Tacoma Totaled by Insurance due to Hail Damage. What to do?

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Twogigems
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8:44a, 5/7/25
Because TexAgs knows.

My sons ('22) 2005 Tacoma 120K got banged up pretty good from hail a couple weeks ago.
It previously had some minor dings from previous owner not fixing hail damage.

Mechanically it is super solid.

Body shop ran the repair estimate up to ~$10k.
Allstate said that are going to total it.
Options are:
They keep and give him $12k
Keep it and they give him ~1/2 the value. He can pay to fix nothing or all of it. But then it is a salvage title and not insurable for full/comp coverage.

He doesn't care all that much about the aesthetics. Thinking if he keeps it, fix windshield and hood.

What would you guys suggest or offer any advice.

Another question is:
If someone else hits him will the other insurance not pay what the truck is worth?

Thanks and Gig Em
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AustinCountyAg
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8:49a, 5/7/25
being that he's a recent grad, and I am guessing not married, no kids, decent job I'd say now is the perfect time to buy something brand new that he really wants. Prices are only going up so might as well buy something he really likes and drive it until the wheels fall off before more grown up bills start happening.
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Flaith
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8:53a, 5/7/25
AG
Honestly, taking the $12k payout and starting fresh seems like a lot less headache than dealing with a body damaged, salvage title vehicle later when he's ready to sell it.
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Charismatic Megafauna
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9:09a, 5/7/25
AG
05 Tacoma with known history!? Keep the truck, carry liability/uninsured only and drive it into the ground. It's about 50/50 whether they will actually go to the trouble of salvage titling it, and if he gets rear ended the other insurance companies don't know it's history. I have a buddy who got full payout 3x from getting hit in his his beater commuter before it was finally used up
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Max Power
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In reply to Twogigems • 9:15a, 5/7/25
AG
Twogigems said:
Because TexAgs knows.

My sons ('22) 2005 Tacoma 120K got banged up pretty good from hail a couple weeks ago.
It previously had some minor dings from previous owner not fixing hail damage.

Mechanically it is super solid.

Body shop ran the repair estimate up to ~$10k.
Allstate said that are going to total it.
Options are:
They keep and give him $12k
Keep it and they give him ~1/2 the value. He can pay to fix nothing or all of it. But then it is a salvage title and not insurable for full/comp coverage.

He doesn't care all that much about the aesthetics. Thinking if he keeps it, fix windshield and hood.

What would you guys suggest or offer any advice.

Another question is:
If someone else hits him will the other insurance not pay what the truck is worth?

Thanks and Gig Em
FYI vehicles totaled for hail in TX do not get a salvage title. It'll have a prior total loss on it's vehicle history, but the title will remain clean. If he's in another state they could have different requirements, but a lot of states do not require salvage titles on vehicles totaled for hail.

Even though it's 20 years old 120k miles is no big deal for a Tacoma. I will say getting $12k on a 20 year old vehicle from the insurance company is not a bad return. If it was me I would give them the truck, take the $12k, and get a newer, but not brand new Tacoma. Tacomas are great trucks and that V6 platform is as reliable as someone can get, I don't know how good the newest generation is but they're not cheap.
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tripf98
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9:22a, 5/7/25
tough decision.....I don't think you can go wrong either way...

IF above poster is correct that hail will mean not becoming a salvage title that's a big win. HOpefully people who know more than I do can confirm the above.

I'd do some quick online searching and see what a used Taco with that good engine are going for. Maybe help him out with a few grand to get him into something similar if needed.

BUT I personally would lean towards keeping it. Try to negotiate more from them. But even if you get $6k. Pocket that. Deal with liability/uninsured only...if you have to. And do that for 2 years. Save money in the meantime and buy a new car 2 years down the road.

I would be surprised if you couldn't sell it on the street for a nice penny in 2 years as well. Especially if the title is still clean. But even if its a salvage title there will be plenty of folks who don't care about that. Heck, put an ad on it on a busy street and I'll be whomever pays you cash for it will be taking it south of the border.
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Twogigems
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9:25a, 5/7/25
Thanks for the thoughts.

We are in San Antonio. So yes TX.

Hate to give up a known mechanically solid Tacoma. He was planning on driving it till the wheels fall off.

