7 min read
Almost everyone asking about bumper repair really wants the answer to one question: is it cheaper to repair this or replace it? For the great majority of everyday bumper damage, repair is cheaper — often by half — and the result is indistinguishable when it is done properly.
The figures below are indicative UK guide ranges for 2026. Bumpers vary hugely between models, particularly where sensors, cameras and radar are built in, so we quote from photographs or an inspection.
Indicative UK bumper prices
Two things push a bumper job up: paint type, and what is behind the skin. Metallic and pearl finishes need blending into the wings; parking sensors, cameras, radar units, washer jets and grille assemblies all add parts and labour, and radar or camera work may require recalibration afterwards.
- Small scuff or scrape, SMART repair — around £120-£250
- Whole bumper repaired and refinished — around £180-£350
- Cracked or split bumper, plastic welded and refinished — around £250-£450
- Replacement bumper, supplied, painted and fitted — around £400-£900 on a mainstream car
- Replacement on a premium or sensor-heavy bumper, including calibration — £900-£2,000+
Repair or replace — how we decide
Modern bumpers are thermoplastic, so they can be reshaped with heat, plastic-welded and rebuilt in ways metal cannot. That makes repair viable for far more damage than most people expect.
- Repair — scuffs, scrapes, gouges, small holes, dents, deformed sections and most cracks and splits, including tabs and mounting lugs that have broken off
- Replace — the bumper is shattered into pieces, badly distorted across its whole length, cracked through a sensor or camera aperture, or so heavily repaired previously that it will not hold shape
- Replace — the mounting structure behind it is damaged, in which case the crash bar and absorber matter more than the skin
Can a cracked bumper be repaired?
Usually yes. The crack is V-grooved out from both sides, plastic-welded with a matched filler rod, reinforced from behind, flatted flush, primed, sprayed and lacquered. Done correctly it is as strong as the surrounding material and the crack does not reappear.
What does not work is filling a crack with body filler and painting over it. Filler has no flex and bumpers flex constantly, so it reappears as a line within months. If a quote for a cracked bumper looks very cheap, that is usually why.
Why replacement isn't the safe option
A new bumper is not automatically better. A pattern (non-genuine) bumper often needs work to fit correctly and the grain and shut lines can differ from the original. It still has to be painted and blended, so you pay for both the part and the paintwork. And on a car with parking sensors, you are also paying to transfer or replace sensors and recalibrate.
Where the original panel is sound, repairing it keeps original fit and factory shut lines, and costs less.
Insurance or pay privately?
Most bumper repairs land close to a typical £250-£500 excess, so paying privately usually works out better once you factor in losing your no-claims discount and declaring a claim for five years. We are happy to estimate both ways so you can compare.
Get a price today
WhatsApp us three photographs — one close up of the damage, one from a few feet back, and one of the whole front or rear of the car — with the make, model and year. We will tell you honestly whether it should be repaired or replaced, and what each would cost.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to repair a bumper scuff in the UK?
- A localised SMART repair to a bumper scuff is typically £120-£250. Refinishing the whole bumper is usually £180-£350, depending on size, colour and whether it needs blending into adjacent panels.
- Is it cheaper to repair or replace a bumper?
- Repair is almost always cheaper. A repair and refinish typically costs £180-£450, whereas a supplied, painted and fitted replacement usually starts around £400 and rises sharply on cars with sensors, cameras or radar.
- Can a cracked bumper be repaired?
- Yes, in most cases. The crack is grooved out, plastic-welded with a matched rod, reinforced behind, then filled flush, primed and refinished. Only bumpers that are shattered, badly distorted or cracked through a sensor aperture normally need replacing.
- How long does a bumper repair take?
- A SMART repair to a scuff is often same-day or next-day. A full bumper repair and refinish usually takes two to three days including paint curing. Replacement depends on parts availability.
- How much is a new bumper?
- The bare part is commonly £150-£500 on a mainstream car, but the fitted cost including paint, blending, clips and any sensor transfer is typically £400-£900, and higher on premium or sensor-heavy vehicles.
Need this doing properly?
See how we handle this work, or send photos for a free, no-obligation estimate.
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