How much does it cost to repair a bumper? Typically a back bumper replacement cost something in the neighborhood of between $500 to $2,000. However, there are other factors that could affect your total bill. If the damage is minor, then your repair bill might not even be up to$500.
BACK BUMPER REPLACEMENT COST: WHAT ARE BUMPERS MADE OUT OF?
Bumpers are made of several pieces from different materials that help to absorb forceful impact when you crash. On the outer layer, the bumper cover is made of a mix of poly-carbonate (PC) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). This is basically a lightweight, but durable plastic. In the inner layer is an impact-absorbing Styrofoam, which is part of the ‘crumple zone‘.
The bumper is then mounted to the mounts, which are normally made with either plastic, steel, aluminum, or fiberglass. They absorb the impact force from a collision. This helps to protect you and everyone else in the car.
If your bumper cover is damaged but the rest of the bumper is OK, you can easily replace the cover without replacing everything else considering the back bumper replacement cost. If you damage other components like brake light assembly, the parking sensors, or the rear-view camera, then you will have to replace them as well.
BACK BUMPER REPLACEMENT COST AND TYPES OF BUMPER DAMAGE
Generally, there are three types of bumper damage. Back bumper replacement cost depends on the severity of the damage:
DENTED BUMPER
Dents and scratches are the most minor kinds of damage. They mostly occur at low-speed impacts, like when you “gently” tap a pole. They can also happen when someone forgot to engage their brakes and bumps into you at a red light.
Back bumper replacement cost depends on the damage. If the damage is minor with no major scratches or large dents, you should be able to fix it yourself. Your car’s make and model will determine the cost. Therefore, there’s no sure way of knowing until you ask for a quote at a body repair shop. However, you can always expect to pay between $300 – $700.
SHOULD YOU FILE AN INSURANCE CLAIM?
It entirely depends on you. It is important to note that filing a claim will likely increase your insurance rate, especially if you’re at fault. According to Penny Gusner, a senior consumer analyst with Carinsurance.com, there’s a chance your premium will rise between 10% – 40% for a first at-fault accident. If you have a second accident, then it could go up between 40% – 150%. Always remember that when your premium gets higher, your deductible may be lower.
It is generally advisable to pay out of pocket for minor damage if you can afford it. In the end, it all depends on what you feel is better for your financial condition.
DEEP PAINT SCRATCHES
Deep paint scratches are more severe and they damage your car’s paint job. It often happens with deeper dents on your car. This kind of damage usually happens at a higher speed impact. Thus, there’s more forceful contact between your car and whatever it comes into contact with. This may happen when someone bumps into your car and drag their car along as they try to pull out.
In this case, you’ll need more extensive repair work and a detailed paint job. The cost will vary greatly depending on how much area is affected. Your car’s make and model will also contribute in determining the cost of the repair. The estimate is usually between $500 – $1,500. The cost could be higher if the damage is more severe and if you drive a luxury car. Also, other panels aside from your bumper could be affected.
SHOULD YOU FILE AN INSURANCE CLAIM?
This type of bumper repair can be quite costly. Therefore it is quite likely you will want to file a claim. It is advisable to make a claim, as long as the claim amount is significantly higher than your deductible. For instance, if the cost is $2,500 and your deductible is $1000, then you will have to pay for $1000 but the insurance company will pay for the remaining $1,500. In this case, by all means, go make a claim.
You should make a comprehensive claim instead of a collision claim if the damage is caused by another while you’re parked. A comprehensive claim usually includes theft, vandalism, natural disasters, falling objects, and few other things. Also, comprehensive claims raise lesser premium compared to collision claims.
REAR-END DAMAGE
Rear-end damage is a situation when someone crashes into you. Maybe you suddenly applied your brake to avoid a crossing dog, but then the driver behind you was a little too close and couldn’t stop in time. The damage to your car in such circumstances is usually extensive.
The other driver’s insurance will pay for your damages and your injury if you sustained any. However, your insurance will have to cover this if their insurance doesn’t cover it.
