How Much Does Bumper Repair Cost? Real Prices for Every Type of Damage

Bumper repair costs at WRC Collision in North Hollywood: scuffs and paint transfer $150-$400, cracks with refinishing $300-$600, dented or deformed bumpers $350-$700, and full replacement $800-$2,000 (more with sensors or cameras). Most repairs finish in 1-2 days. Free written estimates — call (818) 765-8500.

Bumper damage is the most common repair in the auto body business — and the most commonly overpriced or oversold. Some damage that looks terrible costs $200 to fix; some damage that looks minor hides broken brackets and crushed absorbers behind the cover. This guide gives you the real 2026 numbers we quote every day, explains when repair beats replacement, and helps you decide whether to involve your insurance company.

Bumper Repair Prices by Damage Type

• Scuffs, scrapes, paint transfer: $150-$400 — sanding, polishing and spot refinishing, often same-day
• Cracked bumper cover (repairable): $300-$600 — plastic welding, filler, and refinish
• Dented / deformed plastic cover: $350-$700 — heat reforming or filler plus refinish
• Bumper cover replacement, standard vehicle: $800-$1,500 installed and painted
• Bumper replacement with parking sensors or camera: $1,200-$2,000+ including recalibration
• Hidden damage (absorber, brackets, reinforcement bar): adds $150-$600 in parts

Repair or Replace? How the Call Gets Made

Modern bumpers are flexible plastic covers over an energy absorber and steel or aluminum reinforcement. Cosmetic damage to the cover — scuffs, minor cracks, shallow dents — is very repairable, and repairing typically saves 40-60% versus replacement. Replacement is the right call when cracks reach mounting tabs, when the cover is torn or has lost shape memory, or when the structure behind it is crushed. Any honest estimate starts with pulling back the cover's edge and inspecting what's behind it; a shop quoting replacement without looking underneath is guessing with your money.

Why Sensors Change the Price

If your car has parking sensors, blind-spot radar, or a camera in the bumper, expect the repair to cost more — those components must be transferred or replaced, and driver-assistance systems generally require recalibration afterward. Skipping recalibration isn't a corner worth cutting: a radar aimed two degrees off reads the road wrong. At WRC Collision, sensor testing and recalibration are part of every bumper job on equipped vehicles.

Should You Use Insurance for a Bumper Repair?

Run the math against your deductible. With a $500 deductible and a $450 scuff repair, filing a claim gains you nothing and puts a claim on your record. With a $1,600 sensor-equipped replacement, insurance usually makes sense — especially if another driver was at fault, in which case their liability coverage pays and your deductible never enters the picture. We give you the real number first, free and in writing, so you can decide with facts instead of fear.

The $60 Bumper 'Fix' vs. the Real Thing

DIY kits and mobile scratch guys can improve a light scuff, and for a very old car that's sometimes enough. But filler-and-spray-can repairs on cracks fail quickly — bumpers flex constantly, and unreinforced filler cracks right back out. Professional plastic welding bonds the cover structurally before refinishing, which is why our crack repairs carry a lifetime workmanship warranty and roadside repairs don't survive a summer.

Get Your Bumper Quote in 15 Minutes

Bring your car to WRC Collision at 6926 Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood and we'll give you a free written bumper repair estimate on the spot — including an honest repair-versus-replace recommendation and both prices. Most bumper repairs are finished in 1-2 days. Call (818) 765-8500 or book your free estimate online.