What Should It Cost To Have Scratches Repaired On A Bumper Cover

Nosotros've all been there, maybe it's someone else's fault, or possibly you weren't feeling 100% while driving. Any the case, now yous've got a dent on your bumper and you're wondering how much does a bumper repair cost? Well, a bumper repair will typically cost betwixt $500 – $2,000. However, in that location will exist other factors also that might affect your total beak. If the harm is modest, so your repair pecker might not even accomplish $500.

We volition be discussing bumper repair costs, and we'll answer some commonly asked questions forth the way.

Damage
Repair Cost
Replacement
DIY
Questions & Answers
Determination

What are Bumpers Made Out of?

Bumpers contain of several pieces from different materials that assist to absorb impact force when you get into a crash. On the outer layer, there's a bumper cover that is made from a mix of polycarbonate (PC) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). This is basically a fancy way of saying lightweight, only durable plastic. Behind the cover is a layer of bear on-absorbing Styrofoam, which is office of the 'crumple zone'.

The bumper is and then mounted to the mounts, which are unremarkably made of either plastic, steel, aluminum, or fiberglass. They also absorb the bear upon strength from a standoff which helps to protect y'all and everyone in the car.

Different older metal bumpers, if, for example, your bumper cover is damaged only the balance of the bumper is fine, you can simply supervene upon the cover without replacing everything else. Of course, if yous impairment other components such as the brake light associates, the parking sensors, or the rear-view camera, then you will have to replace them also.

Types of Bumper Damage

The type of damage you experience on your bumper will touch on many decisions you should accept. This includes whether to repair or supervene upon, whether yous should merits your insurance or not. Y'all may check out some bumpers guards at AutoExpro if you are looking for a replacement. And of course, information technology volition affect the price likewise. Generally, there are three types of bumper damage depending on the severity:

1. Dented Bumper

Dents and scratches are the lightest kinds of damage. They oft happen at depression-speed impacts, such as when y'all "gently" tap a pole. Or when someone forgot to engage their brakes and rolls forrad and bumps into you at a crimson light.

If the damage is minimal and in that location are no deep scratches or massive dents, y'all should be able to fix this yourself. Just nosotros will discuss this later on. As for the cost, your car's make and model will as well impact this and then there'due south no sure style of knowing until you enquire for a quote at your nearest body repair shop. Nonetheless, y'all can generally await to pay between $300 – $700.

Should Yous File an Insurance Merits?

The answer to this depends entirely on yous. One thing to note is that filing a claim will likely brand your insurance rate go up, especially if you're at error. According to Penny Gusner, a senior consumer analyst with Carinsurance.com, there'south a take chances your premium volition rise between 10% – 40% for a first at-mistake blow. If you have a second accident, then it could go up between 40% – 150%. Keep in listen that when your premium goes upwardly, your deductible may be lower.

We would generally advise paying out of pocket for minor harm if you can afford it. However, some people won't listen having a higher premium if it means their deductible is lower. In the terminate, this depends on what you lot feel is better for your financial condition.

2. Deep Pigment Scratches

Deep pigment scratches are more astringent and harm your car's pigment job. Often with deeper dents on your car. This damage usually happens at a college speed bear upon and in that location'due south more contact happening between your auto and whatever it comes to contact with. Y'all may experience this when someone bumps into your car and elevate their motorcar along equally they attempt to pull out.

In this case, you're likely going to demand more extensive repair work and a detailed pigment chore. The cost volition vary greatly depending on how much area is affected, and also your motorcar'due south make and model. A rough gauge is unremarkably between $500 – $one,500. But information technology can hands be higher than that if the damage is more severe and if you drive a luxury motorcar. Not to mention, whether or not other panels aside from your bumper are affected.

Should You File an Insurance Merits?

This type of bumper repair tin be quite costly, and so it's likely you will want to file a claim. We would advise you to brand a claim, as long equally the claim amount is significantly college than your deductible. For example, if the cost is $1,500 and your deductible is $500, then you volition accept to pay for $500 but the insurance company will pay for the remaining $1,000. In this case, yeah, past all means, go make a claim.

Also, if the harm is acquired by someone else while you're parked, then y'all tin brand a comprehensive merits rather than a collision claim. A comprehensive claim usually includes theft, vandalism, natural disasters, falling objects, and a few other things. Too, comprehensive claims raise less premium when compared to collision claims. That being said, bank check with your insurance visitor on what falls under comprehensive and collision merits, just to be sure.

iii. Rear-finish Damage

Rear-end damage is when someone crashes into you. Peradventure you suddenly brake to avoid a crossing true cat, but so the commuter behind you lot was a footling too close and couldn't stop in fourth dimension. If you're lucky, they may crash at a relatively low speed and you will only accept to bargain with minor damage. If you're unlucky, then the cat is fine, but now you're dealing with a ruined bumper and pain on your neck and shoulder.

Should yous feel this, first of all, we're very deplorable and we're glad you're okay. Secondly, you're not at fault. Assuming the other driver is covered, their insurance will be liable to pay for your amercement and your injuries if y'all endure any. All the same, your insurance volition have to cover this if their insurance doesn't cover it.

