Totaled

My son got his 2000 Nissan Frontier rear-ended today by some numbnuts who wasn't paying attention. Folded the rear bumper underneath the bed, scraped the lower quarter panels and some minimal tailgate damage (still works). Knocked his truck into an SUV so the front sustained a broken plastic grill, dented bumper, pushed-in radiator, displaced headlights and side markers, and a slightly dented hood. No fluids spilled, still driveable (after relocating the license plate to the rear window). Nobody hurt.

Police report found the last car at fault.

Here's what I think's going to happen. Taking it in for inspection by the authorized body shop tomorrow for an estimate and then I think the insurance company is going to total it because it's probably worth less than $3K market value and I'm guessing there's $4+K worth of body work to be done. However, this truck is in great mechanical shape and has only 85K miles on it. Well taken care of by my son's grandfather before he received it.

So, if I want to keep this truck and make it driveable, what are my options? I really can't afford to buy another car for him right now (we just bought my daughter a used car in October after someone totaled the car she was driving. Similar situation $3300 settlement and had to spend another $6K to get her something comparable.)

Any experiences out there like this, and what did you do?

TIA.

 

Unless you know someone who does body work on the side.

If you are not at fault, they should pay replacement value. Not just money, make them find you one for the price they offer. Chances are it will bump up price.