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How do I fix my dented metal bumper?

I got into a fender bender after work. It could’ve been worse, but now my car’s metal bumper has this dent in it. It’s not huge or anything, but it’s unsightly, and I want to get it taken care of. The thing is, I don’t want to spend a fortune on this at the body shop. How do I fix this dent myself?

avatar
Melanie Mergen · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Dinging your car
is seriously the worst – especially after you’ve already worked a full day. Luckily, while a
body shop
could always help you with this, fixing a dented metal bumper is a pretty straightforward job most people can tackle themselves.
Here’s what you’ll need:
  • A body hammer
  • One or more dollies
If you don’t have these on hand, your
hardware or car repair shop
likely has a variety of hammer and dolly sets you can buy.
Once you have those, locate the ding or dent from the backside of your bumper. Grab your body hammer and tap away without being too forceful. If your bumper is made from a more malleable metal, you can prevent pushing it back out too far by using a dolly.
Dollies come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so you can pick one that fits the shape of your bumper where the dent is located. Holding the dolly over the dent on the outside, tap at the dent from the backside with the hammer until you’ve hit the dent back into its rightful place.
Since the dent was caused because of an accident, you may be able to get your insurance policy to cover maintenance if you choose to take it to a shop. If you’re looking to update your car insurance policy’s collision coverage, the
Jerry
app can help. After answering just a few quick questions, you can view competitive quotes from more than 50 insurance companies to find the right policy for you.
MORE: Should I report a car accident to my insurance company?
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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.

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