Is my TJ totaled?

BumpyBlueJEEP

BumpyBlueJEEP

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Joined
Aug 23, 2019
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14
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Sumter, SC
Got into a wreck recently, was wondering what damage would it take to total out a Jeep. I was cruising about 25/30 when guy ran a stop sign and I tried to brake but still impacted. The damage: wont crank as of right now but did just get power back due to battery shorting out on frame, leaked all coolant/radiator was knocked into engine fan which hope there is no damage to motor or anything that could of jolted that is connected, front bumper/hood/fenders/flares/grill all look damaged, the fuse box under hood was off its clips but seemed to clip back in place, also had to pry at the hood where the disengage was to open hood, not 100% sure about front suspension but it looks normal, also just hoping I didnt tweak the frame. Any input or past experience would be appreciated.

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Wow, glad you’re not injured!

The biggest thing that will total a Jeep is frame damage. If the frame is warped or crumpled, the insurance will usually total it. Looking at the radiator grille versus the windshield, I wouldn’t be surprised if it is twisted.

Now I would say it’s certainly repairable, if you’re willing to spend a lot of time and effort on it. If the frame is tweaked, then a frame swap might be the first step to rebuilding it.
Then it’s a matter of reusing or replacing components as needed.

But unless you have a high value Jeep like a low mileage LJ or Rubicon, the insurance will probably declare that the value of the repairs required exceed the value of the vehicle, and simply total it. If this is the case you can accept the value of the car, or negotiate to buy it back or reduce the repairs requested until the value of the repairs is less than the original value of the car.

So you’re going to want to decide how valuable this particular Jeep is to you, and decide if it’s worth repairing on your own time if it does get totaled.
 
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Thats for the input. I'm just hoping insurance adjuster wont low ball me because asking prices for Jeeps around this year/model are higher than what "bluebook" values are. On top of that, money that was put in it like brand new 32in tires and 2.5in lift, and many other repairs done with receipts. If frame is not bent I would love to keep jeep but also dont want to have to take all my time and money just to get my jeep back to how it was.
 
It looks repairable to me. The important thing though will be getting it to a body shop and have them inspecting the frame with one of their laser machines. That will be the real determining factor IMHO.
 
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BumpyBlueJEEP said:
Thats for the input. I'm just hoping insurance adjuster wont low ball me
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Ever the optimist, eh? Know right up front that their first job is to lowball you. It is in their job description. Their job is to convince you to take the lowest amount possible and walk away. No one has ever said, you know, they gave me a lot more than it was worth and I think I need to give some back.
 
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In my area it is totaled for sure. Just repairing the visible damage on the bumper, hood, fenders and grill along with paint might do it. You don't even have to open the hood. Personally I'd fight for a good price and look for a new one.

You can and should use advertised prices local to you to show the value of the Jeep. Don't allow them to use book value. Tell the adjuster all the low priced Jeeps in your area have rusted frames, you wont be lying.
 
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I'd wager the Jeep would be totaled by the insurance adjuster standard, even if the frame is straight.

Is the tub tweaked by the passenger fender extension (area below Jeep stamp)? Is it salvageable- definitely. If you don't have a lien on the Jeep and other factors, I'd be inclined to not file a claim.
 
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I have state farm and when my wife's civic was totaled after being t-boned. The adjuster looked for comparable cars for sale at DEALERS. Funny thing is we were thinking about selling it at the time and figured we could get around 6k. Insurance gave us a check for 9k plus 2k for medical. (she had a previous neck injury so she went to the doctor to make sure she was fine. Co-pay way $20)

My advice. If they total it out and you want another jeep go on craigslist and buy the cheapest rims/tires you could find and swap them out. (Or a jeep and swap over more parts)

Find dealers sellings jeeps like yours. That way you have an idea of the comparables.
 
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mrblaine said:
Ever the optimist, eh? Know right up front that their first job is to lowball you. It is in their job description. Their job is to convince you to take the lowest amount possible and walk away. No one has ever said, you know, they gave me a lot more than it was worth and I think I need to give some back.
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I just want my jeep fixed or another jeep in
Sea Cot said:
I'd wager the Jeep would be totaled by the insurance adjuster standard, even if the frame is straight.

Is the tub tweaked by the passenger fender extension (area below Jeep stamp)? Is it salvageable- definitely. If you don't have a lien on the Jeep and other factors, I'd be inclined to not file a claim.
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Why would I not want to file a claim? Wouldn't I have to pay out pocket to fix everything just to not have a salvage title? And pretty much take a loss on time and money? Just curious what the advantages of not filing a claim?
 
Your front two tires are pointing in different directions. That doesn't look too good to me.
 
Unless SC is a "no fault" state, you should file a claim with the other party's insurance since (based on your statement) he would be at fault for running a stop sign or failure to yield right of way (assuming you had no traffic control device requiring you yield or stop). You should have more leverage to negotiate a settlement for repair since you are the aggrieved party in a tort. You should take it to your preferred mechanic/repair shop and get a realistic estimate of the actual cost to repair the damage before you accept any settlement, so you will know what it will take "to make you whole". If they are unwilling to restore the status quo ante, you may need to get an attorney involved.
 
also check your state laws and insurance guidelines some wont allow frame replacement (if the frame is damaged)
 
Around here (KS) it would be repaired. I agree with Chris, make sure if they do repair it, make sure the frame is checked. I just replaced the right front fender and it was $900 form Jeep. Unless you have a rider on your insurance they will require aftermarket parts. Talk to your body shop about them purchasing the OEM and you cover the diff. The aftermarket parts do not fit will from what my guy was telling me and he isn't the first to tell me that.
 
Figure your TJ is worth (according to their estimates which rarely takes into account aftermarket items or rust), $6k. At minimum, you're going to need at least $1k in parts (fender, flares, bumper, control arms, steering), $750 to get everything painted, $500 in fabrication work to get any mounts or tub straighten out, and probably at the very lest 20 hours worth of mechanics time to get the work done, which at around $80 an hour, is $1600. That puts you at around $3850, which is ~65% the value of the car. This doesn't take into account if the frame is bent, radiator or anything mechanical needs replacing (hubs, etc), problems they might encounter that extend the repair time, etc. The only way this doesn't get totaled is if you can show the value of the car is higher, or by some miracle, the repair bill is lower.

If the other driver is at fault, you can go after them for "diminished value." In the mean time, I'd start pulling what you consider to be fair comps and having them ready for the adjuster when he comes around.
 
Ericict said:
Around here (KS) it would be repaired. I agree with Chris, make sure if they do repair it, make sure the frame is checked. I just replaced the right front fender and it was $900 form Jeep. Unless you have a rider on your insurance they will require aftermarket parts. Talk to your body shop about them purchasing the OEM and you cover the diff. The aftermarket parts do not fit will from what my guy was telling me and he isn't the first to tell me that.
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at our shop we wouldnt even order parts until the jeep was inspected and setup and measured. Alot of what happens next depends on the insurance company they are all different and have different policies. I deal with them all day long every day
 
In NY that would be totaled. But that may be ok. I got to keep a P/U that got wacked from behind by a texting teen. So I got the check and the truck. Not able to put it on the road again with a title saying totaled, but you can use the check. Buy a cheaper TJ and swap over all the parts from the totaled Jeep. Then sell anything you don't want. After parting it out sell what's left for scrap. Scrap prices are low right now, but that could change.
 
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