SHOULD YOU FILE AN INSURANCE CLAIM?
In this scenario, the offending driver’s insurance should cover both the damage to your car and your injuries. However, if they’re uninsured then you will have to depend on your own insurance. In this case, you should definitely make a claim.
BUMPER REPAIR COST
When it comes to the repair cost, it is a little tricky to give a straightforward estimate. Different shops have different labor rates. The. car’s make and model will also affect the repair cost. Not to mention the fact that they may use different paint types as well which varies in cost.
Below are estimates depending on the type of repair that needs to be done, which are:
PAINT LESS DENT REPAIR OR PDR
This type of repair will be needed when there are dents but no paint damage. The mechanic usually uses a few tools and little heat, and voila! Good as new. It’ll be like the dents were never there. This will typically cost between $150 – $250. However, it will depend on how many dents you have on your bumper.
TRADITIONAL DENT REPAIR
This repair involves your technician pulling out the dent, smoothing the area, and then repainting the damage. This kind of repair will be necessary if you have deep paint scratches. In this case, the bumper repair cost will usually be around $250 – $350.
CRACKS
If the bumper has minor fractures or splits, it can be fixed by filling the cracks with plastic filler. The technician will then sand the area until it’s smooth. Once the damaged area is smooth, they will paint the area. This procedure costs between $300 – $500, but it might be higher depending on the cost of your car’s paint.
On average, expect to pay between $200 – $700 for a bumper repair cost. Again, the car’s make and model may greatly affect the cost we listed here.
BACK BUMPER REPLACEMENT COST: SHOULD YOU REPLACE THE BUMPER INSTEAD OF REPAIRING IT?
If the damage is quite extensive, it might be a good idea to consider replacing your bumper. This will obviously be more costly, as bumpers are quite expensive and the labor cost is relatively high.
For example, if you need to replace the front bumper cover on your 2010 Toyota Camry, then you will need to pay $340. Toyota doesn’t say whether this includes paint or not but you can expect to pay another $100 to paint the bumper. You can equally expect to pay another $25 for the brackets, $150 for the Styrofoam, and around $400 for labor. Bear in mind that labor costs can be as high as $900 depending on the complexity of your bumper replacement job.
Bumper covers for most cars will generally cost around $300 – $400. However, if you drive a luxury car such as the 2010 Mercedes-Benz $400, then the bumper cover cost itself can be anywhere between $600 – $900 depending on the trim. Some models will cost as much as $1,500 for the bumper cover itself.
In everything, you should expect to pay around $700 – $900 for a replacement job in most cars. If you own a luxury car, you can expect to pay between $900 – $2,000 for a bumper replacement cost.
REDUCING BUMPER REPAIR COST: DOING IT YOURSELF
If you feel that the repair cost isn’t worth it and you don’t intend to make an insurance claim, then you can spare yourself the loss by performing the job yourself. This is recommended if you don’t want to make an insurance claim to avoid raising your premiums but you also don’t want to pay too much for labor.
HOW DO YOU FIX A DENTED BUMPER
For a starter, you should have the following tools:
- Safety glasses
- Jack and jack stand
- A heat gun or hair dryer (a hairdryer is safer but you may need a heat gun).
- Pry bar or crowbar, or alternatively, you can use a plunger.
To use this method, take the following steps:
- Lift the car with a car jack and secure it on jack stands. This may not be necessary as it depends on where the damage is. However, it can give you more room to work. But, if you’re going to use a plunger, then you won’t need to do this and the second step.
- Remove the splash guard if necessary. It may cover the area of the bumper. They are usually held by either plastic clips or metal bolts.
- Heat up the damaged area using a hairdryer or a heat gun until it becomes pliable. This should take about 5 – 10 minutes. If you’re using a heat gun, keep it about 4 feet away from the bumper. This is to prevent it from reaching a temperature that will melt your paint.
