Question

How do you fix a dent in a plastic bumper?

Because bumpers are made of light material, they can easily be dented by low-intensity collisions. However, these can be easily fixed either through some DIY techniques or by a visit to the body shop.

How to fix dents in a plastic bumper: 3 easy DIY techniques

Use boiling water on the dented bumper.

Hot water is effective in removing dents from plastic bumpers and other metal parts of the car.

• Pour the hot water over the dented bumper area
• This will soften the plastic and allow you to shape it back to its original position
• Push the dent from behind to allow it to flex back into its shape
• Pour cold water on the area to cool the plastic and solidify the bumper

Use a heat gun/hair dryer.

You can also substitute hot water with a heat gun or hair dryer.

• Aim the heat gun at the dented plastic bumper for a few minutes until the area is heated
• Find a vantage position and try to pop out the dent from behind
• Be careful to apply moderate heat so that the plastic is not heated too much
• Overheated plastic can melt and become brittle on cooling

Use a dent removal tool.

A suction cup dent puller allows you to easily remove dents without heating the area. It works best when the dent does not have too many fluctuations.

Put the suction cup against the plastic dent like a plunger and pull it up to release pressure. If it still has minor dents, you can use a heat gun to smooth them out.

How much does it cost to fix a dented plastic bumper at a body shop?

If the DIY methods don’t work, you can always go to an auto repair shop to fix your dented plastic bumper. However, depending on the severity, it will cost between $100 and $2000 to fix a dented plastic bumper.