[Anonymous4Runner]

protect your 4R or you're out of commission for 3 weeks minimum!

I was just contacted by insurance today declaring the vehicle to be a total loss which is extremely weird considering the fact I got a phone call from the shop saying repairs would be delayed and wont be completed until mid-August rather than August 1st. Basically I am being lowballed for approx. 3K less than the total price I paid for my vehicle.

For those who dealt with their own insurance companies regarding settlements, how did you find comparable vehicles? It appears they used comparable vehicles that included 2WD and v6 engines to justify their pricing. I also noticed the comparable vehicles were within 50miles of me...this is ABSURD considering the fact how rare the Sport Edition is when there's low mileage attached to it. - I am not sure what to do here because if it was not so rare, it would be easier to find comparable vehicles but the fact I got a Sport is heart-wrenching

I have a 2007 White Sport Edition 4Runner W/ V8 and I am at loss for words right now. There is no way I am going to accept the settlement at the price I was originally offered at.

Are you allowed to search nationwide for comparable vehicles that ALSO matches similar specs to my 4Runner?

Is it normal for insurance to try use cheaper models to lowball you when trying to determine a settlement check?


If anyone is bored today and wants to help me out locating comparable vehicles, that would be awesome! Around 19-20k with approx. ~68k miles will do. I am currently out of town on vacation with my GF here in Savannah so I'm going to get on this sometime tonight when we get back to the hotel. I'm really frustrated right now to say the least.

[AdmiralAugbar]

Silver Sport with 43k, V6 though

2007 Toyota 4Runner Sport Edition 43K

[blackoutt]

Just keep saying no to their offer, even though they say it's calculated off some formula of comparables. Then argue that the comps are not comparable at all and supply better examples.

[CXS]

^ this!

[Bob22222]

Tell them to find you a vehicle if they think one can be found at that price. Do it in writing. Your only real remedy is to sue them. What are the small claims court limits in your state?

[Anonymous4Runner]

Thanks boys...I just got back to the hotel room so I'm going to get started on searching for comparable vehicles. I am also going to add all three vins from comparable vehicles they listed as part of the report onto toyota site so I can verify their specs - seems like they're focused on showing 2WD W/ v6 models when I have a freaking Sport Edition that also includes a V8... what a joke!

So insurance wise, I can look into other vehicles outside of Virginia after all?

@Bob - unfortunately it appears it is only up to $5,000 in state of Virginia

[Anonymous4Runner]

Welp so far I'm having zero luck locating a Sport Edition as expected, lol

[benblack]

Keep saying no until they get you an acceptable replacement. They will have to change at some point to close the file.
You will probably need to find at least 3 that are actually comparable (nationwide) to show them. And will need to talk to the manager of whomever you have been talking to, and explain to them the differences between what they are showing you and what you actually have.

Good luck and be prepared to wait and hardball them for at at least a month.
Copy and paste the links below for some comparables in my area.

http://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/5684887678.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/5681943397.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/5675582850.html

[Anonymous4Runner]

Originally Posted by benblack

Keep saying no until they get you an acceptable replacement. They will have to change at some point to close the file.
You will probably need to find at least 3 that are actually comparable (nationwide) to show them. And will need to talk to the manager of whomever you have been talking to, and explain to them the differences between what they are showing you and what you actually have.

Good luck and be prepared to wait and hardball them for at at least a month.
Copy and paste the links below for some comparables in my area.

2005 4Runner Sport

2006 Toyota 4Runner 4.7L V8 Sport Edition 4WD

2005 V8 4Runner Black

Thanks for your response, sir! I already got ahold of the agent's supervisor so I'll be communicating with her instead. I actually just finished typing an essay (literally) explaining why I'm declining their offer but I have not sent it to them yet. They mentioned if I were to dispute the price, I would need to link them to "comparable vehicles with proper documentation" so it is almost as if they knew I would be declining the initial offer at the time of writing said email. I guess it is the nature of how things get done in insurance sector...lowball the hell out of 'em the first time and try keep it low it seems like.

That being said, do you recommend I should include my buyout offer as part of my response without including comparable vehicles since I cannot find anything at the moment? I have already went into details about the Sport 4Runner and warned the search for comparable vehicles may take some time. I just think it is important to respond back as soon as possible but I have no comparable vehicles to back up my counter offer so...

