Expert: Michael Kakuk - 5/27/2010

Question
I have a 2003 Toyota Echo that has a dent in the rear bumper and the front bumper is cracked. One headlight is cracked (the part that attaches the light to the car, not the light itself). The estimates are as follows: $620 for the front bumper (replacement of bumper and light, labor, paint and supplies). The rear bumper comes to $780 (not replacing, just bumping out the dent, labor, painting, supplies). I'm a college student and these prices are a lot of money for me to drop. I just want to know if these prices are fair or if I should look elsewhere for my repairs.

Answer
THE BEST WAY TO GET A FAIR PRICE IS TO GO GET THREE ESTIMATES AND SEE WHAT THEY ARE. THEY SHOULD BE WITHIN 75 BUCKS OD EACH OTHER IF ALL THE DAMAGES CAN BE SEEN.

IT ALSO DEPENDS ON THE SKILL LEVEL OF THE ESTIMATOR...ASK THEM TO EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO TO YOUR CAR.

MIKE