How Much Does a Fender Bender Really Cost?

Posted on October 25, 2018 in Money Saving Tips, Insurance Tips, Auto Insurance, Auto Accidents,

Fender BenderIf there’s one sound that will make your heart drop, it’s the sound of another car ramming right into your bumper. When that happens, one of the questions that races through your mind might be, “How much is this going to cost?”

The damage might not look too serious, but because of our high-tech cars these days, fixing the damage might be more than you think.

How much does it cost to fix your bumper?

It depends on what car you drive. Unfortunately, the averages found by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety were often higher than $2,000 for a car as common as a Chevy Malibu. A more “acceptable” price is when it’s below $1,000, which is enough to fix a bumper on a midsized sedan.

Bumpers are now made to do more than just protect you in a collision. They come equipped with smart technology, cameras, sensors, and more. A minor accident of someone going 10 mph is enough to damage at least one of these new, technological assets.

Smart technology and the like aren’t the only expenses to worry about. In a fender bender, you could damage your frame and engine too, which could be thousands of dollars in parts alone. Take into account the paint and labor costs, and you have a huge expense on your hands.

In order to prepare for the worst, here are a few tips to consider:

  1. Know the features your vehicle has. If you know what kind of features your car has, you’ll have a better idea of how much a fender bender will cost you. Features like backup cameras, sensors, and adaptive cruise control are extremely useful and helpful. However, their usefulness and complex parts make it all the more expensive to repair a bumper.
  2. Examine closely. At first glance, it may just look like you have a few scratches and dents on your vehicle. However, upon further inspection, you may find something seriously wrong under the bumper cover. It would be wise to have your car professionally inspected by a mechanic or repair shop to see how damaged your car really is.
  3. Make sure you know your auto insurance. Knowing your insurance policy will let you know how much you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket for the damages of a fender bender.

 

To make sure you have the right auto insurance, call one of our professionals at Assure America. We have locations in Weirton, Wellsburg and Chester in West Virginia; Steubenville, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

 

Source: https://www.erieinsurance.com/blog/fender-bender-cost


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