Obviously insurance companies will try to get you to go to "their" shop (the one they have a deal to provide customers for, in exchange for lower prices) but if you have the option of selecting who does your repairs, take it to a dealer, and have them estimate it. Do not ask the insurance company if you have the option, check with your state. Probably the attorney generals office.
I'm with you...while the motor is most likely going to last just as long as yours, you (nor they) have any way to know that. Toyota almost certainly would replace it with a new engine, which is what I'd want if I were you. Even paying a differential between used and new would be preferential.
Remember...the insurance company works for you, not the other way around. Hopefully your state agrees.
You will get no higher $ quote than taking it to the dealer. And that's fine. Again, here, if I want a check for that quoted price, they are obligated to provide that to me...they can't say no, we aren't going to pay.
Get the insurance co to agree to put a mechanical warranty on the replacement engine for say 12 months?
If it develops a fault in that time, they pay to have it rectified. If it lasts for 12 months, then it's safe to assume there is no fault with the replacement, and it's chances of breaking down is now approx the same as your original engine.
The salvage yard will also usually supply the year and mileage of the car the engine was pulled from as part of the deal. Make sure those numbers are sensible.
they are trying to fix your car within the payout that came from insurance. Brand new Crate engine can be 2-3.5k. you can refuse the used engine and pay the difference for a new one. The labor alone just to install is around $2500. Paying extra for a new engine is a better deal for you in the long-run. depending on how much insurance was going to pay for the used replacement which can then be applied to the new one.
if you wanted to, you can even go locate the part yourself but there will be no warranty on the repair for providing your own part.
insurance wont replace the vehicle with a better one.. so, yea, what insurance has authorized is standard practice.
you can always get a cash payout from insurance and do the work yourself.. so then you can buy better parts because you aren't spending anything on labor. That is how I fixed my last almost-toatled car.
the used engine can be rebuilt before installing into your car. A rebuilt engine is just as good as a brand-new one and the rebuild may be more affordable than a new one.
The insurance company are paying to return the car to as near as how it was moments before the accident. Who's to say your original engine wouldn't have blown up 3 days afterwards if not involved in the accident.
Sounds like they are doing the right thing, especially noticing the cracked engine. Get some guarantee on the replacement engine....
I was in a car accident about a month ago. I drive a 2010 Toyota Camry LE with 117,000 miles on it.
Insurance paid for work to be done at a body shop, and when the work was finished, they noticed an oil leak, and unfortunately, a cracked engine.
I figured my car would be a total loss, but after the adjustor went to assess my car, they decided to put a used engine in my car with "like" miles.
There is no known information on the engine (coming from a salvage yard) other than the mileage.
I am afraid that if this engine stops working soon after it is installed, I really will be at a total loss and have to pay for a new car out of pocket.
Is this common to do?
And does anyone have any advice on figuring out the reliability of the engine or extended warranties?
