Is It Reasonable to Demand a Full Bumper Replacement for a Scratch?
2 Answers
It depends. It is advisable to report to the police, as the traffic accident certification issued by the public security and traffic management department serves as evidence for handling the accident and is also an important document for the parties involved to submit to the court regarding civil damages. Secondly, you can file a lawsuit, listing both the infringing party and the vehicle's insurance company as defendants. The insurance company will compensate within the scope of its coverage, and any remaining amount will be covered by the infringing party. Therefore, it depends on the type of insurance the other vehicle has. Below is more information about car bumpers: Function: The car bumper is a safety device designed to absorb and mitigate external impacts, protecting the front and rear of the vehicle body. Material: The front and rear bumpers of cars are made of plastic, commonly referred to as plastic bumpers. Components: Generally, a car's plastic bumper consists of three parts: the outer panel, cushioning material, and crossbeam. The outer panel and cushioning material are made of plastic, while the crossbeam is formed by stamping cold-rolled thin sheets into a U-shaped groove, with the outer panel and cushioning material attached to the crossbeam.
I've been in the auto repair business for over twenty years, and I often encounter car owners who want to replace the entire bumper just because of minor scratches. Honestly, it's really unnecessary. Most bumpers are made of plastic, so for slight scratches or small dents, finding a reliable repair shop to sand and repaint can restore it to nearly new condition for just a few hundred bucks. In contrast, replacing a new bumper can easily cost over a thousand and take a lot of time. Unless the scratch is deep enough to cause deformation or structural damage that affects crash performance, replacing it is just burning money. I remember last year, I repaired a similar issue for a client—fixing a minor scratch cost just over 300, saving them 700-800 compared to a replacement. That saved money could be better spent on higher-quality engine oil or brake pads. Maintaining a car requires careful budgeting; don’t rush into major repairs for minor damage. First, take it to a shop and let the mechanic assess the extent of the damage before deciding.
