any experience with getting an insurance company to replace rather than repair a bed panel? Also how "good" can they fix a crushed up bed? Can you tell where it was hit before? Will it look brand new?

Thanks

 

Unfortunately that looks "repairable" rather than replaceable. I can understand Geico.

 

They only have to repair it. Read your contract.

 

Lucky as hell they didn't take off! I wouldn't worry about the repair ahead of time but I also wouldn't accept anything but perfection when they finished. I'd go over that panel for an hour before signing anything. If I found a wrinkle THEN I would argue for a full replacement. Good luck either way!

 

You can try to keep arguing with them, you have nothing to lose but I agree with the other guys and say it looks repairable.

 

This is my nightmare

 

I work for an insurance company and that's repairable. There's no gray area, they'll repair it if it's repairable or replace it if it's replaceable. Geico will also run a search for aftermarket or used parts if they're going to replace something so I'd let them do their thing.

 

Can always choose to upgrade to a h/c rear bumper...

 

They only have to pay what it would cost to fix it, not sure why you would expect them to replace a whole new bedside panel which would cost way more...sucks but accidents happen and its just a truck, months from now you won't remember or notice.

 

Take the money and get Pelfrey's rear bumper.

 

+1 dont hold back the urge... ever...

 

That whole side panel is replaced as an entire skin along with the little bumper pieces. The bed itself is composite, and probably suffered no damage.
At least it didn't go flying like the famous jailbird escapee's!
Sorry it happened before you got to enjoy it a bit more.

 

Be sure and hit them up for finished value. Maybe you can take that and add it to the cost of the repair and get it replaced if that's what you wanna do.

 

Dimished value can only be paid after the repairs have been made. Him fronting that amount and hoping he gets that amount back isn't worth it. The truck at the end of the day it's been in an accident regardless of if they repair or replace the panel.

 

If your dealership has a body shop, use them. I had similar happen to another car, insurance wanted to cheap out, but the body shop uses oem parts, and adjusts prices to work with stingy insurance companies. If fixable, it will be salvaged, if not, replaced.

 

This depends on the dealership. Some dealerships have great body shops, but definitely not all.

 

Good to know. I've never had to use it before. Personally I know a good PDR guy that I'd use, then cut and polish the spot. I hate aftermarket paint that bad. Then get another bumper corner and have it painted if you can't get them pre painted from yota. At least he wouldn't have to have fresh paint cut in.

 

High clearance rear bumper and pull that one small dent higher up along the tail light.

 

that crease around the tail light is going to be hard to fix

 

It's definitely repairable and not bad at all. take it to a good body shop and they'll make it look like nothing ever happened.