Does replacing the front bumper count as a damaged car?
2 Answers
A car with a replaced bumper is not considered a damaged car. Here is more information about damaged cars: Definition: A damaged car is defined as a vehicle that has suffered non-natural damage, resulting in vehicle impairment, reduced mechanical performance, and decreased economic value. Flood-damaged cars, fire-damaged cars, and spliced cars all fall under the category of damaged cars. How to accurately define a damaged car: Damage to the engine compartment and driver's compartment; rear fender impact exceeding 1/3; welding, reshaping, cutting, or deformation of the vehicle's longitudinal beams, shock absorbers, or ABC pillars; vehicles with deployed airbags; vehicle body flooded beyond half of the body or water entering the driver's compartment; vehicle body fire damage exceeding 0.5 square meters, or non-removable parts showing signs of welding, cutting, reshaping, or deformation.
Last time my car got scratched, I specifically looked into this issue after replacing the front bumper. Strictly speaking, it doesn't count as a salvage vehicle because the bumper is just a plastic shell, which is a non-structural exterior panel unrelated to the car's core frame structure. The mechanic told me during repairs that as long as the metal components behind it like the crash beam or radiator support weren't damaged, simply replacing the bumper counts as routine maintenance. However, you should be cautious when buying used cars - some dealers might exaggerate minor collisions as major accidents. It's best to check maintenance records for any evidence of structural component repairs. Minor scratches during daily driving are perfectly normal, so don't assume your car is a salvage vehicle just because it needed a bumper replacement.