Should You File an Insurance Merits?

In this particular scenario, the other driver's insurance should pay for both the damage to your motorcar and your injuries. However, if they're uninsured then you will have to turn to your ain insurance. In which case, yeah, you should make a claim.

This type of repair can exist costly. While the bumper repair cost is usually around $1,500, there may be damage to other components as well if the crash was severe. In which case, your repair beak will easily skyrocket.

Bumper Repair Toll

Okay, so far we've discussed what bumpers are and whether or not you should file an insurance claim depending on the type of damage y'all experience. How most the repair toll itself? Well, this is a little catchy to give a straightforward estimate. Unlike shops volition take different labor rates. Your automobile'south make and model will also affect this, since they may use unlike materials in the bumper. Not to mention they may use unlike paint types as well which varies in cost.

We can give you lot an estimate depending on the blazon of repair that needs to be done, which are:

1. Paintless Dent Repair or PDR

This is the type of repair yous will need to do when in that location are dents but no pigment damage. Your mechanic will usually apply a few tools and little heat, and voila! Good as new. It's like the dents were never there. This will typically cost betwixt $150 – $250, just it will depend on how many dents you have on your bumper.

two. Traditional Dent Repair

This repair involves your technician pulling out the dent, smoothing the expanse, and then repainting the damage. You will demand to do this repair if yous accept deep paint scratches. In this instance, your bumper repair cost volition usually exist around $250 – $350.

three. Cracks

If your bumper has small fractures or splits, it can sometimes exist fixed past filling the cracks with plastic filler. Your technician will then sand the area until information technology's smooth. Once the damaged surface area is polish, they will and then paint the expanse. The toll is typically between $300 – $500, but information technology might be higher depending on the cost of your car's paint.

On boilerplate, expect to pay betwixt $200 – $700 for a bumper repair price. Once more, your motorcar's brand and model may greatly bear upon the toll we listed here.

Bumper Repair Cost: Should You Replace the Bumper Instead?

If the impairment is quite severe, then y'all might want to consider replacing your bumper. This will obviously exist more costly, every bit bumpers are quite expensive and the labor cost is relatively loftier.

For case, if you need to supercede the forepart bumper cover on your 2010 Toyota Camry, and so y'all volition need to pay $340. Toyota doesn't say whether this includes pigment or not but you can look to pay some other $100 to paint the bumper. You should as well expect to pay another $25 for the brackets, $150 for the styrofoam, and around $400 for labor. Keep in mind that labor costs tin be equally high as $900 depending on the complication of your bumper replacement chore.

Bumper covers for almost cars will typically cost around $300 – $400. Yet, if you drive a luxury car such every bit the 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400, then the bumper embrace cost itself tin can be anywhere between $600 – $900 depending on the trim. Some models volition cost as much as $1,500 for the bumper encompass itself.

All in all, you should expect to pay effectually $700 – $900 for a replacement job in most cars (for just one bumper, 2 bumpers will likely double the cost). If you bulldoze a luxury car, then await to pay between $900 – $two,000 for a bumper replacement price.

Reducing Bumper Repair Toll: Doing It Yourself

If you lot experience that the repair cost isn't worth it and you don't feel similar making an insurance claim, then you can ease the strain on your wallet by performing the task yourself. Nosotros recommend doing this if you lot don't want to brand an insurance claim to avoid raising your premiums but you lot don't want to pay too much for labor as well.

Fixing a Dented Bumper

Ideally, you lot should take the post-obit tools:

A heat gun or hair dryer (a hairdryer is safer but you may demand a heat gun).
Jack and jack stand up.
Pry bar or crowbar, or you can also use a plunger.
Condom glasses.

To do this method, exercise the following steps:

Elevator the car with a auto jack and secure information technology on jack stands. You lot may not be required to practice this depending on where the impairment is, but it can requite you more than room to work. Still, if y'all're going to use a plunger, then you won't demand to do this and the second step.
Remove the splash guard if necessary. It may comprehend the expanse of the bumper. They will unremarkably exist held by either plastic clips or metal bolts.
Warm upwardly the damaged surface area using a hairdryer or a heat gun until information technology becomes pliable. Information technology will commonly take well-nigh 5 – 10 minutes to exercise this. Keep in mind that if you're using a oestrus gun, keep it well-nigh four anxiety away from the bumper equally it can reach temperatures that volition melt your paint.
Push the bumper out. You tin do this by using a pry bar to push the bumper from the inside out. You tin also use a plunger to pull it from the outside. Be sure to pull or push from the deepest dent. If the bumper withal isn't flexible, try heating it up over again.
Repeat the process until the bumper is dorsum to its normal state.

You can lookout man this video below to sympathize better how to do this method:

Fixing a Croaky Bumper

If you take a croaky bumper, then the procedure of fixing it will crave you to sand the bumper, filling and sealing the crevice, and then repaint it. The process can be quite long, simply we've constitute this groovy guide from Mad4Motors on Youtube that will assist y'all understand how to do this method:

[highlightedReplacing a Bumper[/highlighted]

This is too a bit catchy. The guide for doing this will vary depending on your machine'southward make, model, and trim. Non to mention, this will depend on whether you will only need to supercede the embrace or other parts components in the bumper associates besides. The process will more often than not involve removing the lights and sensors or cameras if there are whatever. Then removing floor panels and fender skirts since they are likely connected to the bumpers.

