Bumper Repair vs. Bumper Replacement: Which Do You Need?
If you’ve driven your fair share of miles, chances are you’ve probably experienced some sort of bumper damage on your car. Really, it’s pretty much a rite of passage as a vehicle owner.
Maybe you got rear-ended in a fender bender, accidentally clipped the garage door, or just curbed it in the gas station parking lot—and now your bumper is trashed.
It can range from a minor cosmetic annoyance that buffs right out, to a full-blown insurance claim, and knowing the difference is crucial. So, here’s a handy guide to find out whether you need your car bumper repaired or replaced.
Maybe you got rear-ended in a fender bender, accidentally clipped the garage door, or just curbed it in the gas station parking lot—and now your bumper is trashed.
It can range from a minor cosmetic annoyance that buffs right out, to a full-blown insurance claim, and knowing the difference is crucial. So, here’s a handy guide to find out whether you need your car bumper repaired or replaced.
Car Bumper Basics
First, let’s look at what a bumper is, and what it does.
As the majority of you know already, automotive bumpers are located at the front and rear of the vehicle. In this day and age, most OEM factory bumpers are made of a plastic outer shell, which covers a cushion made of some form of polystyrene, or other similar durable Styrofoam-type material. This cushion is known as a “crumple zone,” which is designed to collapse in order to take the brunt of the impact force up to a certain point. The bumper is also generally reinforced with aluminum, fiberglass, or plastic, depending on the vehicle.
Not all bumpers are created equal—for instance, a larger vehicle’s bumper, like a Chevy Silverado bumper, will be sturdier than a car’s.
The purpose of the bumper is:
While it’s true that a rigid metal bumper might save you money on car part replacements, studies have shown that built-in crumple zones reduce the impact force on the people inside the car if a wreck occurs. So, while you may be paying to get a plastic, cracked bumper repaired or replaced after a relatively minor accident, at least you won’t be paying any doctor bills—or worse.
Now that we understand the vital role bumpers play in a fender bender, we can see why it’s important that they’re kept in good condition.
As the majority of you know already, automotive bumpers are located at the front and rear of the vehicle. In this day and age, most OEM factory bumpers are made of a plastic outer shell, which covers a cushion made of some form of polystyrene, or other similar durable Styrofoam-type material. This cushion is known as a “crumple zone,” which is designed to collapse in order to take the brunt of the impact force up to a certain point. The bumper is also generally reinforced with aluminum, fiberglass, or plastic, depending on the vehicle.
Not all bumpers are created equal—for instance, a larger vehicle’s bumper, like a Chevy Silverado bumper, will be sturdier than a car’s.
The purpose of the bumper is:
- To protect drivers and passengers in low-speed accidents
- To reduce injury to pedestrians in the event of a collision
- To mitigate potential damage to mechanical components
- To reduce the height discrepancy between vehicles, like cars and trucks
- To balance and minimize vehicle weight
While it’s true that a rigid metal bumper might save you money on car part replacements, studies have shown that built-in crumple zones reduce the impact force on the people inside the car if a wreck occurs. So, while you may be paying to get a plastic, cracked bumper repaired or replaced after a relatively minor accident, at least you won’t be paying any doctor bills—or worse.
Now that we understand the vital role bumpers play in a fender bender, we can see why it’s important that they’re kept in good condition.
Bumper Repair
In many instances, a plastic bumper can be quickly and easily fixed. Repairing any cosmetic damage will help you retain your car’s resale or trade-in value, and plastic bumper repairs can be done cheaply enough that you may not even have to report it to insurance, so you can avoid a potential hike in monthly rates.
Here are some instances where you’d probably have your bumper repaired:
Here are some instances where you’d probably have your bumper repaired:
Dings and Dents
The plastic used to make bumpers is a lot stronger and thicker than you might think, but it is still plastic, so it’s susceptible to denting.
