Is It Safe To Drive With A Loose Bumper? (Best Advice)

It isn’t unusual for some of us to have a loose bumper, especially since the vehicle was just in a collision earlier. However, while a car with a loose bumper isn’t the most appealing thing to look at, what about its safety?

Is it safe for you to drive with a loose bumper even if you don’t end up in a collision any time soon?

Find out if it is safe to drive with a loose bumber

In most cases, it shouldn’t be safe to drive with a loose bumper, especially when there is a huge risk of the bumper falling off or, at the very least, rubbing against your tires. Any of those instances can be dangerous to you and the other vehicles on the road. But a slightly loose bumper shouldn’t be too dangerous.

Car Bumper

When your bumper is already too loose to the point that it is already dangling or is already quite close to your tires, that is when you should be worried. That is because it may end up coming off any time soon.

And, of course, if you do end up in a collision, what will happen is the bumper will fall off in the middle of the road or go flying causing a potential safety hazard to other vehicles.

Is it safe to drive with a loose bumper?

One of the components that are important to the overall safety of the driver when it comes to the road is the bumper. Not a lot of people appreciate what the bumper can do when it comes to saving the life of the driver and the passengers inside the vehicle.

But you should know that the bumper is there to take the brunt of the impact if you somehow find yourself in a head-to-head collision with another vehicle or with something sturdy.

Given the fact that the bumper is very important in minimizing the damage to the vehicle, as there are some vehicles that end up in collisions only to have the bumper receiving the majority of the damage, what if your bumper is a bit loose due to an accident?

Can you still drive with a loose bumper if the overall condition of the vehicle is still good enough for driving?

In most cases, if the bumper is just a bit loose such as when the damage is quite minimal and simply cosmetic in nature, you shouldn’t have a lot of problems with driving. After all, the bumper is supposed to take some hits here and there, depending on how hard the hits may be.

But this should only be the case when the bumper is only a bit loose such that it would take another collision for it to come off. As long as you know that the bumper won’t come off or won’t bother your driving, then it shouldn’t be a problem to drive with a loose bumper.

But what you need to understand here is as well is that the safety will depend on how damaged or loose the bumper is.

Again, if the damages are merely cosmetic in nature such as when the bumper may appear loose or damaged but is actually minimally damaged, then there shouldn’t be a problem. However, if it has become more serious than just cosmetic damage, that it is when it will be unsafe to drive with a loose bumper.

One of the many reasons why it is unsafe to drive with a loose bumper is that some bumpers may end up touching the tires while you are driving. That is, of course, if the bumpers have become too loose. 

You already know what kind of scenario will happen if your bumper gets caught up with your tires or if it touches them. When that happens, you might end up losing control over your vehicle when the bumper actually bothers the rotation of the tires.

But the worst case that can happen in relation to a loose bumper when it touches a tire is that there might be some jagged or sharp edges that can blow the tire out. This can happen if the loose bumper is not only loose but is also damaged to the point that it has jagged or sharp edges that can easily damage a tire when the bumper makes contact with it.

As such, if the damaged or loose bumper has reached that extent, then there is no logical reason why you should be driving your car. The only thing you need to do is to have it fixed or to find a temporary solution that will allow you to put the bumper back in place before you go to the mechanic to have it fixed.

Another instance that can happen, of course, is if you end up in another collision. While we do not wish for anyone to find themselves in an accident while driving, the fact of the matter is that accidents can happen on the road at any given moment.

So, if you are driving with a loose bumper, what will happen is that you won’t be as protected as you are had your bumper been at full health. A collision will easily cause more damage than it should. And even if the bumper was able to absorb the impact despite being loose, the collision might cause the bumper to completely come off and fly. This can be dangerous to the other vehicles on the road.

All that said, driving with a loose bumper can be safe as long as the damage to the bumper is minimal. But, then again, it still is risky to do so, especially if the loose bumper is showing signs of coming off or if it is touching the tires.

As such, it still is best to avoid driving the car until you get it to a mechanic. The best that you can do is to try to find a way to temporarily fix the loose bumper so that you can buy enough time to drive it to the nearest repair shop.

What if my bumper fell off while driving?

Another instance that can make it very dangerous to drive with a loose bumper is if the bumper falls off the vehicle while you are driving. And there are plenty of different scenarios that can happen when such an instance occurs.

First off, when your vehicle’s bumper falls off while you are driving, there is a chance that it will get caught up in your tires. This can lead to an accident, especially if you lose control of the vehicle.

Second, even if your bumper flies off to another direction when it falls off, you might be safe but the other drivers on the road may end up in an accident if they get caught up with the flying bumper. Road safety is not only about your own safety but also that of others.

Finally, even if no one manages to get caught up with your bumper when it falls off the vehicle, there is still the possibility that you will end up in a collision. After all, road accidents can happen at any given moment. So, in such a scenario, your vehicle will be left unprotected as your no longer have a bumper that can minimize the impact on your vehicle.

How do you secure a loose bumper?

If your car has a loose bumper and you are looking for a way to secure it temporarily or even permanently, depending on how damaged the bumper is, how do you do so? Is there a way for you to secure a loose bumper all on your own?

The cheapest way to secure a loose bumper before you take it to the mechanic is to use plastic or zip ties. These are very affordable solutions that can help lock the bumper in place because of how difficult it is to break through a zip tie.

All you need to do is to tie the zip tie around the bumper and keep it fastened to a spot that will allow you to keep the bumper in place temporarily. This will allow you to buy enough time to drive the car to the mechanic.

However, there are some cars that will allow you to use a bumper quick release. The purpose of a bumper quick release is to attach the bumper to the car on a more temporary basis because you can easily remove it and the bumper cover along with it if you want to do so.

How much does it cost to fix a loose bumper?

As mentioned, the best way to remedy a loose bumper is to have it fixed by a professional. That means that you have to bring it over to a mechanic or a repair shop and have the bumper reattached or, at the most, replaced.

If your bumper is already hanging off, then the most logical solution is to have it replaced because even a skilled mechanic won’t be able to fix the problem. Having it replaced will cost more than what you would pay for a simple scratch or dent removal. Depending on your car, a bumper replacement may cost somewhere between $200 to $500.

Sources

Driving with a damaged bumper is illegal?

Is it safe to drive with a damaged bumper?

What to Do When Your Bumper Cover is Loose