Afterward you disconnect these components and the brackets, you tin can then remove the bumper. Once you fit in the new bumper, you lot volition need to reconnect all of those other components integral to the bumper associates. This is quite a hard chore to exercise unless you accept experience. We don't recommend doing this yourself, but if you're interested, this video explains the process of replacing the front bumper cover on a Nissan Altima quite well:

Bumper Repair Cost: Questions & Answers

Toyota Mirai 2022 2 - Bumper Repair Cost

Should I repair or replace my bumper?

If the damage is pocket-sized then yous will evidently want to repair instead of replacing information technology. If it's just a paring, you lot can fifty-fifty repair it yourself. Frequently your mechanic will also give you lot a recommendation as well on whether it's better to repair or supercede your bumper.

We would by and large advise repairing your bumper whenever possible, especially when the cost isn't too high. But if you've been a big accident and the cost isn't far off, then replacing your bumper isn't such a bad idea.

What if I take frame harm?

In this case, you have 2 options: repair the impairment and keep the motorcar or sell it at a lower value. But if you practise decide to repair the damage and go along information technology for a few more years, when the fourth dimension comes to sell your automobile, you will still likely have to sell it at a lower price. About cars that have been in a major blow that damages the frame or chassis will experience a meaning driblet in resale value.

Anyway, if this happens so you should file an insurance claim to ease the repair cost on your pocket. All the same, if your car is old and you don't experience it's worth the deductible corporeality, then you're going to have to sell it as-is. You tin either sell to a used car dealership that's willing to accept a motorcar equally-is or scrapping information technology altogether. Keep in mind that your car'due south value may drop as much every bit 70% in unrepaired status.

Lastly, notation that driving with frame impairment is incredibly dangerous. The chassis or frame is what supports the weight of your vehicle. The structural integrity of your car is compromised once the frame is damaged.

Can I drive without a bumper?

Technically speaking, yes, your auto volition piece of work but fine without a bumper. But legally speaking, no. While not all, many states have a police force that requires you to bulldoze with a bumper (front and rear). You will need to check your state's law whether y'all can do this or not, only why would y'all? Not merely your car looks horrid without a bumper, but it'south as well unsafe. Having no bumper ways your car is less able to absorb an impact forcefulness. Leaving you more vulnerable to injuries should yous – God forbid – become into an accident.

How practice I choice a skilful body repair shop?

As always, we recommend shopping around and enquire for estimates at different repair shops. On top of that, in that location are four questions yous should ask a body repair shop earlier proceeding with repairs:

Practise they offer a warranty? This is important because you never know if the quality of a store's repair job might exist poor. Yous might notice the metal rusting or the pigment peeling just weeks after the repair job, in which instance you want a warranty so you tin have information technology stock-still for piffling-to-no-cost at all. Also, be sure to ask what the warranty covers.
What tools exercise they employ? You lot will need to do a bit of research on what specialized tools is necessary for your blazon of repair. But by ensuring the repair shop utilise the correct tools and methods, y'all tin ensure that your machine volition get a good repair job. Not but a bodge job that volition leave unsightly marks on your bumpers.
How long will the repair have? A body and bumper repair job can have anywhere betwixt a couple of days to weeks. If the harm is severe, and then you lot may need to wait for weeks since there might be other repairs that they need to perform.
Do they offer a rental or replacement car? Light repair jobs shouldn't take more than than 3 days to finish, just even three days is a long time to live without your motorcar. If you don't have a 2d car, it doesn't injure to ask if they have a replacement auto you lot tin can apply while your auto is being fixed. If they don't and the car volition take some fourth dimension to fix, knowing how long the repair job volition take beforehand will allow you to brand arrangements.

Bumper Repair Cost: In Determination

Modern cars oft come equipped with a standoff prevention system. But fifty-fifty with numerous safety measures in identify, accidents can withal happen. This happens to the best of us. Whether yous're feeling a little under the conditions, or someone else isn't being quite every bit mindful equally you are, accidents can happen. If your bumper impairment is minimal, then y'all but need to do calorie-free repairs and you can keep the bumper repair cost to a minimum. In which instance, you lot won't need to brand an insurance claim as it won't exist worth information technology.

If the damage is more severe and you volition need to do heavy repairs or even a replacement job, then you lot might want to consider making an insurance claim. As long equally the cost that your insurance will need to pay is significantly higher than your deductible amount, then we recommend making a claim. This will affect your premium, simply we do believe it is worth information technology since information technology volition ease the strain on your pocket.

Nosotros hope that you volition never observe yourself in this state of affairs in the future, no one wants to be involved in an accident. But if y'all do notice yourself needing a bumper repair, now you know the cost too as how to gear up it. Hopefully, nosotros've helped you in making an informed conclusion for your bumper repairs.