Insurance Wants to Total My 4Runner

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drewj

New member
Got into a bit of an accident on Sunday driving home from VA to NJ. Of course, the accident was about a half mile from home and some guy ran a stop sign and hit my rear left quarter panel. No body damage to speak of - I honestly don't even know where the impact was. I think he hit my rear tire (was a big gash in the sidewall) and running board more than anything else.

I'm frankly shocked they totaled it out. They want to give me like $9500 - but this is a one owner pristine 2005 SR5 V8 that I bought new from the dealer. It has 122k miles on it, too.

I think I'm going to ask them what the damage is (does it need a whole new axle or what?) and see what they'll give me for repairs if I keep the car. I had planned on keeping this car for the rest of my life (I'm 53) and don't think the monetary value is worth what the truck means to me. Plus, I have $4k in wheels, suspension and tires that are maybe 2 years old.

Say hi to my buddy who is looking out from the backseat...

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You can't buy it back from the insurance company, fix what's messed up, and put a rebuilt title on it? Not sure what NJ laws are, but in my state, you can do that.
 
From the picture, it looks like it was a pretty square hit on the rear wheel. It is possible that force transferred into the frame and bent it.

If you could see their report and/or take it to a frame shop it might be enlightening.
 
gookies said:
You can't buy it back from the insurance company, fix what's messed up, and put a rebuilt title on it? Not sure what NJ laws are, but in my state, you can do that.
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I'm going to talk to the shop today and find all that out. If the frame isn't bent, and it just needs (at most) a new axle, I'm 100% going to do whatever it takes to try and keep it.
 
You do have some damage there. I see some scrapes on the bumper, the rear tire has pushed backwards, not sure if it's a bent axle, bent control arms ot control arm mount. Still not enough to total it.

You have options. You can question everything!!!! Ask how they came to the conclusion to total it. What damage was found, did they use used parts or new just to total it. Check values yourself. My 4runner got totalled back in December and I got alot for it. Prices are still up so you can benefit from it. You CAN buy it back from the insurance if they total it and it will be a clean title of you hold it and there are no liens. Try to use NADA as they are the resource most ins companies use. If you did any recent repairs find the receipts as you might be able to get that back, if you have sales tax in your state you are entitled to get that back. Also have them tell you what the difference was between the repair amount, salvage value and payout. Usually if the full extent of the damage is unknown they will do a "constructive " total. Salvage values are high right now so most insurance companies total everything thats questionable because they get alot of their money back.
 
If it were mine I would fix it without a doubt but I can cut metal and reweld where needed myself.

At most I could see some axle link frame mounts being bent the panhard bar going across the frame taking most of the damage it's more than likely bent and possible it's mounts are mangled or ripped off.

Axle housing and axle shaft could be bent but I would guess the links would have given enough first to prevent those from being damaged.

Might be able to find a used complete axle assembly in a junkyard or on facebook marketplace for dirt cheap if your axle-side mounts are mangled.
 
Insurance owes you at least what it would cost to replace the vehicle at 2022 prices.

Make sure they are pricing you at a V8 and not a V6. Get examples of similar models in similar condition in your area, may need to expand some since it is a V8... Some are priced in their $20ks and make it known,

Argue like you mean it... :boxing:
 
fight for higher, market-adjusted value, take the check, buy back and repair.

That's what I would do and end up pocketing quite a pretty penny since Id be doing most of the work myself.
 
drewj said:
Got into a bit of an accident on Sunday driving home from VA to NJ. Of course, the accident was about a half mile from home and some guy ran a stop sign and hit my rear left quarter panel. No body damage to speak of - I honestly don't even know where the impact was. I think he hit my rear tire (was a big gash in the sidewall) and running board more than anything else.

I'm frankly shocked they totaled it out. They want to give me like $9500 - but this is a one owner pristine 2005 SR5 V8 that I bought new from the dealer. It has 122k miles on it, too.

I think I'm going to ask them what the damage is (does it need a whole new axle or what?) and see what they'll give me for repairs if I keep the car. I had planned on keeping this car for the rest of my life (I'm 53) and don't think the monetary value is worth what the truck means to me. Plus, I have $4k in wheels, suspension and tires that are maybe 2 years old.

Say hi to my buddy who is looking out from the backseat...

Mu52G3P.png
Click to expand...