The good news is that even sizeable bumper dents can be fixed, as long as the underlying structure isn’t badly damaged. Techs at professional bumper repair shops use a combination of heat and suction to warm the plastic or metal and make it more pliable, then reshape it back to its original shape. Just like that, your bumper and the surrounding paneling can be good as new, without even needing a fresh coat of paint.
Paintless dent repair, or “PDR” as the cool cats in the industry call it, has numerous benefits compared to old-school methods—it’s cheaper, faster, and more environmentally-friendly.
The good news is that even sizeable bumper dents can be fixed, as long as the underlying structure isn’t badly damaged. Techs at professional bumper repair shops use a combination of heat and suction to warm the plastic or metal and make it more pliable, then reshape it back to its original shape. Just like that, your bumper and the surrounding paneling can be good as new, without even needing a fresh coat of paint.
Paintless dent repair, or “PDR” as the cool cats in the industry call it, has numerous benefits compared to old-school methods—it’s cheaper, faster, and more environmentally-friendly.
Scratches and Scuffs
There are plenty of would-be experts online who claim to have the secret home recipe to remove scratches, but in our personal experience, they just don’t work well for bumper scratch repair.
Scrapes in the paint are among the most common cosmetic issues. You don’t even need to bump into anything—they can happen any time, and you may not even notice it until weeks later. Road debris like gravel and asphalt chunks, errant shopping carts at the store, and harsh weather like hail are all major culprits, too.
A scratch in the paint isn’t just a visual issue. Automotive paint is specially formulated to be much stronger than other kinds. The primer, paint, and clear coat combo provides a protective layer on the body that prevents rust, as even the tiniest speck of rust can become a major headache if left unattended.
Having small body and bumper scratches buffed out and repainted is essential to keeping your car healthy.
Scrapes in the paint are among the most common cosmetic issues. You don’t even need to bump into anything—they can happen any time, and you may not even notice it until weeks later. Road debris like gravel and asphalt chunks, errant shopping carts at the store, and harsh weather like hail are all major culprits, too.
A scratch in the paint isn’t just a visual issue. Automotive paint is specially formulated to be much stronger than other kinds. The primer, paint, and clear coat combo provides a protective layer on the body that prevents rust, as even the tiniest speck of rust can become a major headache if left unattended.
Having small body and bumper scratches buffed out and repainted is essential to keeping your car healthy.
Cracked Bumpers
Some people assume that the second a small crack forms on a bumper, it’s done for. That’s not necessarily the case, though.
Plastic bumper crack repair can easily be done at a body shop near you, as long as it’s caught early and there’s no underlying damage. The process involves professionally sanding the affected area, applying automotive-grade epoxy, and repainting to match the rest of the bumper. This process involves more steps than other forms of bumper repair, so it’s a bit more expensive. Still, if you get hit from behind and notice a bumper or fender crack afterward, it’s a heck of a lot cheaper than a whole rear bumper replacement job.
Fixing cracks and fissures ASAP is absolutely pivotal, because once a hole starts to form, it’s only going to get bigger. Left unfixed, a small crack can eventually compromise your bumper’s structural integrity, making it unsafe to drive and leading to more expensive solutions.
Plastic bumper crack repair can easily be done at a body shop near you, as long as it’s caught early and there’s no underlying damage. The process involves professionally sanding the affected area, applying automotive-grade epoxy, and repainting to match the rest of the bumper. This process involves more steps than other forms of bumper repair, so it’s a bit more expensive. Still, if you get hit from behind and notice a bumper or fender crack afterward, it’s a heck of a lot cheaper than a whole rear bumper replacement job.
Fixing cracks and fissures ASAP is absolutely pivotal, because once a hole starts to form, it’s only going to get bigger. Left unfixed, a small crack can eventually compromise your bumper’s structural integrity, making it unsafe to drive and leading to more expensive solutions.
