24/7 accident line & towing
Bumper Repair & Replacement in Los Angeles
Scuffed, cracked or hanging off after a bump? We repair or replace it with OEM parts, match the paint and recheck the parking sensors and cameras.
- written estimate
- Free
- warranty on repairs
- Lifetime
- Google rating
- 4.9★
Bumper Repair
What Is Actually Behind Your Bumper
The painted part you see is the bumper cover, a plastic shell designed to look good and absorb small impacts. Behind it sits a foam or plastic energy absorber and a steel or aluminum reinforcement bar bolted to the frame rails. On most newer cars the bumper also carries parking sensors, radar for adaptive cruise control or blind-spot monitoring, cameras, fog lights and washer nozzles.
That is why a bumper that looks only scuffed can still hide damage. A rear-end hit at city speed often cracks the absorber or bends the reinforcement bar and its brackets, and those parts are what protect you in the next collision. We take the cover off to look before we finalize the repair plan.
Repair or Replace?
Many bumper covers can be repaired. Scuffs and scratches are sanded and refinished, small dents in plastic are heat-reshaped, and short cracks can be plastic-welded from behind and then refinished. Repair keeps cost down and is a good choice when the cover is structurally sound.
A cover is replaced when it is torn, has several long cracks, has broken mounting tabs or sensor brackets, or when repairing it would take more labor than a new part. Damaged absorbers and bent reinforcement bars are always replaced, not straightened. We use OEM parts, which fit the original mounting points and sensor positions exactly; if your insurer specifies aftermarket parts, California requires that to be disclosed and you can ask for OEM.
Scuffs, scratches and paint transfer:
sand and refinish
Small dents in plastic:
heat-reshape, then refinish
Short cracks:
plastic welding from behind, then refinish
Torn covers, broken tabs, bent reinforcement:
replace with OEM parts
Paint That Matches the Rest of the Car
New bumper covers arrive in black primer, so every replacement is painted. Plastic needs an adhesion promoter and flexible primer so the paint does not crack or peel when the bumper flexes. We read your car's actual color with a spectrophotometer, mix the paint by computer and blend it into the fenders or quarter panels next to the bumper so the color matches in daylight. Learn more about our auto paint shop.
Step by step
How a Bumper Repair Works
- 01
Free inspection with the bumper cover removed when there was an impact
- 02
Written estimate listing repair or replacement for the cover, absorber and reinforcement
- 03
Insurance approval and supplements for any hidden damage we find
- 04
Cover repaired or replaced, reinforcement and brackets replaced with OEM parts
- 05
Adhesion promoter, flexible primer, color-matched paint and clear coat
- 06
Sensors and cameras reinstalled and checked, fit and gaps verified, final inspection
Parking Sensors and Cameras
Sensors and cameras in the bumper have to sit at the exact angle and depth the car was built with. A sensor that is a few degrees off can beep constantly, miss obstacles or switch off driver-assistance features. When we replace or repaint a bumper we reinstall each sensor in its correct bracket, check that the system reports no faults and confirm the camera view before the car goes back to you.
Bumper Damage After an Accident in Los Angeles
Most bumper repairs we see come from rear-end collisions in stop-and-go freeway traffic and from low-speed hits in parking lots and garages. If someone hit you, their insurance should pay for the repair. If you claim on your own policy, you pay your deductible. Our 24/7 line is (213) 282-8201: we send a flatbed if the car shouldn't be driven, document the damage, write the estimate and work directly with the adjuster. Your insurer cannot require its own network shop, so the car can come straight to us; see how we manage the insurance claim.
Low-speed hits can still push in the reinforcement bar and the brackets behind it, and on some cars the energy goes into the frame rails. If the measurements show that, the repair includes frame straightening.
Pricing
What Bumper Repair Costs in Los Angeles
Repairing a cover is usually cheaper than replacing it, and the price of a replacement depends heavily on the car and the sensors in it. The ranges below are typical Los Angeles market prices from our collision repair cost guide; your exact price comes in the free written estimate.
| Repair | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Bumper scratch or scuff (no replacement)Color sanding, blending and paint matching | $150–$400 |
| Bumper replacement, front or rear: partsAftermarket parts cost less; OEM recommended for newer cars | $400–$1,200 |
| Bumper replacement, front or rear: laborPlus paint and blending | $200–$400 |
Get a free estimate
Call or text (213) 282-8201, or send us the details online. Accident line and towing 24/7.
- Leti Auto Works
- 794 Merchant St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
- Arts District, Downtown Los Angeles
- Get directions
- Shop hours
- Monday – Friday10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- SundayClosed
- Accident line and towing answer 24/7.
Bumper Repair — common questions
Didn’t find your question? Call us, a real person answers. 24/7 accident line & towing.
Call (213) 282-8201Can a cracked bumper be repaired instead of replaced?
Often, yes. Short cracks and small dents in a plastic bumper cover can be plastic-welded or heat-reshaped and then refinished. Covers that are torn, have several long cracks or broken mounting tabs are replaced, as are any damaged absorbers or bent reinforcement bars behind the cover.
How long does bumper repair take?
A scuff or scratch repair usually takes one to two days including paint curing. A replacement with paint typically takes two to three days once the part arrives. If the hit also damaged parts behind the bumper, the estimate includes a written timeline for the full repair.
Will my parking sensors work after the repair?
Yes. We reinstall each sensor in its correct bracket and position, check that the system reports no faults and confirm the camera view before you pick up the car.
Should I claim bumper damage on insurance?
If another driver hit you, their insurer should pay and you have no deductible. If you would claim on your own collision coverage, compare the estimate with your deductible; small scuffs are often cheaper to pay directly. We give you the written estimate so you can decide.
Do you use OEM bumpers?
We recommend and use OEM parts, especially on newer cars with sensors in the bumper. If your insurer specifies aftermarket parts, California requires that to be disclosed in the estimate, and you can ask for OEM parts.
Is the bumper repair covered by a warranty?
Yes. Bumper repairs done as part of a collision repair are covered by our lifetime warranty on collision repairs for as long as you own the vehicle, including paint adhesion and color match.
Leti Auto Works repairs and replaces front and rear bumpers at our body shop at 794 Merchant St in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles. We fix scuffs, cracks and dents, replace bumper covers and reinforcements with OEM parts, match the paint to your car and check the parking sensors and cameras mounted in the bumper. After an accident we tow the car free for collision clients and handle the insurance claim.
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