PriceProtect™
DriveShield™
GarageGuard™
Services
Insurance
Car Insurance
Compare Car Insurance with Jerry
Jerry’s Expert Advice
Car Insurance Estimates
Home & Renters Insurance
Renters Insurance
Repairs
Car Repair Estimates
Repair Estimates for Popular Services
Advice
Read Car Content
Browse Jerry Car Advice
Check Out Expert Car QnA
Learn About How We Create Content
Jerry Data & Research
How do I fix road rash on a bumper?
My 17-year-old son, who just learned to drive a few months ago, put some bad scratches on my front bumper. Nothing’s wrong with the bumper itself—it just looks horrible. I’d rather not take it into a body shop—how can I fix the road rash on my bumper?
Rachel Rigolino · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Having a
teenage driver
in the house can certainly cause gray hairs. But in his defense, scraping up a front bumper—or as you called it road rash—is all too easy to do. Yes, professional bodywork can cost a few hundred dollars, but if the scratches aren’t too deep, you can smooth over the scratches yourself—at least to some degree. Here’s how you can fix road rash on your car’s bumper:
- Go to your local auto shop or shop online for a repair kit. Depending on how deep the scratches are, you may get away with buying a simple trim and plastic restorer. If the scratches are deep, then you’ll have to fill in the scratches, then sand and use touch-up paint with a clear coat in it.
- If the scratches are deep and you (or your son) are going to attempt the repair, first consider whether you can live with touching up the scratches with matching car paint. It might look OK.
- If you want to attempt a more thorough repair, clean the bumper and lightly fill in the scratches with Bondo. Then, sand down the Bondo, carefully so that you don’t cause further scratching. Apply matching touch-up spray paint with a clear coat in it.
Now, keep in mind that auto body specialists charge $300-500 for such a repair for a reason—touching up deep scratches takes practice and expertise. In the end, you may be better off asking your son to save up his money to pay for a professional job.
Love working on cars and all things car-related? Or do you just want to know how to make a quick repair that will save you money? Either way,
Jerry
has you covered! Visit the Jerry website to find answers to your questions and use the Jerry app to help you with your car insurance
needs. The Jerry app shops from more than 50 top providers and delivers the best deals to your phone in minutes.View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance
You Might Also Be Interested
Read Advice From Car Experts At Jerry
What Others Are Asking
Browse More Content
Insurance for Your Car
Insurance in Your State
Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance
No long forms
No spam or unwanted phone calls
Quotes from top insurance companies