Everything to Know About Car Bumpers

If you’ve owned or driven a car, you could undoubtedly give a basic explanation of what and where the bumpers are. But you might not realize there’s more to a car bumper than meets the eye.

Bumpers started appearing consistently on cars in the 1910s, but weren’t mandated on cars to protect passengers until 1972.

“One interesting fact about bumpers is that they are only required on sedans and coupes,” says John Goreham, an automotive expert at Car Talk. “The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has been hounding NHTSA for years to make a sensible change to this, but to no avail. SUVs and trucks are exempt due to their off-road usage and ground clearance. What they do have is primarily decorative and for aerodynamics.”

For a deeper understanding of how car bumpers work and how to repair or replace them, keep reading.

What Is a Car Bumper?

Car bumpers feature protruding shrouds of plastic or metal, called bumper covers, that surround energy-absorbing materials. They are designed to absorb impact to the front and rear of vehicles and minimize low-speed collision damage.

“The original idea behind bumpers was that they would be able to handle low-speed bumps when parking without any damage,” says Goreham. “However, standards allowed for variation in the height of the bumpers, so the mismatch between models made them more or less useless for that intended purpose.”

Today, standard passenger vehicle bumpers have a rigid reinforcing bar under the outer cover, with sections of compressible foam or plastic underneath. In the United States, passenger car bumpers must absorb a five mph impact from another vehicle with no damage to the car body. The foam or plastic makes this possible. At impact, that material squishes down between the reinforcing bar and the vehicle’s body.

“Modern cars are designed with a crumple zone, an area in the front and back of your car that can crumple in collisions to absorb and direct energy from impacts, to keep the passengers inside safe,” says Duane “Doc” Watson, a technical trainer at Bosch Mobility Aftermarket. “Your front and rear bumper are part of the crumple zone, and help to soften impacts.”

Bumper History and Evolution

From their first appearances as decorations on the earliest vehicles in the late 1800s, car bumpers have come a long way, thanks to advancements in technology and safety-focused vehicle production. Although today’s bumpers are highly effective, bumper protection has decreased since the 1980s.

Bumpers used to contain more impact-absorbing material, but vehicle manufacturers lobbied for lighter weight designs to improve fuel efficiency. Style was also a factor. Many bumpers protruded beyond all other parts of the car, which some considered a clumsy look.

Today’s vehicles aren’t required by law to have protruding bumpers, but they are much safer.

Types of Bumpers

Though U.S. law specifies bumper height and impact resistance, not all car bumpers are the same. Not by a long shot! Here are the basic types.

• Standard Bumper:  Common on passenger vehicles. It has no steps or hitches, just a paint-matched plastic cover containing energy absorbing mechanisms.
• Step Bumper: SUVs, trucks and some cars have bumpers with a step-shaped cutout in the center, just below the license plate. These bumpers often have holes for the installation of ball hitches.
• Cowboy Bumper: These tall, heavy-duty bumpers usually have chrome plating and are most often seen on older trucks. They’re made to be noticed and tow heavy trailers.
• Tube Bumper: Typically installed on jeeps and lifted trucks, tube bumpers forgo the plastic-shroud. Instead, they rely on a frame of heavy-duty steel tubing to lessen collision damage.

Repairing and Replacing Bumpers

If you’re involved in a collision that damages the inner structure of your bumper, get it replaced by a professional. Full bumper replacements aren’t cheap. but without the full capacity for energy absorption, you’re vulnerable to much greater damage and injury the next time your vehicle hits something.

“Damage to your bumper is more than a cosmetic issue; it’s a structural integrity and safety problem,” says Watson. “Also, if you neglect to repair a damaged bumper and get into another accident, there’s a chance you will face insurance issues when you go to file a claim.”

A damaged bumper will also reduce your vehicle’s value by more than the cost to have it fixed, says Goreham. “If you ever plan to trade or sell your vehicle, you may as well head to the body shop if you damage one,” he says.”

If it’s only your bumper cover that’s damaged, there are a few DIY options. You can repair your bumper cover’s paint if it’s just scratched; patch and repaint it if it’s a small puncture; or install a replacement cover if the damage is too severe to fix.

FAQ

Is a bumper the same as a fender?

No. Bumpers are on the direct front and rear of a vehicle, while fenders comprise the front and rear side panels. But in modern vehicles, they usually blend together seamlessly.

“Both components are protective, but they serve different functions,” says Watson. “The fender is the panel that sits over and around your tires, protecting your car from the rocks and gravel that your tires kick up.”

How much does it cost to fix or replace a bumper?

It depends on your car and how severe the damage is, but typically between $1,000 and $2,000, including labor. “However, you may not need a full replacement if the damage is minimal or limited to paint damage,” says Goreham.

About the Experts

• John Goreham is an automotive expert at Car Talk. He has also worked in the automotive component industry, is a graduate of multiple performance driving programs and a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers.
• Duane “Doc” Watson is a technical trainer at Bosch Mobility Aftermarket. He has more than 45 years of experience in automotive repair, has trained thousands of technicians and earned many industry awards, including Chevrolet Technician of the Year and Buick Service Master of the Year.