When your car breaks down, you want to fix it and get back on the road right away. Unfortunately, car repair shops are notorious for adding services to their customers’ bills that weren’t originally discussed.
Cheapinsurance.com compiled this list of five common auto collision repairs using information from all over the Internet. Cost estimates come from a variety of sources, including LendingTree and Chase Bank.
5 Common Auto Collision Repairs and How Much They Cost
How much do common auto collision repairs cost?
According to the latest full data available by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 5.2 million non-fatal motor vehicle accidents in 2020, a 22% decrease from 2019. The number of fatal accidents increased slightly (6.8%), while the number of injured people declined by 17%. Most fatal accidents occur within 25 miles of the home and at speeds of less than 40 mph.
Cheapinsurance.com compiled this list of five common auto collision repairs using information from all over the Internet. Cost estimates come from a variety of sources, including LendingTree and Chase Bank.
Buying a car can be expensive. According to AAA’s August 2022 research, the average annual cost of a new vehicle in 2022 is $10,728, which includes fuel, maintenance, and insurance. Repairs needed after collisions can raise that price tag. While some damage, such as a small ding or minor mark in the paint, lends itself to repair, other work is better left to a professional.
Keep reading to learn about the cost of some of the most common repairs required after an auto collision.
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bumper damage
Car bumpers are designed to absorb the energy of the crash and protect the front and rear of the car in a low-speed collision. Including the hood and trunk, grille, fuel, exhaust and cooling systems, and headlights, taillights and parking lights.
According to Ally, an auto body repair company in Southern California, a bumper repair can cost between $100 and $1,000, while a replacement will run about $800 to $2,000. Since the bumpers of many modern vehicles have sensors and cameras, they must be replaced or repaired, adding to the labor cost.
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car door damage
Car door repairs can cost as little as $50 if you just need a small dent. The price goes up if the paint must be matched to repair the scratch.
Modern car doors tend to house complex wiring and mechanisms for locks and windows, which can be costly to repair. If the door has more than minor dents and scratches, you may need to replace it. You may pay $800 for the door, plus several hundred dollars for the labor.
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scratch paint
When it comes to scratches on your car, it’s the depth of the damage that matters. This is because the paint on your car has many layers of finish. It’s easiest to fix marks in a top clear coat. Deep scratches can be a multi-layered job, while those that reach the metal must be repaired quickly so the car doesn’t rust.
If you have a newer car, the dealership can find the correct paint using the vehicle identification number or VIN. If you want to do the repair yourself, you can usually buy about 2 ounces of paint for $50 to $300. Dealerships will charge anywhere from $150 to $1,000 to fix a scratch and twice that for work on the hood or doors.
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cracked windshield
You may be able to leave small chips in your windshield – caused by pebbles, snow or other small debris from the road hitting your car. But large cracks often spread and can obstruct your view. Before replacing a windshield, it’s important to ask yourself: is it on the driver’s side, is there more than one crack, is it longer than 6 inches, and does it start from the side?
A new windshield can cost between $250 and $400. For a luxury car, the price can range from $1,000 to $4,500. A chip repair on an older car typically costs between $60 and $100.
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dented panel
The cost of repairing a dent can range widely from $50 to $2,500. Small dents from rocks or hail, for example, can cost around $50 to $125 to fix. Large dents can cost $150 or more as a result of a collision.
What increases the price? For example, a bumper may contain electrical parts such as sensors. The dent can spread to several panels, which will need to be replaced. More expensive work may include repainting or sanding.
This story originally appeared on Cheapinsurance.com and is produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studios.
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