I also took a quick peek at the vehicles you've listed - I appreciate the effort assisting with this situation and will bookmark them just in case! I could use all the help at this point to say the least - I will need to spend more time checking Craigslist in major cities rather than depending on Google's search engine and would probably have better luck that way. Cars.com isn't giving me much luck

[jfry008]

Originally Posted by Anonymous4Runner

Welp so far I'm having zero luck locating a Sport Edition as expected, lol

What's their offer? If you don't mind saying

[Anonymous4Runner]

Originally Posted by jfry008

What's their offer? If you don't mind saying

I think I actually have seen your 4Runner around VB in the past, haha. I purchased the 4Runner for approx. 19.8k with 62k miles on it in D.C area. Their offer is approx. 16.5k after the insurance deductible of 1K that came out of my pockets because I needed to get the repair process started sooner than later. There was a delay because of multiple drivers involved in the accident so the other drivers actually have the same insurance company but for some odd reason they cannot seem to resolve the issue of determining who was at fault even though the third driver was cited!

[jfry008]

Originally Posted by Anonymous4Runner

I think I actually have seen your 4Runner around VB in the past, haha. I purchased the 4Runner for approx. 19.8k with 62k miles on it in D.C area. Their offer is approx. 16.5k after the insurance deductible of 1K that came out of my pockets because I needed to get the repair process started sooner than later. There was a delay because of multiple drivers involved in the accident so the other drivers actually have the same insurance company but for some odd reason they cannot seem to resolve the issue of determining who was at fault even though the third driver was cited!

So before they take out the deductible the offer is 17.5k...then after they take out the 1k deductible you get 16.5k? Sorry I'm slow lol

Edit..sorry for your loss..kbb should be adjusted because no one sells the 4R for kbb prices

[CXS]

Make sure your comps are in your area. All values are location dependent. i.e., the value in Virginia is not the same as in Colorado.

Keep in mind they're doing their job which is to get out by spending as little as possible. You have to badger them, make a nuisance of yourself until they give you what's fair.

[Anonymous4Runner]

Originally Posted by jfry008

So before they take out the deductible the offer is 17.5k...then after they take out the 1k deductible you get 16.5k? Sorry I'm slow lol

Edit..sorry for your loss..kbb should be adjusted because no one sells the 4R for kbb prices

Agreed. To answer your question, you are correct

@CXS - That's what I was thinking but figured I would still expand the search nationwide because it appears prices in VA sucks and appears to be low for mileage posted under each listing. Plus there are literally nothing within VA that matches my 4Runner specs. I wonder what would happen if I just decline the offer informing them I'd wait until I located any new vehicles that could be considered comparable to the 4R.

I'm so bummed right now though I've only had it for a little over a month and it gets totaled...it was the ultimate beast in my eyes

[MidwestT4R]

Just a few thoughts.

When I totaled my Toyota Avalon (the car prior to my 4runner) I got lowballed too. However, I found out that there are consultants out there who specialize in arguing with Insurance companies. They will go out and find the comparables and argue on your behalf. Mine met the insurance adjuster at the boneyard where they send my car and proceeded to argue with the guy showing him all the money I put into maintaining the car as well as the comparables that he found. It took one week and the insurance company caved. I recall mine cost 300 bucks but they added quite a bit back on the payout. Mind you, the Avalon was old and had a lot of miles so it's not like he doubled the value. However, on a 15-20K payout it would certainly be worth using an expert. You might be able to skip the month long negotiation on your own.

Afterwards he told me how the insurance companies arrive at these low numbers. It has to do with the types of car dealers in the marketplace. At the top end you have the Toyota dealers who typically try to get better used cars, clean them up, and then sell them for a premium. At the other end you have the shady looking car dealers that look like a vacant lot with 40 cars on it.

He told me that these low ball offers are usually arrived at by looking for comparables sold at the low end dealers who typically have cars that are in worse shape or have been in accidents. Hence the lower value. The miles might be similar but these are not cars that are the best choices.

The problem is that the cars we all want (well maintained, good body, maybe even gone over mechanically by a dealer) are the premium priced cars.

If you don't want to hire anyone and want to do this on your own I would start by asking to see the comparables they used so you can see whether they went to the shady dealers on vacant lots and actually looked for the right model/features. Then on your end just look for comparable trucks sold ONLY at Toyota Dealers. Throw in some certified ones if you can find them. Forget craigslist. Only Toyota Dealers. After all, why should you be forced to shop at bottom feeder dealers? Also document all the improvements on your truck that make it superior to other trucks with the same mileage (new tires, shocks, expensive maintenance, etc...) In my case I put a set of expensive tires on the car literally one month before the wreck. You are trying, if you can, to show that your truck is even superior to the dealer stock.

I guess my point here is that they are trying to low ball to negotiate upwards and you want to start high and go down. But the reality here is that most of us on this forum are not looking to buy a 4runner that has been abused, wrecked and repaired, and full of dings and other cosmetic issues. That's why you need to use the pricing from the Toyota dealers. And if you have to go further away (even dealers out of state) to find the exact truck you have then so be it. Good luck