Maybe learned it from me. Never ran a truck less than 10 years. My Current one is 2011.
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aggieforester05
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9:25a, 5/7/25
AG
If he keeps it, watch some YouTube videos and buy some decent paintless dent repair kit from a reputable supplier and go to town. He won't get everything, but he might be able to improve it's appearance and it's kind of fun to learn.
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drumboy
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9:32a, 5/7/25
AG
I'd keep it, look into PDR or just drive it.

In my recent car searches I've been told that there's a difference between salvage & rebuilt titles, at least that's what a few flippers on FB told me. I didn't pursue any with either title status so not 100% on the validity.
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1agswitchin4lanes
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9:46a, 5/7/25
AG
Keep truck.


Wait till pDR guys slow down.
Fix worst damage.

Drive till the end.
???
Profit.
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Canyon99
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10:01a, 5/7/25
AG
Keep it and repair the damage. A mechanically sound vehicle is all a recent grad needs while a vehicle payment is exactly what a recent grad doesn't need.
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P.H. Dexippus
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10:04a, 5/7/25
AG
Negotiate a higher offer then keep the truck.

I had this happen on my '06 Lincoln Mark LT (F-150) last year when baseball sized hail came through Wimberly. I fixed the smashed windshield and 3rd brake light. I drove it for a year until our family size increased. It's now in the garage for use on hardware store trips and for when our oldest get his license. A replacement hood from pick a part will make it 90% better.

ETA- I went several rounds with the adjuster to get them to increase their offer, point out how terrible their comps were. I got them to nearly double their offer by the by the end.
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Hwy30East
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10:07a, 5/7/25
Maybe check with Doug on here.

https://texags.com/forums/46/topics/3541540

Now I see where you have a body shop estimate, just don't know from who.
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Twogigems
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10:43a, 5/7/25
Seems like there is some ambiguity on whether the insurance can issue/process the claim into a salvage title.
Texas seems to state that it is not required to issue a salvage title on it but insurance might?

Its Allstate so, then there is that aspect.

Anyone have experience here.

Feel like I owe you guys a round at the Chicken in near future.
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zooguy96
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10:59a, 5/7/25
AG
I had a Ranger that got pummeled with golf ball and larger sized hail. Used dentless repair, pocketed the extra $$ (it already had a ton of miles on it) and saved it for issues further down the road.

I never noticed that it had been dentlessly repaired.
I know a lot about a little, and a little about a lot.
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10andBOUNCE
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In reply to Canyon99 • 11:22a, 5/7/25
AG
Canyon99 said:
Keep it and repair the damage. A mechanically sound vehicle is all a recent grad needs while a vehicle payment is exactly what a recent grad doesn't need.
This x1000

Recent grad + new car sounds like a terrible financial plan.
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CanyonAg77
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11:32a, 5/7/25
AG
If it costs $10k to fix and keep, that's the amount they owe you IMO.

I totally agree with the crowd

Get a better settlement
Liability only
Sock the settlement away
Set aside cash equal to monthly payments
Truck will lose almost no value in next 5 years
When no longer mechanically sound, take the combined money from C and D above, add sale price on Facebook, pay cash for upgrade
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AgGrad99
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11:39a, 5/7/25
AG
putting 6k in his pocket, and still having a reliable vehicle is not a bad plan.

however, getting 12k to put towards a new vehicle isn't bad either. I took a quick gander on autotrader, and you can get a 2015-2017 Tacoma, with 60k miles for 25-26k. There was an SR, crewcab model for 26k, which only had 32k miles on it.

I wouldnt suggest a recent grad get a 'new' car...but if they can get a newer one, that will last a lot longer, and he'd only owe 12-15k? That seems like a great way to get into a good vehicle that he can pay off quickly, without much of a burden.

Otherwise, he'll have 6k to put towards a car in a few years when he needs/wants one.




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Twogigems
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1:02p, 5/7/25
We appreciate everyone's input.

He is keeping the Tacoma.
He confirmed no salvage title, but will have total loss on record (that was either way). Will only insure for liability/ which for a vehicle in that range is probably the better way to go anyway.

He will get the windshield replaced.
We may order a new painted hood and install together. We spent some dad/son time holding together the 2000 Dodge Dakota he drove through undergrad. So this could be a good reason to spend time together since he moved out on his own.

We can't see replacing a good running Tacoma for cosmetics.

Thanks and Gig Em
JW '91
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zooguy96
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In reply to Twogigems • 1:16p, 5/7/25
AG
Twogigems said:
We appreciate everyone's input.

