Tow Truck Uh Oh

T

t4rain

New member
My heater control valve failed on Saturday so i had a ton of coolant spraying on the engine. Parked it, ubered home, and researched the issue that day then decided I wouldn't be that guy asking for a tow on easter sunday so I waited until this morning... just before dropping it off at my complex, the tow truck driver clipped my a pillar while it was loaded up so now I'll need a new door and hopefully insurance won't total a $4k estimate for an 02 2wd 4runner with 267k miles?

fortunately, I have a first gen tundra as a backup so I'll just have to pay a bit more at the pump with the V8 until my precious is back in action. And the tow truck driver and company have been super honest and easy to deal with thus far.

Yeesh, what a day
 

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dang dude I would be livid!!

good thing you're keeping your cool... depending on what insurance says, if they do total it out, take the money and the salvage title and start to source a passenger door and windshield



.
 
Whatever you do, don't let the tow truck company get away with sloppy handling like that. They need to pay whatever it takes to get you back to where you were before your truck was put in their incompetent hands. Totally unacceptable!
 
Your windshield frame might be bent. This is more involved than a door swap. Hopefully a new windshield goes in easily. It's more than likely totaled. I'm sure they are being nice but tow companies mess up cars all the time. I'm sure they are way more careful when they are towing some douchey new Land Rover. Definitely do not take the first offer as nice as they are.
 
Wow, that's really sloppy. Tow company or insurance has to pay for ALL of that. Don't let them sell you short on some lame adjusted Kelly Blue Book value as those are always wrong.
 
$4k estimate? That's totalled.

But also fixable... Now you get to drive it until the wheels fall off! Make sure you are compensated fairly for the damage (lose of clean title on the vehicle).

-Charlie
 
That's awful. I don't trust any kind of tow truck as it is, and this just makes me dislike them more.

I'm sure they'll lowball you and try to just get it over with as soon as possible. Fight it! get that poor thing fixed.
 
gamefreakgc said:
Wow, that's really sloppy. Tow company or insurance has to pay for ALL of that. Don't let them sell you short on some lame adjusted Kelly Blue Book value as those are always wrong.
Click to expand...

It is pretty hard to argue against book value. That's why a lot of people with older cars have a stated value policy. However, given that he will be fighting their insurance policy, they will definitely go by book value vs replacement value. In the end, he might have to get his insurance involved, but even then, unless he has a stated value policy, it will be an uphill battle. I have a stated value policy on my 95 Bronco. I asked Geico, if it gets totaled, what are you paying me. They said $4k or something along those lines. I went with Hagerty for a stated value of $25k. In the end, it was cheaper than Geico.
 
Yeeesh, i was hoping there wouldn't be such a strong consensus on the totaling front? I've armed myself with 22 3rd gen comps within 6 hours from me on fb marketplace and craigslist to counter the lowball offer with. I also have a lead on a silver door/glass/interior panel for $100 that is about an hour away from me so maybe I'll head out that way sooner rather than later?
 
JBR14 said:
It is pretty hard to argue against book value. That's why a lot of people with older cars have a stated value policy. However, given that he will be fighting their insurance policy, they will definitely go by book value vs replacement value. In the end, he might have to get his insurance involved, but even then, unless he has a stated value policy, it will be an uphill battle. I have a stated value policy on my 95 Bronco. I asked Geico, if it gets totaled, what are you paying me. They said $4k or something along those lines. I went with Hagerty for a stated value of $25k. In the end, it was cheaper than Geico.
Click to expand...

Hmm what would be the process for beginning that conversation? I also have Geico and I know I'm underinsured because of all the stuff I've done. I also know that 'racing modifications' are frowned upon in the insurance industry.
 
When I insured my Bronco, I found out Geico did not offer stated value insurance. At least in Texas. I am not sure if it is across the board or not. Given that your car is over 25 yrs old, you could qualify for classic car insurance. But, there are some mileage limits, where it is kept overnight, etc. My Bronco qualifies because I have a few other cars, and it is an extra car. I may put 1500 miles a year on it. It was my "daily driver" during the height of the pandemic, which meant I did not go to the office. I got my 4Runner to daily and park the Bronco. Kids and wife all drive nice new shiny cars, meanwhile my 2 cars are 19 and 29 years old. I have a 67 F100, but I dont count that because it is a million pieces.
 
Hate to say it, but it is totaled my friend. At least 3500-4k for a shop to fix that, commercially.

Fight, and fight hard. Get a 3rd party involved if necessary. Rule of thumb: Don't ever let someone who owes you money determine how much money they owe you.

For those referring to stated value plans, I would avoid that. What is more beneficial (and simultenaously more expensive..) is an AGREED upon value plan.

A prerequisite to the agreed value plan is an appraisal of your truck, by an expert appraiser. These appraisers take everything into consideration-- age, condition, modifications, mileage, comparable examples, etc.

My 2000 with 245k (at the time) appraised at $15,300, and if I totaled it today, I'd get that. Reciepts, reciepts, reciepts. Keep them all- for every mod. It helped the appraisal along on mine.

Best of luck OP! Truck is extremely fixable regardless of what kind of Title it ends up with.
 
Lawyer up my friend. Do NOT let your insurance handle this. They will total your truck, lowball you on the value. I can put you in touch with a guy out of Washington that handles these types of losses. He has been able to get as much as 25k for a clean Supercharged 3rd gen. Chances are he can help you.
 
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