Mechanics/ Adjustors of the OT: Totaled Vehicle options

Get a Jeep as a replacement vehicle

Or a Subaru

Negotiate with the insurance company that you keep ownership of the vehicle, simple and they'd rather that option. They might deduct the value of the truck but that would be scrap/parts value. Have it repaired to your satisfaction, inspected for safety and you are all set.

Fairly straightforward. I would not inform the insurance company what your body shop thinks. If they already decided it is totaled, that's fine, they know what they're doing.

You can offer to buy the totaled vehicle from your insurance company and then have the repairs performed by the body shop of your choice. Using easy numbers, if you're offered $5,000 for the truck, and you can buy it back for $2,000, you should receive a check for $3,000 that you can then put toward any repairs you wish to make.

My mother-in-law did this back in the 90's when some hood rats stole and wrecked her car when they finished joy riding in it.

The only potential issue is that in Louisiana, and maybe other states too, your title is reissued as a Salvage Title, which is code for "an insurance company has previously totaled this vehicle." Depending upon your plans, that could make it difficult to trade or sell the truck at a later date.

The totaled value of that truck almost certainly will NOT be enough to cover purchase of another truck - especially a new one.

Also, beware the insurer taking your truck repairing it themselves and selling for a big profit. The high value of used cars these days have really screwed up this process.

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why drive a old repaired truck when you can take the settlement and get a new one?

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I just bought it in July, I doubt what they offer will cover what I owe, and Im dumb and didn't get GAP insurance.

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If the cost to repair is 50% of the value of vehicle, insurance will typically total it out. Do remember to get the Diminished Value of the vehicle from their insurance company as well.

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So they total the vehicle and pay the full value for it, then they’re supposed to pay diminished value on top of that?

Depending on the trim of your Tacoma, I'm assuming the check from insurance is $35K+. Just take it and purchase another.

I drive a Tacoma that I bought brand new in 2017 and can sell it today from just about what I paid for it then.

The market is stupid right now.

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Can I fight the total claim by the insurance? Or have them send out someone to inspect it before accepting what they offer me? I've done some reading on it, but this is the first time I've been in an accident in my 20 years of driving, so I don't know how to approach it.

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This is a very "simple" explanation:

you can accept the total (and it can be negotiated), but keep the salvage - so if the ACV on your truck is $25000 and the salvage is $2000, you net out $23000 and keep the truck and you can use part of the $$$ for the repairs (assuming it would not cost more than your net to repair). It will carry a salvage title and would be a PITA to try to sell, but if your plan is to drive the wheels off, something to consider

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You can offer to buy the totaled vehicle from your insurance company and then have the repairs performed by the body shop of your choice. Using easy numbers, if you're offered $5,000 for the truck, and you can buy it back for $2,000, you should receive a check for $3,000 that you can then put toward any repairs you wish to make. My mother-in-law did this back in the 90's when some hood rats stole and wrecked her car when they finished joy riding in it. The only potential issue is that in Louisiana, and maybe other states too, your title is reissued as a Salvage Title, which is code for "an insurance company has previously totaled this vehicle." Depending upon your plans, that could make it difficult to trade or sell the truck at a later date.

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This.

Let’s say you get 40k for the truck. Buy back old one for 5k.

Have repair shop fix it for 12-15k.

35k minus 15k and pocket the 20k in a new car fund when things start going wrong (and they will).

Pay off the car note with the 20k or just sit on it. Just know every dollar you put in the vehicle you can’t get back since its shown on the vehicle history.

If the repair cost is less than replacing the vehicle prove the cost to the insurance company. I would think they cannot make you total it if you prove the repairs are legit.
Also, if it is the person at faults insurance, screw them, do what is best for you.