I guess I got lucky when my bi poplar manic mom jacked my truck and drove it through a few fences and a mile of woods somehow the quote was around 8-9 grand just under the totalled threshold. I pocketed over six grand fixing it myself. Is this a dealership quote?? Try to get a quote under the totalled threshold and scam those c0cksucking insurance theives the way they've been doing us all. I don't see a totalled vehicle unless the frame for twisted or something major.. good luck my friend ✌️
 
That is very unfortunate. Looks like a sweet ride, but look under the truck and maybe post some pics. Insurance is insurance, they don't care. What does the rear of that 4Runner look like underneath? Where are the frame rails and do they line up? Rear crossmembers, are they distorted. Hidden damage is a big deal.
 
Hate to sound like devil's advocate, but I don't get why people get so upset because their wrecked vehicle is deemed a total loss by the insurance company. In general, that ultimate decision is based on repair costs vs actual cash value, or if there's a safety risk in repairing. Industry standard is around 70-75%. Usually once a car is deemed a total loss, your insurance company (or the company that is paying towards your damages) is obligated to send you a copy of the damage estimate. Nowadays, a vehicle valuation is frequently accompanied by comparable vehicles from the get go. However, you can certainly negotiate under the premise that you cannot replace your vehicle with one "of like kind" for the money they are offering you. When I was rear ended by a distracted driver last year while driving my 2016 Passat, my car was totaled.
Since the at-fault driver had insufficient coverage, I had to file a claim under my own policy and yet I still had to negotiate a value. No shocker there because I have GEICO. After showing me comparable vehicles they used in a retail setting, I explained my Passat was purchased from a VW dealer and was a CPO car with new tires, a 100k mile warranty and in above average condition. I was able to get another $1000 just for that rebuttal. With your rig, my guess is there is significant damage that we cannot see in this photo that includes the drive-train, suspension and maybe frame damage. You can ask to "buy it back" where you'll still get some money but it wont be the 9500 or whatnot. It will be salvage value which is the approximate insurance auction value plus your truck back, but the title will be branded, not that it would matter if you never plan to sell it. Good luck with the situation.
 
Wonder if Insurance companies are going to be quick to total cars to get "gas guzzlers" off the road quicker in the future.

If you don't file a claim they can't total it. You'd have to do repairs yourself or work it out with the other guy.
 
ChrisMo757 said:
Hate to sound like devil's advocate, but I don't get why people get so upset because their wrecked vehicle is deemed a total loss by the insurance company.
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People do not want the damage that occurred, to require the high amount of repair necessary, to get her back in acceptable shape...

Kinda like desiring less damage for a quick fix, over a totaled vehicle.

+ factor in all the lost sweat equity, per se'.

besides clean low mileage V8s are getting scarce..

ymmv
 
Just a FWIW on the way these things work sometimes. We were more than surprised in 2006 when insurance totaled my wife's '94 Accord after a tree limb fell on the roof. There was a small dent in the roof and I think the back glass was cracked. To us it looked pretty minor but they said the roof damage compromised the rollover protection and there was no way to fix it.
 
Update on the situation. I ended up keeping the truck and having my local mechanic do the work. I'm getting it all fixed and putting $2500 in my pocket on top of everything. It just needed a new rear axle and control arms. I should have it back by tomorrow, if all goes well.

I argued about the valuation but ultimately gave in and just took their settlement, because I was going to get my truck back, which is all I wanted in the first place. There will be an accident on the title, but I will have pics and invoices, so since it's still a one-owner truck, I don't think it will affect value much. NJ doesn't require a salvage title if you do the work and it's over 8 years old, I believe, so I should retain a clean title.
 
Glad to hear a good outcome!

My 4Runner had a previous *minor* accident on its record. Nothing enough to change its title status. But with one owner, a massive list of prior maintenance done, and a super clean 15 year old runner I decided to just ignore it and take a chance. I don’t ever plan on selling so I didn’t think it would matter if there was an accident on the Carfax.
 
drewj said:
Update on the situation. I ended up keeping the truck and having my local mechanic do the work. I'm getting it all fixed and putting $2500 in my pocket on top of everything. It just needed a new rear axle and control arms. I should have it back by tomorrow, if all goes well.

I argued about the valuation but ultimately gave in and just took their settlement, because I was going to get my truck back, which is all I wanted in the first place. There will be an accident on the title, but I will have pics and invoices, so since it's still a one-owner truck, I don't think it will affect value much. NJ doesn't require a salvage title if you do the work and it's over 8 years old, I believe, so I should retain a clean title.
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Don't worry about the value, it wonn't make a difference to an educated buyer. Keep records of repair. These hold their value. I actually get a letter from Toyota every year offering blue book value for mine even after more than one accident.. you made the right move ✌️
 
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