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Can you drive a car without a grille?

My front grille will be in the shop for a few days being painted and I was wondering if driving without it is a good idea—can you drive a car without a grille?

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Andrew Biro · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Driving without a grille is possible and won’t alter your vehicle’s performance, but it does put your radiator and condenser units at a higher risk for damage from road debris.
Generally speaking, a grille primarily serves to pull air into the engine as a means of cooling it, but it also helps protect your car’s radiator from damage—for this reason, driving without a grille is not recommended unless necessary.
But if you do decide to drive without your grille, try to avoid driving behind large dump trucks or other vehicles that may spill small rocks or debris onto the road—and try not to drive at night either, as you’ll have to clean bugs off the radiator later on.
If you and your vehicle are ever in an accident, you’ll want to make sure you’re protected by the right insurance policy with
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