Plastic Bumper Repair Cost – Is It Expensive?

In most cases, accidents are inevitable, no matter how careful you might be. Bumpers are the most common impact zone on any vehicle whenever an accident occurs. They’re often manufactured with painted plastic. When this plastic bumper is damaged and taken to a mechanic’s workshop, the standard procedure will be to replace the bumper, which is essential for the safety of your car. Having a solid bumper is crucial, so it is necessary to repair every small scratch or paintless dent .

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The extent of the damage will influence the cost to repair a bumper together with modelling your car. At this point, you’ll need to contact a credible auto company for the repairs and also refinishing of your damaged plastic bumpers. Depending on your level of technical skills, it’s possible to repair a small scratch or dent yourself. However, in this write-up, we’ll outline the average costs for professional repair.

The process of fixing or replacing a plastic bumper

Vehicle manufacturing in recent times now fuses bumpers with other components of the vehicle. This makes the bumper to work beyond protecting function in turn, making the cost of fixing the bumper more expensive. In other words, it’s essential to understand the purpose of a modern bumper and the process of fixing it.

Price of Labor – In the past, it’s easier to repair plastic bumper than it is now because before a technician commences a repair, he might need to disconnect it from various components of the vehicle. This process requires a trained hand, and it also consumes time. Some elements that might likely be attached to the plastic bumper includes the following;

  • Trim
  • Air Intakes
  • Warning Systems
  • Lights
  • Airbag Sensors

The process of removing all these components might take up to 3-4 hours, with an average labor cost is $100 per hour.

Paint Labor – Painting comes to play after the removal of the bumper, especially when the damage on the vehicle has been adequately fixed. The repair process also involves the use of putty and other plastic repair material to improve the dents or cracks. The combination of all these helps the technician to create a bumper as it was initially. Once the repair job is done, sanding is done to smoothen the surface. After this, the next phase is the painting which includes a base coat. This can take up to 4 – 5 hours at $100 per hour.

Paint Materials – The process involves involved here including plastic repair material, masking tape, body filler and also paint. Majority of auto body shop charge a flat rate for all materials, which is around $45 per hour.

Bumper Parts – There must be some vehicle parts that get the worse hit in any collision situation. In this case, a replacement is the only option. A bumper replacement cost about $300-$700. However, the cost increases typically when components like lights, sensor, and cameras are involved. In other words, a low-speed collision can take up to $1000.

How Much Does Plastic Bumper Repair Cost?

As it was outlined earlier, car bumpers have been transformed from very simple to multifaceted, including the expertise to hire. When these are summed up, it will merely show why it involves so much to fix a plastic bumper.

  • Labor – It costs about $200-$300 at $100 per hour with a duration of about 2 – 3 hours.
  • Painting – It costs about $300-$400 at $100 per hour with a duration of about 3 – 4 hours.
  • Paint materials – It costs about $135-$180 at $100 per hour with a duration of about 3 – 4 hours.
  • Bumper parts – The average cost is about $300 – $700.

Therefore, it will cost about $935-$1580 for an average bumper repair to be done appropriately.

Contacting your insurer for your bumper repair

By reporting the incident to your insurer, you can claim a repair, especially when another person caused the damage. This means that this option can be considered, especially if you’re passing through a terrible financial challenge.

However, there might be penalties of considering this option, such as paying an upfront fee or losing your no-claims. However, there are still advantages like getting a guaranteed repair as well as financial relief. So endeavour to verify all these details when you contact your insurer.

On the other hand, your insurance rates can triple if you’re at fault whether you have collision coverage or not. In some cases, some car owners do discover that repair cost is almost equal to their deductible. At this point, they prefer to pay from their pocket. Furthermore, extra materials will be needed to cushion the bumper if the damage lacks any mechanical issues.

In Final Conclusion

For the safety of your vehicle, it’s important to repair the bumper whether the dent is minor or not. You can budget about $50 to $600 for minor damage depending on the extent of the damage. In a situation your bumper needs to be replaced entirely, it might cost you about $800 to $2000. Whenever you’re unsure about the severity of the damage, do well to consult a professional.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it possible to repair a plastic bumper?

Yes, many plastic bumper parts can be adequately repaired especially the cover. Also, if you save your bumper, the technician can easily blend the affixed paint more accurately and efficiently.

What is the cost of fixing a bumper? 

For a replacement, it will cost you around $300 – $700. When it involves other components like lights, cameras, lights etc. then expect an increase in the overall cost.

Can my bumper be fixed without replacing it?

Once a bumper is cracked, it must be replaced and not repaired. Though at some point fibreglass or epoxy might be used to fix it. But most at times, it’s better to replace it.

Can my black plastic bumpers be fixed appropriately?

Yes, Scrapes and scuffs can be repaired, but when your black plastic is split into half, it becomes more complicated to fix it because the split needs to be sealed. This process involves sanding, sealing, sculpting and finally painting.

Last update on 2024-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API