I've pulled bumper off my car...feel.like such an idiot :(

[MimieD]

Haven't driven for a few years and finally got myself a little car two months ago. Love driving but today I was stressed from work, parked badly in carport and tried to correct it...don't ask me how but reversed instead of pull forward and pulled bumper off... I've spoken to insurance and they will assess if write off or not; guy on phone was cautiously optimistic. I feel like such an idiot though. Just a stupid split second mistake....Oh if I could turn back time :(

If it makes you feel better, I drove over a kerb today. Turned into a car park and didn't notice it was a kerb next to first space and not just a line (the other two rows only have a line). Kids looked horrified as we bumped over it

I pulled the bumper off my car once, caught it on a corner wall and it fell off. It was an old car though so we just cable tied it back on!

Thankfully my car isn't new either but wish I could have driven damage free for longer than 2 months in it. Ah well, guess I should be happy I didn't crash into someone else

Thanks for the replies...yes it does make me feel better

A write off?

I've pulled my bumper off before too

It cost a lot to repair (over £1000) but I claimed on the insurance, then shopped around when it was time to renew and my premiums didn't go up.

Keeping fingers crossed they can repair mine too. I like my little car and am not ready to shop around again for a new one!

Why on earth have you gone through insurance for that

Because I pulled it off well! Can't just shove it back on...it's basically the whole front of car, not just a small 'decorative' bar. Will definitely cost more than a grand to fix

Hi OP
You don't need to go through your insurance.
You could source a secondhand bumper from a online scrap yard!
and have it resprayed to match your and fitted at an auto shop.

I did this a few weeks ago because I bought a little run about that had a cracked bumper and small dent in the wing. The price I paid for it reflected this.

The online scrapyard on Ebay sold me the wing and the bumper for £110 including delivery and was delivered within 2days. The auto body shop did the job for £350. I am really happy with the results!

@butterfly56 I didn't even have an excess on my insurance so it cost me nothing and I got a brand new bumper. Sometimes going through your insurance can save you money 🤷

... which is kind of the whole point of insurance

Thanks @spreadingchestnuttree, my excess is very low too thankfully and I had a look already at what my premiums would be if I had to renew next month and quotes are same as what I'm paying now. That's w high estimated damage.

Insurance isn't just for when you get into an accident.

Did it on a hire car when I caught a storm drain in Florida
Having to hand the car back with it inside the car was awful

If it makes you feel any better as I turned into a car park once I felt my steering go very heavy. Realised I probably had a flat tyre and needed to pull over to look at it. Couldn't pull over until I'd gone up the ramp to the next level where there were spaces. Steering was so heavy I managed to drive straight into the pillar at the side of the ramp and caused £1800 worth of damage. £1800. At about 10mph if that! Plus the cost of a new tyre. Totally infuriating, you have my sympathies, hope it gets sorted quickly!

As a note on insurance, I initially intended to pay mine until the quote went up and up and up. Went through insurance in the end. Have just renewed and my renewal price is less than last year with the same insurer, despite the claim, plus I didn't lose my no claims bonus, just couldn't claim it for that year. Really pleased I did as it would have been a big hit on our savings had I had to pay out for the repair in full and it's made no difference to my premium at all.

I did this once, I managed to get it stuck on my garden/driveway gate.
I felt like a total idiot.