He is keeping the Tacoma.
He confirmed no salvage title, but will have total loss on record (that was either way). Will only insure for liability/ which for a vehicle in that range is probably the better way to go anyway.

He will get the windshield replaced.
We may order a new painted hood and install together. We spent some dad/son time holding together the 2000 Dodge Dakota he drove through undergrad. So this could be a good reason to spend time together since he moved out on his own.

We can't see replacing a good running Tacoma for cosmetics.

Thanks and Gig Em
JW '91
I'd try to negotiate a higher cash amount (since you are keeping it and not totaling it) and look into getting it dent-lessly repaired. It was well worth it when I had this done 20 years ago.
I know a lot about a little, and a little about a lot.
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Complete Idiot
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In reply to Twogigems • 1:16p, 5/7/25
Twogigems said:
We appreciate everyone's input.

He is keeping the Tacoma.
He confirmed no salvage title, but will have total loss on record (that was either way). Will only insure for liability/ which for a vehicle in that range is probably the better way to go anyway.

He will get the windshield replaced.
We may order a new painted hood and install together. We spent some dad/son time holding together the 2000 Dodge Dakota he drove through undergrad. So this could be a good reason to spend time together since he moved out on his own.

We can't see replacing a good running Tacoma for cosmetics.

Thanks and Gig Em
JW '91
You chose.......wisely.

$6k for "free" - it's just cosmetic damage - to play with. Fix whatever cosmetically bugs him the most, hood and windshield understandable. Might find a used hood that color matches somewhere to stretch that dollar.

PDR any other specific dings that bug him, if any.

Get toys for the truck or put the extra money somewhere else. Drive for another 5 years and probably sell for more than $6K at that time, you will get more than $12K out of the truck if I had to guess ($6K now plus whatever he sells it for later). Possible way more depending on his cab configuration and drivetrain. Take pictures of hail and keep claim so that when selling it is easy to prove any title blemish is just hail, not collision or flood or something to concern a buyer.
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1agswitchin4lanes
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1:28p, 5/7/25
AG
I'd still keep full coverage for the catalytic converter alone.
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P.H. Dexippus
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In reply to 1agswitchin4lanes • 1:34p, 5/7/25
AG
But will insurance pay out a comprehensive claim when it has already been deemed a total loss?
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Complete Idiot
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In reply to zooguy96 • 1:36p, 5/7/25
2005 was the first year of the Tacoma Gen 2, I'm now curious - what is his cab configuration? Is it a 4WD?
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Naveronski
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4:08p, 5/7/25
AG
$12k is too little for that truck. Spend time to get comps and argue.
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1agswitchin4lanes
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In reply to P.H. Dexippus • 4:50p, 5/7/25
AG
P.H. Dexippus said:
But will insurance pay out a comprehensive claim when it has already been deemed a total loss?



I have two older cars with salvage Titles with full coverage.
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P.H. Dexippus
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In reply to 1agswitchin4lanes • 7:56p, 5/7/25
AG
I'm not saying they won't happily collect your premiums on a comprehensive policy. But if they've already paid OP 100% value of the vehicle minus salvage value, will they actually pay a comprehensive claim?
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FunnyFarm14
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7:17a, 5/8/25
AG
Pull a couple comps and get some more $$'s. Remeber even though its "your insurance", their job is to save as much money as possilbe for the insurance company, so they will automatically lowball you.

I'd keep truck. Put the payout dollars into something other than a new truck payment. As a grad who thought he had to have a nice truck (and payment) right out of college.... you dont. Because then you get married and the wife needs a new ride, and then the kids come and you need the SUV. And then you need $$'s for a house, and etc etc etc.

Save the $$'s and invest them in something else, drive the dinger.
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dubi
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8:23a, 5/8/25
AG
I'd pocket the money and keep on driving it!

We still have our 2005 Tundra (77k miles) and expect it to last forever.
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zooguy96
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8:59a, 5/8/25
AG
Is it Access Cab/Crew Cab/Single Cab?

4WD or 2 WD?

4 cylinder or V-6?

These are important to value.

Looking at Autolist nationwide - most access cabs with a v-6 and 4wd with that mileage are $14-16k.

I sold my 2008 access cab with 203k miles (4wd and v-6) for 13k last year.
I know a lot about a little, and a little about a lot.
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theJonatron
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8:16a, 5/12/25
AG
Take the $6K
Sell the truck for cash for $7K or more

You'll be in a better position and buy something newer. It's what I did with my '17 F150 in 2020z. I sold it here
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