Question

How do you fix scratches on a plastic bumper?

There are a few DIY home hacks you can use to cover up minor scratches easily and cost-effectively. For larger mishaps like cracks and dents in a plastic bumper, you can also use home-repair kits and structural adhesives to help hold cracked pieces together.

Bumper scratches can really ruin the appearance of your car. They make it look old and worn out and can even decrease its resale value. Here are some valuable tips you can use to fix the issue.

Things you’ll need to fix scratches on a plastic bumper

• A can of spray paint (preferably matched to the bumper color)
• Vehicle spray primer
• Vehicle spray clear coat
• Fine and coarse sandpaper sheets
• Scuff pad
• Cleaning cloth
• Wax and grease remover
• Scratch-fill putty

How to fix scratches on a plastic bumper: Steps

• First, mask off the areas on the bumper that you don’t want to spray-paint.
• Take 3000-grit sandpaper and start lightly scraping the scratched area. If you don’t have sandpaper, you could also use non-gel toothpaste to buff the area.
• Use a cleaning towel to wipe down the area and then clean it with wax and grease remover.
• If you see any remaining scratches, fill them using a thin layer of scratch putty. Give it five minutes to harden, and then sand over the area once more.
• Scuff 10 inches around the buffed area, as this is the area you’ll be painting over.
• Apply two layers of vehicle spray primer in 5-minute intervals.
• Finally, spray-paint the area with multiple layers until it completely blends into the rest of the bumper.

How much does it cost to repair a scratched plastic bumper?

If you use DIY methods to try to fix minor scratches on a plastic bumper, it will not cost you much. If you don’t have sheets of sandpaper lying around, you can easily buy a set for $10-$15. 

However, for major repairs, you may have to shell out between $50 and $400 at a body shop. Cracked or dented bumpers may need extensive repair work, which could drive up costs.