Damage guide
Rear-end collisions are among the most common crashes on U.S. roads, and among the most deceptive. Modern bumper covers are flexible plastic designed to spring back into shape, so a rear impact that looks like a scuff can hide a crushed reinforcement bar or bent trunk floor behind it.
Educational content only. This is not a repair quote, insurance advice, or legal advice. Actual damage and costs depend on a professional in-person inspection.
From our versioned collision ruleset (v2026.09.3), the same data that powers our pricing guides. Severity is a typical starting point; your accident may differ.
| Part | Typical severity | Typical repair range |
|---|---|---|
| Rear bumper cover | moderate (6/10) | $190 – $765 |
| Rear reinforcement bar | moderate (5/10) | $185 – $545 |
| Trunk lid | moderate (4/10) | $290 – $980 |
| Left taillight assembly | minor (3/10) | $90 – $300 |
| Right taillight assembly | minor (3/10) | $90 – $300 |
| Rear glass | minor (3/10) | $230 – $565 |
Each row is that part alone: its price, the hours to fit it, and its refinish. If every listed part needed work the whole job runs roughly $1,945 – $6,110, which is more than the rows add up to because a repair also carries paint materials, calibrations and the operations published labor times exclude by rule, which come to $715 – $2,290 here. Most repairs involve a subset of these parts. Ranges are educational, not quotes.
Rear impacts commonly hide damage to the reinforcement bar, trunk floor, and rear frame rails behind an intact-looking bumper.
A shop will remove the bumper cover to inspect the reinforcement bar and energy absorbers, check trunk-floor and frame-rail alignment, test the trunk latch, and verify the taillights and any parking sensors mounted in the bumper.
Full checklist: what to do after a car accident in Washington.
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