Insurance Proposed $1,700 for This R1T Incident; Rivian Expected a Fortune | Carscoops

      Rivian's expensive repair saga illustrates how a minor dent from a low-speed parking incident escalated into a significant hassle after the insurance declined to cover the full cost.

      A Rivian R1T owner faced a large bill after his truck was damaged in a low-speed accident. The insurance initially estimated the repair at $1,700 but subsequently refused to pay the amount charged by the certified repair shop. The owner ended up paying out of pocket, contested the insurance decision, and was able to recover only a portion of the costs.

      Purchasing a Rivian truck entails risks that many buyers may not fully recognize. It’s not solely about the company's youth or its uncertain future; those are anticipated risks.

      The real underlying issue arises when the damage is not mechanical but physical. What may be a quick fix for a Ford, Toyota, or most established automakers can become a financial burden for a Rivian, with some damages severe enough to necessitate writing off the vehicle.

      One particular owner's experience highlights the complexity of repairs.

      When Simple Damage Becomes Complicated

      In May, an employee of a Rivian R1T owner accidentally backed into the electric truck. The damage seemed simple, affecting the rear quarter panel. However, since this is a Rivian R1T, "simple" doesn't quite fit in this scenario.

      The rear quarter panel is part of a large single piece that includes the roof, meaning that fixing a dent, especially a significant one, is not straightforward. While paintless dent repair (PDR) has helped in some situations, this wasn’t one of those cases.

      The R1T owner mentioned that the employee’s insurance initially quoted $1,700 for the repair, which raised concerns as many repairs in similar situations can reach five figures. Consequently, he reached out to Rivian, but things worsened from there.

      The Reality of Rivian Repair Costs

      Rivian informed him that there was only one certified repair shop within a 300-mile radius, and their estimate was an astonishing $16,000. Due to this substantial discrepancy, the owner sought assistance from PDR shops, but none were willing to work on the R1T.

      Ultimately, he opted for the certified repair shop, hoping the final cost would be lower than the estimate. Unfortunately, once the truck was at the shop, they discovered additional damage.

      After a seven-week repair period, the total bill amounted to $22,000. The situation continued to be problematic as the insurance refused to cover that amount.

      Fighting Insurance Companies

      Instead, they proposed $13,000, claiming the rates from the certified repair shop were excessive. Facing the choice between paying the $9,000 difference himself or entering arbitration—which would delay the truck's pickup indefinitely—the owner paid the extra amount, retrieved his truck, and initiated an appeal.

      His inquiries went unanswered. A subsequent, more assertive letter outlining what he viewed as an unfair settlement also faced silence. Only after submitting a complaint to his state’s Secretary of State did the insurer respond, this time offering an additional $5,100 to resolve the issue.

      The state advised him to accept this offer, which he did. “I really enjoy this truck, but this is ridiculous,” he remarked. “I hope Rivian improves the design to reduce repair costs for common dents.”

      Undoubtedly, many other Rivian owners share similar hopes.