How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Rear Bumper

Whether you have been in a recent collision or you have an older vehicle that just needs a facelift, replacing your bumper can be an expensive process. When you bring your vehicle to a shop you are at their mercy.

If you replace your bumper yourself, however, you can save a lot of money. Even if you don’t do the work to replace the bumper, and only purchase the bumper and have a shop put it on and paint it for you, you will still save a lot of money.

The cost to repair a rear bumper will cost between $225 and $1800. The exact amount depends on which vehicle it is for and the extent of the damage. If a repair is not possible the cost to replace a rear bumper is at least $2000.

Bumper Repair Costs

Things that affect bumper repair costs are:

• The severity of the damage
• The age of the vehicle
• The make and model of the vehicle
• The type of material the bumper is made of (most bumpers are plastic, some have aluminum or steel reinforcement)

There are many different types of repairs that can fix your damaged bumper situation:

Dent & Ding Repair

The average cost to repair a dent in a rear bumper ranges from $170 to $650.

Paintless Dent Repair

A Paintless Dent Repair, or PDR, is a method of pulling out dents using specialized equipment so that the paint is not damaged.

This is usually a less-expensive option and is a lot quicker than conventional dent repair. This is usually only a viable option if the dent did not remove any paint when it happened.

Also, this is not something that you can really do for a plastic bumper most of the time.

Punctures & Cracks

If you have cracks or holes in your bumper, then you can expect to pay around $350 to $450 to have your number repaired at a shop.

Anything that involves filling cracks, sanding down areas, and using adhesives to patch holes is going to be more expensive because it is labor-intensive.

Scratches

If you are lucky and just have a few light scratches to fix, those are typically quick and easy to repair. Deeper scratches, however, can result in severe paint chips that go all the way down to the metal or plastic that the bumper is made out of.

So, depending on how bad the scratch(s) are, it could cost you between $100 and $700 to have scratches fixed at a shop.

Complete Bumper Replacement Costs

The cost of replacing a bumper on a vehicle is going to vary based on:

• The age of the vehicle
• The make & model of the vehicle
• Whether the bumper is an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) or aftermarket bumper

A new rear bumper for a passenger car or small truck will cost somewhere between $150 and $1,100, depending on several factors.

In addition to that, the installation and painting are usually an extra cost that is somewhere in the range of $300 to $700. Bumpers for larger vehicles such as pickup trucks, SUVs, and luxury vehicles often come with a larger cost as well.

Let’s take a look at how much it costs to fix and replace a bumper on various vehicles:

The Cost of Labor

The by-the-hour labor rates at auto body repair shops and dealerships vary widely across the nation. Even when shopping for repair services within the same city, it’s not uncommon to find a wide range of rates.

According to AAA, auto body repair shops on their list generally charge between $50 and $200 per hour. Repair shops usually use these factors to determine the labor rate:

• The certifications that a technician has
• The experience level of the technician
• The types of vehicles they service
• Whether they are independent or a dealership
• Business overhead

Using Insurance vs. Paying Cash

Is it better to use insurance or pay out of pocket for a bumper repair or replacement? To properly answer that question, you need to determine the following:

What is Your Deductible?

The cost of your deductible is one of the most important factors in any repair. For example, if your bumper has minor damage, paying for the repair out of your own pocket may end up being cheaper than paying your insurance deductible.

In addition to being cheaper, it will also keep your insurance rates low. 

Usually, the cost of a bump kit online is less than the cost of most auto-insurance deductibles. Also, buying your own part will always save you money by avoiding a mark-up by the repair shop. 

The Bumper Replacement & Repair Process

This is generally how a bumper repair or bumper replacement goes:

Step 1: Technicians perform an estimate on a part-by-part basis to determine if a repair or replacement is the best option 

Step 2: The shop will coordinate with your (or the other driver’s) insurance company and order all necessary parts. 

Step 3: The bumper is removed and disconnected from all components including lights, warning systems, and sensors

Step 4: Technicians use specialized tools to fix any scratches, dents, cracks, and holes and paint the bumper an exact color so that it matches.

This is usually a very expensive and time-consuming process. So, for that reason, it’s a good idea to check out the prices of replacement bumper kits online. If you do this job yourself, you can end up saving a whole lot of money.

What’s The Cost To Fix My Rear Bumper?

The price to repair a rear bumper varies widely depending on many factors. Regardless of what type of repair or replacement needs to be done, you are going to need to take into consideration both parts and labor.

With some luxury vehicles, you can expect to spend something on the order of several thousand dollars to get a full bumper replacement.

If replacing your bumper yourself was not an option, you may find yourself in a situation where you have to ask yourself if repairing the car is worth it.

How to Save Money on Bumper Repairs & Replacement

You can save yourself hundreds of dollars by doing a bumper replacement yourself. There are several companies that sell high-quality aftermarket bumper replacement kits.

These kits usually come with everything you need for a do-it-yourself bumper replacement.

You should get a few estimates from local repair shops. You will find that even the cheapest one will be several hundred dollars more than the most expensive do-it-yourself bumper replacement kit.

Tips For Bumper Cover Replacement

Before you attempt to replace your bumper on your own, keep in mind that doing something like this is much easier if you have someone giving you a hand.

