How Much Will it Cost to Replace a Front Bumper?

At a body shop, it will cost $500 to $1,500 to replace a front bumper. For more extensive repairs, your front bumper replacement cost may be up to $5,000.

Depending on your insurance coverage and whether or not you caused the accident, insurance may cover the cost to replace your front bumper. But an insurance-covered body shop repair isn’t your only option to repair your front bumper.

A DIY front bumper replacement can cost less than a body shop. Additionally, depending on your vehicle's make and model popularity, such as whether you have a Chevrolet or Toyota, your front bumper replacement cost will vary. 

Can a Plastic Front Bumper be Repaired?

Your vehicle's bumpers serve a particular purpose: to protect more critical parts of your car from damage. Bumpers absorb much of the impact and damage in low-speed accidents while the rest of your vehicle remains untouched. They're built to be broken, so you don’t have to make major body repairs. But that often means that bumpers suffer severe damage, even in minor accidents. 

Also, surrounding parts or parts behind the bumper may be damaged, including:

• Lights
• Sensors
• Decorative molding

Is it Cheaper to Repair or Replace a Bumper?

Often, bumper covers are replaced instead of repaired. Even low-speed impacts can cause serious damage that costs more to fix than a bumper replacement. 

Most modern bumpers are made up of structural support, plastic filler, shock-absorbing foam, and a plastic cover. If you do not have much damage, you may only need to address paint damage or replace the damaged area: the cover and possibly the foam underneath. In more serious collisions, the underlying structure may need work as well.

Most repair shops use specialized tools to salvage a damaged bumper. If you’re planning to DIY, it generally costs less to replace a damaged bumper than repair it.

How Much Will it Cost to Replace a Front Bumper?

Depending on your make, model, and the severity of your collision, your cost to replace a front bumper at an auto body shop can be between $500 to $1,500 for basic plastic bumper replacement. Expect to pay up to $5,000 or more for front bumper repairs and replacements that require extensive work. Another option is to forgo the body shop by buying a painted car part.

Expect your costs for a front bumper replacement to vary depending on:

• Your vehicle's make, model, and year.
• Whether your bumper is original or aftermarket.
• Availability and cost of replacement parts.
• Severity of the damage.
• Labor costs, which can range from less than $50 to more than $200 per hour depending on skills, certifications, and repair shop overhead.

Front bumper replacements involve removing the old bumper, inspecting for underlying damage, and replacing it with new parts. Typically, this involves the cost of the parts, labor, and painting at the body shop. 

Consider your options for bumper repair:

• Traditional dent repair: This cost will range from $250 to $600 and is a common way to repair dents on your bumper.
• Paintless dent repair: Paintless dent repair involves pulling out dents without repainting and is typically cheaper than traditional dent repair. However, your bumper may need more repair than this.
• Filling in damage: If you have scratches, cracks, or holes, a body shop may fill them in and touch up the paint. The cost for this repair varies widely, ranging from $50 to $600.

Does Insurance Cover Bumper Replacement?

If your front bumper needs replacement, it's likely due to an accident, whether you're at fault or another party. Should you use your auto insurance? It depends on your situation, as well as the estimated cost of front bumper replacement.

If you're not at fault for the accident, don't hesitate to claim the repair on the other party's insurance. Typically, insurance will pay your repairs in full with no cost or other drawbacks for you. Many insurance companies also offer a guarantee on repairs. However, a front bumper is rarely damaged due to no fault of the driver in that vehicle (rear bumpers, of course, are another story).

If you're at fault, consider whether you'd like to use your insurance to pay for the bumper repair cost. You may not have a choice: if you don't carry collision insurance, you’ll pay for repairs you've caused without any help from the insurance company. Even if you do have collision coverage, filing a claim may cause your insurance rates to increase in the future.

Many vehicle owners find that front bumper repair costs are about the same as their deductible and choose not to claim the repair on insurance. If you're simply replacing the front bumper and possibly the foam behind it, it's probably best just to pay out of pocket. However, if you're facing significant repairs, including structural or mechanical damage, it may make sense to get help from your insurance company.

Ask yourself these questions if you're considering whether to use insurance or pay out of pocket:

• Was the accident your fault? It may be wise to pay out of pocket if you don't want to make a claim for your accident, or you don't have collision coverage.
• Is the damage less than your deductible? If so, you may prefer to pay out of pocket.

What to Expect When You Repair or Replace a Front Bumper

Expect these steps when you choose to repair or replace a front bumper with an auto body repair shop:

• Get an estimate and discuss the cost with the insurance company.
• The shop will order your parts. Whether you get original or aftermarket parts depends on your insurance company, or your preference if you're paying for it out of pocket.
• You'll bring in your vehicle and the damaged parts will be removed.
• Repairable parts will be fixed using specialized tools and repainted with a color match, if needed.
• Replacement parts will be installed on your vehicle, along with any repairable parts.
• You should have the opportunity to inspect your vehicle before accepting repairs.

Saving Money on Front Bumper Repair or Replacement

Costs to repair or replace a front bumper can be steep, so it pays to find ways to save money. You can choose your own repair shop, not just the one your insurance company points you to. It's smart to get estimates from multiple repair shops, weighing both quality of product and price. You also have the option to do your own repairs, as you can order a replacement bumper and install it yourself.

Is it Just Front Bumper Damage?

When your front bumper is damaged, other parts of your vehicle may sustain damage as well. Damage can be due to the angle of the collision or as a ripple effect during the impact. If you're replacing your front bumper, look at your headlights, grill, and other front-end parts that are easily damaged.

Some vehicles may cost more to repair. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that the bumpers on several car models do not adequately protect vehicle headlights and other equipment from damage in collisions. Additional equipment damaged can include radar sensors and turbochargers. Vehicles in front-end collisions may ultimately sustain more extensive (and expensive) damages than just the bumper.

More serious accidents could cause underlying structural damage. If you need to repair or replace the structure underneath your bumper cover and foam, your repair will be significantly more expensive. Damage to vehicle mechanics, including the radiator, suspension, and engine, is difficult and expensive to repair.

Can You Fix Your Own Front Bumper?

If you're comfortable with basic auto repair, a front bumper replacement is probably a project you can take on yourself, provided there is no extensive damage. If you're just putting in a new bumper, it's not much more complicated than replacing a headlight or changing your oil. Plus, you can save hundreds on the labor cost of replacing your front bumper.

Check out the ReveMoto YouTube page for model-specific bumper installation tutorial videos. The tools needed are a ratchet or wrench, a panel clip pliers, and a screwdriver. These are common household tools except for the panel clip pliers, but a flat-head screwdriver is a great substitute for the pliers. 

Whether you choose an insurance body shop replacement or a self-funded DIY venture, be sure to take care of your front bumper replacement as soon as you can. A broken front bumper can come loose and cause further damage. If you're unlucky enough to have another collision while it's broken, your bumper may not adequately protect you in the second accident.