- Push the bumper out using a pry bar to push the bumper from the inside out. Alternatively, you can also use a plunger to pull it from the outside. ensure you pull or push from the deepest dent. If the bumper is still stiff and rigid, try heating it up again.
- Repeat the process until the bumper is back to its normal state.
FIXING A CRACKED BUMPER
If your bumper is cracked, you need to sand the bumper, fill and seal the crack, and then repaint it. The process can take quite a long time but then, patience is a virtue.
HOW DO YOU REDUCE THE BACK BUMPER REPLACEMENT COST BY REPLACING THE BUMPER YOURSELF
This is a bit tricky. The process for achieving this will vary depending on the car’s make, model, and trim. It also depends on whether you only need to replace the cover or other components in the bumper assembly too. The process generally involves removing the lights and sensors or cameras if any. Then removing floor panels and fender skirts since they are likely connected to the bumpers.
After disconnecting these components and the brackets, you can then remove the bumper. Once you fit in the new bumper, you will need to reconnect all of those other components integral to the bumper assembly. This is quite difficult unless you have experience.
SHOULD YOU REPAIR OR REPLACE YOUR BUMPER?
If the damage is minor, you might want to repair instead of replacing it. If it’s just a dent, you can even repair it yourself.
It is generally advisable to repair your bumper whenever possible, especially when the cost isn’t too high. But if you had a big accident and the cost isn’t far off, then replacing your bumper might not be such a bad idea.
WHAT IF YOU HAVE FRAME DAMAGE?
In this case, you have two options. You can repair the damage and keep the car. You can also sell it at a lower value. If you do decide to repair the damage and keep it for a few more years, when the time comes to sell your car, you will still likely have to sell it at a lower price. Most cars that have been in a major accident that damages the frame or chassis will experience a significant drop in resale value.
Anyway, if this happens then you should file an insurance claim to ease the repair cost on your pocket. However, if your car is old and you don’t feel it’s worth the deductible amount, then you’re going to have to sell it as-is. You can either sell to a used car dealership that’s willing to take a car as-is or scrapping it altogether. Keep in mind that your car’s value may drop as much as 70% in impaired condition.
Lastly, note that driving with frame damage 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 YOU DRIVE WITHOUT A BUMPER?
Technically, yes, your car will work perfectly fine without a bumper. However, legally speaking, no you can’t drive a car without a bumper. Many states have laws that requires drivers to drive with a bumper (front and rear). Not only your car looks horrid without a bumper, but it’s also not safe. Not having a bumper means your car is less able to absorb an impact force. This leaves you more vulnerable to injuries an accident.
HOW DO YOU PICK A GOOD BODY REPAIR SHOP?
As always, we recommend shopping around and ask for estimates at different repair shops. On top of that, there are four questions you should ask a body repair shop before proceeding with repairs:
- How long will the repair take? A minor body and bumper repair job can take between 2 – 5 days. A major repair can take weeks a couple of days to weeks. If the damage is severe, then you may need to wait for weeks since the repairers might be busy with some other works. Knowing how long the repair job will take beforehand will allow you to make necessary arrangements.
- Do they offer a warranty? This is very important because the quality of the shop’s repair job might be poor. The metal may start rusting or the paint might start peeling few weeks after the repair job. Thus it is important you ask for a warranty so that you can have it fixed for little or no cost at all. Also, ensure to ask what the warranty covers.
- Do they offer a rental or replacement car? The time it takes to repair your car might be too long for you to live without your car. If you don’t have a spare car, it might not be a bad idea to ask if they have a replacement car you can use while your car is being worked on.
- What tools do they use? You may need to make some research on what specialized tools is necessary for your type of repair. By ensuring the repair shop use the correct equipment and procedure, you can be sure your car gets a good repair job.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, even with numerous safety measures in place, accidents still happen. This happens even to the best of drivers. If your bumper damage is minimal, then you only need to do light repairs. In this case, you won’t need to make an insurance claim as it won’t be worth it.