Some bumpers are heavy-duty truck bumpers that simply weigh too much for one person to be able to maneuver.

So, if you can have two sets of hands-on this project, it will make this job a lot easier. Also, it will take less time to do.

Also, there are many bolts locking pins that you are going to need to keep track of.

Remember, those plastic clips experience a lot of heat and forces over the years, so be careful with them as they are more than likely brittle and can easily break when you try to remove them. So, picking up some extra clips is a good idea.

When you have finished replacing your bumper, you will need to take your vehicle to the local body shop to get your new bumper painted to match the rest of your vehicle.

Doing it this way saves you a lot of money because you end up doing most of the work for them.

How Do I Replace My Vehicle’s Bumper?

Step 1: Put the transmission in park

Step 2: If its a manual transmission, activate the parking brake

Step 3: Pop the hood to disconnect the negative battery cable

Step 4: Pop the trunk.

NOTE: Make sure to check your repair manual or do some research online so that you can visually locate bolts and clips that secure the rear bumper cover.

These can usually be removed with a flat-head or Phillips screwdriver. Some vehicles, however, require sockets and some higher-end German cars could even require special tools.

Step 5: Remove the fasteners holding on the rear fender liner

Step 6: Remove the bolts and retainers on the bottom of the rear bumper cover.

NOTE: If you are having trouble getting the bolts out, then just spray them with WD-40 or another rust penetrant and let the bolts soak for about 10 minutes.

Step 7: Remove the rear bumper from the vehicle. 

NOTE: Make sure to pull the rear bumper cover straight off, pulling directly forward and away from the vehicle. If you pull to one side or the other, you can break a few clips.

Step 8: Remove the fog lights and other accessories from the rear bumper

Step 9: Swap the accessories over to the new rear bumper

Step 10: Attach any wiring for the accessories to the new rear bumper

Step 11: Snap the new rear bumper into place

Step 12: Reattach fasteners to the fender liner. 

NOTE: Make sure the liner doesn’t have any gaps against the fender.

What is The Main Cause Of Rear Bumper Damage?

Usually, rear bumper damage occurs as a result of being rear-ended. Getting hit from behind is one of the most common types of collisions in the USA, making up 29 percent of all car crashes in the country.

These kinds of collisions can range widely in severity. Minor impacts are referred to as ‘fender benders’ as they only result in minor scratches to your bumper.

A much faster collision, however, often results in substantial damage to the bumper and the underlying structure it is attached to.

Can My Bumper Be Repaired Or Does It Need To Be Replaced?

That really depends on the severity of the damage. It also depends on how perfect you want to restore it.

If you are only trying to make it legal and safe, then you can get away with spending and doing a lot less. On the other hand, if you are wanting to restore your bumper to like-new condition, it’s going to cost a little more and would require more work.

In that case, you may need to just replace it entirely.

Types Of Damage That Can Be Repaired

• Small scratches
• Tiny dents
• Light scuffs

Types Of Damage That Requires Bumper Replacement

• Major scratches
• Large dents
• Frame damage 
• Cracked or holes in the bumper

FAQ

Do I Have To Leave My Car Overnight For Repairs?

A bumper repair could take anywhere between 2 hours and 2 days or more to complete. However long it takes depends on the type of vehicle you have and the severity of the damage.

The availability of parts and where you choose to have the work done is also a factor.

What Is The Rear Bumper Replacement Cost For a Honda Accord?

Generally, the cost to replace the bumper on a Honda Accord at a shop ranges from $500 to about $1400.

Remember, OEM replacement parts are often more expensive than their aftermarket counterparts while providing the same level of performance and reliability. 

If You Hit a Guardrail Does Your Insurance Pay For The Damages?

Yes. Any damages that occur to the guardrail will be paid by your insurance company under your Property Damage Liability coverage.

Property Damage Liability is required Nationwide, so it’s included in all auto insurance policies and these types of things will be paid for without having to pay a deductible.

What Is The Rear Bumper Replacement Cost For A Honda Civic?

The cost of a replacement Honda Civic bumper varies depending on the vehicle’s year and the extent of the damage, but you can expect OEM replacement parts to cost between $130 to $1,400.

How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Nissan Altima Rear Bumper Cover?

It can cost $200 to $300 dollars at the shop. While this may be the easiest solution, it’s not always the fastest and is definitely not the cheapest way to go.

What Is The Rear Bumper Replacement Cost For a Toyota Camry?

This can cost somewhere around $900 to $1200 depending on the year of your Camry and how badly it is damaged. A local mechanic will charge quite a bit for this procedure and will make a healthy profit margin on the part.

So, it’s a good idea to buy the part yourself before calling a shop.

Conclusion

Whether you are fixing your vehicle up after an accident or breathing new life into an older vehicle, getting your rear bumper replaced can be a daunting task. 

As you read above, replacing your rear bumper on your own can save you a lot of money. In fact, even if you just source the part and take it to a shop, you are bound to save some cash. 

Considering the fact that the average rear bumper costs somewhere between $300 and $800 to repair at a shop while the average DIY part cost is under $200, it’s a no-brainer to get the part and try to do it yourself. 

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