How to Handle Repairs From a Car Crash

What can get damaged: Many newer cars have sensors for AEB and adaptive cruise control (ACC) located behind the front bumper cover, which is typically made of plastic. Cars with parking assistance, BSW, and rear collision warning will also have sensors behind the rear bumper cover. After a collision, even if there’s no apparent damage to the plastic veneer, the sensors behind them may have been knocked out of alignment. Worse, the body filler and paint applied during a shoddy repair job can prevent the sensors from working properly.

Where to get repairs: Dealership or independent shop with calibration equipment.

Sample cost: $1,926-$2,590*

What can get damaged: Many cars with AEB, ACC, lane centering assistance, and lane keeping assistance have cameras mounted inside the windshield. To replace the glass properly and make sure those features work again, a technician will also need to recalibrate the cameras. Other sensitive devices that live next to the windshield glass include rain sensors, electronically activated shade bands, windshield heaters, and head-up displays.

Where to get repairs: Dealership or specialty auto glass shop specifically equipped to repair and recalibrate cameras and sensors.

Sample cost: $1,659-$2,090*

What can get damaged: Because they protrude from the car, side mirrors are especially vulnerable to costly damage. In many new cars, the side mirrors not only house motors for electronic adjustment, and sometimes heating elements, but also might contain components such as surround-view cameras, BSW indicator lights, and the sensors that make the active parking assistance system work. Even a minor impact can knock those cameras and sensors out of alignment, requiring professional repair.

Where to get repairs: Dealership or independent shop with calibration equipment.

Sample cost: $1,012-$2,961*

What can get damaged: Headlights are at the front corners of a vehicle and can be smashed easily. Many cars now come with expensive LED headlamp assemblies that have to be replaced entirely if they’re damaged. Some luxury cars also have projection and curve-adaptive headlamps with motors that can move the beam of light based on where the steering wheel is turned. Replacing a high-tech headlight can cost several thousand dollars, but a lower-tech version on a newer car can still cost more than a thousand dollars.

Where to get repairs: Dealership or independent shop with calibration equipment.

Sample cost: $1,618-$4,456*