Bumper Replacement
In the event of a dust-up with another object, even if it’s a minor one, it’s possible that your bumper may be damaged beyond repair. Front bumper replacement can be more expensive, but it’s necessary in many cases, and it may actually save you money in the long run.
Here are a few cases where bumper replacement is likely the way to go.
Here are a few cases where bumper replacement is likely the way to go.
Large Dents and Cracks
A sizeable enough crack or crater in your bumper could indicate that the structure has failed. The polymer padding beneath the bumper’s plastic outer shell is likely damaged, which means that one of your vehicle’s key crumple zones is no longer doing its job.
Your wheels, tires, suspension, headlights, and even the engine itself are at a greater risk once bumper damage gets past a certain level. In fact, if the bumper is dashed badly enough, it’s usually a good idea to have the entire area inspected, because unseen damage is common.
If your auto body specialist confirms that a crack or dent is bad enough, unfortunately, no amount of PDR or epoxy is gonna bring it back—time for a bumper replacement.
Your wheels, tires, suspension, headlights, and even the engine itself are at a greater risk once bumper damage gets past a certain level. In fact, if the bumper is dashed badly enough, it’s usually a good idea to have the entire area inspected, because unseen damage is common.
If your auto body specialist confirms that a crack or dent is bad enough, unfortunately, no amount of PDR or epoxy is gonna bring it back—time for a bumper replacement.
Big Bumper Paint Damage
Touching up a few kerfuffles in the clear coat is one thing, but if the paint is scraped badly enough, you may want to think about replacing the bumper altogether. While it may seem counterintuitive to replace the bumper if the structure is still sound, it’s really a case-by-case situation.
On one hand, if the paint is ruined across a significant portion of the bumper, you may decide to have the whole thing buffed and painted to avoid the hassle of a bumper transplant. Doing it this way makes sense in some cases; for instance, if you have an older vehicle that’s harder to find replacement parts for.
A good basic rule of thumb is this: have the paint fixed, as long as the cost of the paint job itself isn’t more than the cost of a new bumper.
On the other hand, buying a new bumper and having it installed may not be as expensive as you think. It depends on the vehicle and underlying damage, but most sources quote the price of a bumper between $800 to $2,000. So, when factoring in bumper replacement cost, you may find that it’s actually cheaper than having the whole thing repainted.
When in doubt, stop by your local body shop and ask about a free estimate.
On one hand, if the paint is ruined across a significant portion of the bumper, you may decide to have the whole thing buffed and painted to avoid the hassle of a bumper transplant. Doing it this way makes sense in some cases; for instance, if you have an older vehicle that’s harder to find replacement parts for.
A good basic rule of thumb is this: have the paint fixed, as long as the cost of the paint job itself isn’t more than the cost of a new bumper.
On the other hand, buying a new bumper and having it installed may not be as expensive as you think. It depends on the vehicle and underlying damage, but most sources quote the price of a bumper between $800 to $2,000. So, when factoring in bumper replacement cost, you may find that it’s actually cheaper than having the whole thing repainted.
When in doubt, stop by your local body shop and ask about a free estimate.
Broken Supports
Your bumper is held in place on your car by a series of hooks, screws, and fasteners, all of which can become severely weakened from seemingly inconsequential hits. If one or two of them are damaged, it can be hard to see, or even totally hidden unless the bumper is taken apart completely.
Once enough of these support structures are broken, they’re nearly impossible to fix on their own because of how small they are. So, in rare cases, even if the bumper looks like it’s in relatively good shape from the outside, a body technician may still recommend a complete replacement, because there’s no point in painting or doing PDR on a bumper that’s just gonna fall off every time the wind blows.
Once enough of these support structures are broken, they’re nearly impossible to fix on their own because of how small they are. So, in rare cases, even if the bumper looks like it’s in relatively good shape from the outside, a body technician may still recommend a complete replacement, because there’s no point in painting or doing PDR on a bumper that’s just gonna fall off every time the wind blows.