Got rear-ended at a stop sign, not my fault. I have a $500 deductible, but they have insurance and shared their info. They also offered to pay me directly.
Has anyone dealt with this before? Is it better to go through insurance? How much did it cost you?
2019 Subaru Forester.
Appreciate any advice—thanks
Yeah, go through insurance. They’ll replace the whole bumper. Your deductible won’t matter since their insurance should cover everything, maybe even a rental while it’s being fixed.
Did you get a police report? Sometimes they ask for it, but not always. Just a heads-up, though—if you do, the other driver might get cited, which could make things more stressful for them.
Got hit earlier this year. My bumper didn’t look too bad except for a dent in my lift gate from a truck’s cattle guard.
Turns out the crash bar behind the bumper was damaged too. Even if it looks okay from the outside, the structure underneath might be messed up.
Definitely file with their insurance. My total repair bill was $4K for the bumper and lift gate.
@Cody
Really appreciate you sharing this. This is exactly what I needed to know.
I replaced mine about a year ago. If none of the sensors are damaged, you can probably do it yourself for around $200. My buddy at the dealership said if an RBU sensor is messed up, then the cost goes way up.
From what I see, looks like yours is cracked with a couple of broken attachment tabs.
Not sure about that body panel near the hatch, though.
You can file with their insurance directly and they should cover everything. Where I live, a rear-ender is always at fault.
Another option is letting your insurance handle it, and they’ll go after the other company to get reimbursed, but you might have to pay your deductible upfront until that happens.
Avoid taking cash or letting them convince you to use some random shop. That’s asking for trouble. A good body shop will get the bumper (make sure it’s a genuine Subaru part) and have it replaced in a few days. Insurance might cover a loaner too, depending on your policy.
If you go through insurance, your car will definitely have an accident record on Carfax. If you go the cash route, it might not.
Voss said:
If you go through insurance, your car will definitely have an accident record on Carfax. If you go the cash route, it might not.
Good to know. I’m planning on keeping the car forever, but still nice to have all the info.
If it was their fault, their insurance should pay for everything.
The damage might be worse than it looks. Check underneath—see if the frame is damaged, look at the actual bumper bar, and check the trunk pan for creases. If anything structural is messed up, it won’t protect you the same way if you get hit again.
If you want to fix it yourself, the crack in the bumper can be plastic welded from the back. The side of the bumper might snap back into place with some force. You can try heating the dent with a hairdryer or heat gun to pop it out—just don’t overdo it and mess up the paint.
For paint, you could try a touch-up kit from Subaru, but a professional paint blend will look better. Or just have the whole thing done at a shop. Depends on how perfect you want it to look.
Got rear-ended a few months after getting my 2023 Wilderness. Annoying.
Bumper and step pad had to be replaced, and the sensors needed calibration. If you go through insurance, choose a solid repair shop and check their work carefully.
Make sure they replace both the bumper and step pad. I had issues with mine—the first shop messed up the paint lines and installed the step pad wrong, leaving a big gap. Took months and multiple trips before they got it right.
Also, if they have to calibrate the sensors, ask how they’re handling the transport. Some places move cars between locations, and that can cause more issues if they don’t do it carefully.
This is how it usually works—you get an estimate from a body shop, send it to their insurance, and they cut you a check. If repairs end up costing more, you can ask for additional payment.
Bad news is, if you didn’t get a police report, there’s no way to go back and get one now. If the other driver refuses to pay, your only option is going through your own insurance and paying your deductible.
@CathyGenesis
Relax dude, if the other driver admitted fault, insurance will handle it.
@CathyGenesis
I had my dashcam recording the whole thing, and he admitted it was his fault. Hoping that’s enough.
