How much does bumper repair cost?

Fixing a scuffed or scratched bumper usually costs $300 to $700 at a body shop; a light scratch can be $150 to $300, and a dent or crack that has to be repaired and repainted runs about $700 to $1,800.

Written by Todd Whittington, Editor·Last reviewed October 19, 2026

What bumper repair costs Typical ranges, not quotes

Bumpers today are a plastic cover over a foam or metal bar, often with sensors behind them. Most damage is to the cover. If the cover is torn badly or the sensors are hit, it's a replacement: see bumper replacement cost.

What bumper repair costs, by vehicle class
Damage	Sedan	SUV	Pickup	Luxury or EV
Light scratch, buffed or touched upMaaco and AAA figuresShould you claim it? →	$150–$300	$160–$320	$170–$330	$200–$390
Scuff or scratch, sanded and repaintedOur sample range, the one the collision calculator usesShould you claim it? →	$300–$700	$320–$740	$330–$770	$390–$910
Dent, crack or small tear, repaired and repaintedConsumer Reports (RepairPal data), basic bumper repairShould you claim it? →	$700–$1,800	$740–$1,890	$770–$1,980	$910–$2,340

Sedan is the base range. The other columns are our factors: SUV ×1.05 and pickup ×1.10, from the Highway Loss Data Institute's collision claim severity by vehicle class (2022–24 models, all collision claims, not bumpers alone), and luxury or EV ×1.30, between Mitchell's EV figure (about 15% more than gas cars in 2026) and HLDI's large luxury cars (about 70% more). Rounded to $10. Download this table (CSV).

Where these numbers come from

The light-scratch and repair rows are published figures from Maaco, AAA and Consumer Reports (RepairPal data). The scuff row is our own sample range, the one the collision calculator uses when you don't have an estimate. Published figures for a scratch run lower than it and a full repaint higher; it sits between them. None of these are quotes: a shop's written estimate is the number that counts.

“For example, a light scratch that only needs surface refinishing might cost around $150–$300.” — Maaco, Why Early Car Dent and Scratch Repair Matters

“Basic bumper repair: $700 to $1,800” — Consumer Reports, The Hidden Cost of Car Safety Features (RepairPal data)

“Deep scratches that require filling and sanding generally run $150-$300 to fix properly.” — AAA, How Much Does It Cost To Paint a Car?

What moves the price

Sensors behind the bumper. A bumper can look fine and still have knocked a parking sensor or radar out of line. Parking sensors run about $300 to $1,000 to replace, and a front radar $500 to $1,300. (AAA ADAS fact sheet)
Paint. Anything that needs repainting costs more than a buff-out or a paintless dent repair, and a repaint has to match the panels around it.
Bumper cover prices. Plastic parts such as bumper covers have gone up in price faster than sheet metal. (Enlyte)
Part type. Recycled and aftermarket parts generally cost less than parts from the carmaker (OEM). Ask which one the estimate uses. (Progressive)
How new the car is. Repairs on newer cars cost more: about $2,039 more on average than cars 7 years or older, because of the electronics built in. (CCC Crash Course 2026)

Does insurance pay for this?

If you hit something, a bumper repair is a collision claim. Whether it's worth filing depends on your deductible and how much an at-fault claim would raise your rate, and for a small repair the rate increase often costs more than the claim pays. If someone else hit you, their insurance should pay. The calculator does the math for your car.

Should you use insurance for this?

The collision calculator weighs what a claim pays after your deductible against the rate increase, with your state's rules.

Run the collision calculator →

Frequently asked

Is it cheaper to repair or replace a bumper?

Repair, when it's an option. A scuff, scratch or small dent in the cover can usually be fixed and repainted for a few hundred dollars. A badly torn cover, or one with broken mounting tabs or damaged sensors behind it, has to be replaced, which usually costs $900 or more.

Can a cracked bumper be repaired?

Often, yes. Small cracks and tears in a plastic bumper cover can be welded or filled and repainted. Large cracks, missing pieces or broken mounting points usually mean a new cover.

Should I file an insurance claim for a scratched bumper?

Usually not. A scratch repair often costs less than your deductible, and when it doesn't, an at-fault claim can raise your rate by more than the claim pays. Run the numbers before you file.

Sources

Maaco, Why Early Car Dent and Scratch Repair Matters (2026-01-30). Source.
Consumer Reports, The Hidden Cost of Car Safety Features (RepairPal data) (2020-01-30). Source.
AAA, How Much Does It Cost To Paint a Car?. Source.
Caliber Collision, How Much Does Car Repair Cost. Source.
AAA, ADAS Repair Costs Fact Sheet (2023-12). Source.

We read every source on October 19, 2026. Ranges marked as our sample data are our own estimates, checked against these sources; they are not quotes. Data: bumper-repair-cost.csv, auto-cost-pages.json. Free to cite with attribution to Should I Claim It? (CC BY 4.0). Please link back to this page.