All you need to know about car bumper repairs
If you just got into a minor accident, you’re going to want to check if you have any damage. And if you see a scratch or dent in your car bumper, you’re going to want to repair it. Toyota of N Charlotte is here to make it simple for you by giving you the 411 on car bumper repairs – including the car bumper cost, how to get a dent out from a car bumper, and how to remove scratches from a car bumper. Let’s get into it.
Why Should you Get Car Bumper Repair ASAP?
If you recently got into an accident and there were no damages from the outside, you might want to consider bringing into our N Charlotte body shop just in case. Unfortunately, there can be some serious damage behind your car bumper. Let’s get into just a few of the common invisible damages:
Damaged lights:
Fog lights, headlights, turn signals, and license plate lights can all be damaged if your bumper gets hit.
Damaged sensors:
The bumper often protects sensors for your cruise control, parking features, airbags, weather, collision warning system, backup feature, and lane changing system.
Damaged cameras:
The car bumper can also house elements of your car cameras, which can easily be damaged in an accident.
Even if you have minimal damage that is visible, like scratches and dents – you’re still gonna want to fix that ASAP. A dent is considered ‘serious damage’ because they may cause structural issues with your bumper and can lose its main purpose – absorbing energy when you get into a collision or an accident to minimize damage to the rest of your car. Even though scratches are considered ‘aesthetic damages’, they can cause rust overtime if you don’t take care of it. So, whichever type of damage you have – just head over to our Charlotte Toyota body shop just to make sure everything is ‘A Ok’.
How Much Does Car Bumper Repair Cost?
When it comes to car bumper repair costs, there’s not going to be a definitive answer. It all depends on the make and model of your N Charlotte Toyota, the year, damage, and material that your bumper is made of. Here are some basic car bumper repair cost estimates:
Traditional Dent Repair: This type of car bumper repair can start at $150.
Paintless Dent Repair: This type of car repair is when our Charlotte Toyota body shop techs use special tools to pull out dents without affecting the paint on that spot. Typically, it’s cheaper than traditional dent repair and quicker – it starts at around $70.
Cracks, Holes, and Punctures: This car bumper repair cost varies on how deep and large the damage is – it can start at $300…yikes. Watch out for those potholes!
Scratches: These types of car repairs can cost $50 and up. These are typically cheaper than other car bumper repair cost because they aren’t too hard to fix since they’re usually just on the surface and not too deep
Car bumper repair cost is more affordable than car bumper replacement cost. With car bumper replacement, you’ll need to pay for the bumper AND car paint. Usually, minor damage is easy to repair at Toyota of N Charlotte, and you’ll only need a bumper replacement if there’s severe damage.
Is DIY Car Bumper Repair Okay?
We’ve mentioned this before, but it is important to mention again – even if you get into a minor car accident, it’s a good idea to get your vehicle checked by our Charlotte bopy shop experts. This is what could happen:
damaged lights: your fog lights, headlights, and turn signals could be damaged in acar accident.
damaged sensors: you might be surprised to know that damaged sensors can run your bill up a whole lot if these get damaged. The sensors that could get damaged are your parking features, airbags, weather, collision warning system, lane changing system, cruise control, and backup feature.
damaged cameras: you’re going to need to check it out because your bumper has cameras in the back.
And if you decide later on to check it on, it might be more expensive in the future. It will also bring the value of your car down when it’s time to upgrade to a new Toyota.
How to Get a Dent Out of a Car Bumper?
If you’re thinking about DIYing your car bumper repair, you totally can! But, here are some pointers to remember.
Dents that are in soft plastic are easier to repair than dents in metal.
You might end up leaving it for the experts to fix your car bumper repair because you’re going to need special tools to have access behind the bumper. But, if you have those tools – proceed with caution!
You should apply heat to the dent to make it easier to work with – you can use a heat gun, hair dryer, or even boiling water (but be careful with boiling water as it might touch your skin). Also, don’t apply heat for too long as it might ruin your car paint.
Lastly, use something rubber-tipped to push the dent out until it pops back to normal.
How to Remove Scratches From Car Bumper?
You might wonder how to remove scratches from a car bumper. Well, you can DIY it to save some money. But remember that doing it incorrectly can cause more damage than you already had.
Light scratches are relatively easier to fix. Complete a quick test to see if it’s doable: roll your fingernail across it. If it doesn’t catch your nail, then it’s small enough to buff out with sandpaper, a microfiber cloth, or a polishing compound.
Minor scratches can cause damage to the base coat but you can still DIY this! These types of scratches can be removed with sandpaper, a microfiber cloth, or a polishing compound.
Lastly, deep or major scratches are much harder to remove and require special tools and a paint job to top it off. It’s better if you leave this to the pros at our dealership if you come across this.
Stop by Toyota of N Charlotte!
Do you need more tips for your car bumper repair? Just stop by Toyota of N Charlotte at 13429 Statesville Road. Take exit 23 off I-77 in Huntersville.
