where his insurance company is just offering me $3,600 for a total loss or $2,700 for the repairs, but only if I can get it estimated for below the $2,700. They will not fix the car. I want to keep the car because I think it will still last me a lot longer. I'm fairly confident that the damage is limited to just a bent trunk, but I can't be sure. I was hoping to keep that car for another 8 years or so.

Would I be wasting my time looking for estimates? Is it reasonable to think that a body shop will go lower than the insurance company?