With the current generation being so excited to get on the roads and start driving, the probability of minor car accidents is more common than ever; solely due to the number of drivers on the road.
Of course, with more drivers comes higher insurance premiums and for some young drivers, it may not always be possible to get the full standard coverage on a vehicle. In these instances, drivers may be unsure when a repair may be more suitable than a replacement.
One of the most common instances where vehicle damage occurs is during parking and specifically on the bumper of cars. Parallel parking for newbies or even the tricky reverse bay park for more seasoned drivers is usually the culprit for bumper damage.
In this article, we’ll be discussing whether it is cheaper to repair or replace bumpers in the current economy and when each type of fix is necessary.
When is a bumper replacement necessary?
Bumper replacements are usually more necessary when the actual integrity of the bumper is compromised. This can look like a cracked or split bumper, where the component of the vehicle is at risk of breaking off and in turn, could be seen as a risk when driving. The broken bumper could fly off, harming other vehicles and presenting an obstacle on the roads.
Bumpers are designed to flex and are usually the part of the car that takes the brunt of most cosmetic damage, but after a few of these occurrences, the bumper starts to withstand less damage. Signs of this can show up in an MOT, as well.
When should you not replace a bumper and repair it instead?
However, the replacement of a bumper is not always necessary. Sometimes, the damage is only minimal and a small repair will fix the damage caused instead. Instances like this may look like paint damage or minor scratches after reversing slightly into a bush or something similar.
In general, most scuffs, chips, scratches, or grazes are not a cause for replacement and in a matter of hours, a trained garage that specializes in paint jobs or cosmetic damage can have the bumper back up to code in no time at all. This kind of request is one of the most common for vehicle repair specialists.
If you’re not sure whether your damage falls under the need for replacement or repair, you can contact one of these specialists for more information. One of the more popular ones in the UK currently is mendadent.co.uk, specialising in repairs for all kinds of vehicles.
Factors to consider when budgeting for bumper damage
When comparing the need for a replacement or a repair for car bumpers, the former will usually always be what is assumed to be expensive, as a whole new part is being removed and added onto the vehicle.
However, this depends on the damage done. If you are sending your car in for repair as there are several surface-level scratches to the bumper’s paint job, a garage may charge you a significant amount more than if there was just one scratch. Obviously, this is due to the longer amount of time needed to complete the job.
After budgeting for the labor that will go into the paint restoration of the bumper, you may find that the cost has rocketed up, and exceeded the amount that it would cost for a replacement instead. In this instance, it is clear that a repair would be the cheaper way to go.
However, with a replacement job, you also have to consider the time it will take the garage to source your vehicle’s specific bumper and go through the laborious process of replacing it professionally. This can also be quite costly, even more so if you require a quicker turnaround time.
Overall, most drivers would agree that it is cheaper to repair a bumper in 2021 rather than replace one, as a replacement requires a whole new part to be ordered and attached. However, this is of course dependent on the damage done and you should always refer to a specialist for further advice.