Got an estimate of 11,000$ to fix it after getting hit.

Heavy damage to right side, running boards pushed way in and tore the rocker off the car. Passenger and rear doors need replacement, fender, quarter panel, etc.

2010 SR5, just under 70K miles, dealership repair shop is valuing it at 23K$, which I thin k is high even though I've taken good care of it.

Need 75% of that to total it.

Just serviced.

Mostly what I'm worried about is frame damage; even if they do fix it, will Toyota dealership collision department assure it's straight?

Any advice on how to know and what to ask?

Research the Diminished Value car insurance claim. Might need to hire an expert, or might find that someone at the body shop has extensive experience with this topic.

Even if the shop fixes the truck to look like it did, the simple fact that it was in a significant collision will diminish it's value. The partial repaint (even a full repaint) will tell future buyers that there is/was something wrong with the vehicle.


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Always a crappy situation, but it sounds like you (or whoever was driving) escaped unscathed. I'd be curious to learn any more details of the accident if you don't mind elaborating.

Years ago I drove a dodge durango that I rolled off the side of a road trying to avoid a deer. The body shop did a great job but things were never quite the same, had repeated issues with drive side cv shafts breaking and wheel studs snapping. I sold it full disclosure to a private party for a reasonable price, not top dollar but by no means substantially under market value. With the 4Runner's aftermarket value you should be able to net a decent return if you do go down that path. I wish the best for you and again, hopefully everyone walked away unharmed.

Check out my thread on deer avoidance and its after effects....

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?t=233405

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Estimate meaning top / visible damage only? I am sure once they start removing things and seeing the whole canvas that number will surely shoot upwards. Considering there could be frame damage you could get lucky. Not sure how the insurance stuff works out there but where I am from, once your frame is touched, it is almost a guaranteed write off.

This is true... And even then if it doesn't quite reach the threshold for them to total it, this is where you'd bring up a Diminished Value claim. They can basically be forced to pay you for the difference between what you could sell it for unharmed and what it would sell for repaired. If they have to add $2k-$5k extra in that lost value, that can get you over the threshold to them calling it a total loss.

That said, you're likely to have to go out of pocket to get a newer version, or an exact match of what you have. Last August my wife's MINI Convertible was totaled. Seemed simple until there were no comparable cars of the same model year for sale in the US. I would still push for a replacement vehicle, but in our case, we had to buy something 3 model years newer and pony up for the ~$4k difference between what they'd give us.

Just be sure about what your end goal is before pushing too hard on any one direction.

Good luck!



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