What to Consider When Getting Your Bumper Repaired
Rear-end collisions are one of the most common kinds of car accidents and can leave your car without a functioning bumper. Even when the bumper is still functional, unsightly dents can greatly decrease your car’s trade-in value. This is why bumper repair must be done quickly and thoroughly, to keep your car safe and in great condition.
Get Your Bumper Inspected
Not all bumper repair deals with minor dents and scrapes. Especially after an accident, you must check for damage that isn’t visible at first glance. The absorber and reinforcement bar are two parts that can be damaged or compromised without any visible exterior damage. The reinforcement bar protects the entire bumper and the absorber reduces shock from a collision. If one or both of these parts is damaged in an accident, that means your bumper can no longer protect you or your vehicle in the event of another collision. Always have your bumper removed and inspected after a collision, even if it looks fine on the outside.
Repair Don’t Replace
After getting into a car accident, many people assume that their first step should be to get their bumper replaced. But even in the event of a rear-end collision, getting a bumper repair is usually more cost-effective. New bumpers can cost between $300 and $700; repairing your bumper saves you money, as well as the time it would take to order and install the new part. If your car has its original bumper, repairing it avoids replacing it with a lower-quality aftermarket bumper.
Benefits of Keeping an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Bumper:
- greater assurance of quality
- easier to choose the part you need
- comes with a warranty
All of these benefits can also affect your car’s trade-in value; replacing your bumper with an aftermarket part would get rid of these benefits for you and anyone who purchases your car. Bumper repair cost is usually lower than replacement, and won’t compromise the quality of your bumper.
Keep Costs Down
Auto bumper repairs require precision to avoid replacing the entire bumper, even with minor damage. Detaching the bumper is an industry-standard and allows for the best repair. Once the bumper is detached, a plastic welder can be used to buff out dents and minor scratches. In the event of large dents from a car accident, the welder can remove the damage without having to replace the part. The goal of a bumper repair is to fix any damage without having to replace the part and to make sure the entire bumper is in the right condition to keep you safe.
Getting your bumper repaired should be a top priority after any accident; without being able to absorb the shock of a collision it can’t protect your headlights, fuel system, transmission, or you. But getting a bumper repair should not mean shelling out hundreds of dollars for a replacement. Find a repair shop that can precisely remove damage and ensure the integrity of your car’s original bumper. This will get you back on the road as quickly and safely as possible.
