- A fender bender may be minor, but it can still cause injuries, hidden damage and repair costs.
- After an accident, focus on safety, gather information, take photos and contact your insurer.
- Small collisions can lead to bigger issues like alignment, suspension or mechanical damage.
- Safe driving habits and modern safety features can help prevent future accidents.
What Is a Fender Bender?
A fender bender is a minor collision that usually causes limited visible damage, but it can still interrupt your day and lead to repair costs or an insurance claim.
Key Takeaways
Surveying the impact of minor collisions
Around 1.7 million rear-end collisions take place in the U.S. each year.¹
Traffic accidents cost an estimated $871 billion per year.²
87% of rear-end collisions occur because the at-fault driver wasn’t paying attention.³
How fender bender accidents happen
Stop-and-go traffic
Vehicle is rear-ended at a stop or yield sign, or in slowing traffic.
Bumper cars
Vehicle backs into another in a parking lot.
Tight space
Vehicle clips another parked in the next spot.
On the move
Vehicle is hit pulling out into the flow of traffic.
Quick tip: A fender bender may seem small, but a minor collision can still cause hidden damage, trigger a claim or create questions about fault. If you’re unsure what to do after a fender bender, start with safety, documentation and a call to your insurer.
What should you do after a fender bender?
After a fender bender occurs, the following steps can help you stay safe and document what happened.
| After a fender bender | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Check for injuries | Make sure everyone is safe before looking at vehicle damage. | Safety comes first, even in a minor collision. |
| 2. Move to a safe spot | If the car can be moved safely, get out of traffic. | Helps reduce the risk of another accident. |
| 3. Exchange information | Collect names, contact details and insurance information. | You’ll need it if damage or injuries are discovered later. |
| 4. Take photos | Photograph both vehicles, license plates and the area around the crash. | Clear documentation can support the claims process. |
| 5. Notify your insurer | Report the accident promptly, even if damage looks minor. | Minor damage can turn out to be more serious than it first appears. |
Make sure that everyone’s OK
For now, forget the damage to the car. Above all else, make sure that you, your passengers and any pets in the car aren’t injured. If anyone is hurt in any way, call 911.
If possible, move your car to safety
If your vehicle is in a safe condition to operate, move it away from oncoming traffic; however, if damage is extensive, it may be safer to stay put.
Do you need to call police for a fender bender?
It depends on injuries, damage severity and local requirements. If anyone is hurt, traffic is blocked or the vehicles aren’t safe to drive, call 911 right away. Even in a minor collision, a police report may help document the scene.
Exchange information
After confirming that the other driver and passengers are safe, calmly exchange information — avoid trying to determine who was at fault for the accident. Your insurance company will conduct a thorough investigation into the details of the accident. Gather full name, address, phone number and insurance information.
Document the scene
Take plenty of photos — not only of the damage to both vehicles, but of the surrounding area as well. This could come in handy later.
Find a few witnesses
Someone else may have seen something you missed – swerving, texting, erratic behavior or even a plate number in the event of a hit-and-run. Politely take down their account and ask for their contact information just in case.
Start the claims process
Call your insurance provider as soon as you can while the details are fresh in your mind – regardless of who’s at fault. Next, formally file a claim to get the damage fixed as swiftly as possible. If you want a more detailed walkthrough, review “What to Do After a Car Accident” and “How to File an Auto Insurance Claim: A Step-by-Step Guide”.
Vehicle shopping
Unfortunately, some accidents can’t be fixed with a quick trip to the shop. But if you need to find a new vehicle, consider one with upgraded safety features to help avoid accidents in the future.
Related reading: “How Much Does Car Insurance Go Up After an Accident?”
What should you do if you find hidden damage after a fender bender?
A dented grille or scratched bumper may seem minor, but it can have a major financial impact if you don’t have sufficient auto insurance coverage. The average cost to repair a car after an accident is just over $4,000 (depending on the type of vehicle you have), according to an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) report.⁴
Cosmetic damage can be easy to spot, but sometimes other issues can be hidden beneath the surface. Look for the following issues you may have after a fender bender or other minor collision.
You may have alignment problems if:
- The steering wheel pulls in a certain direction
- The steering wheel or vehicle vibrates or shudders
- Tires are showing asymmetrical wear
Estimated Alignment Repair: Between $50 and $75 for just the front end, and up to $200 for a “full” alignment repair job.⁵
You may have trunk, hood or door damage if:
- Physical damage is apparent
- Hinges squeak, doors pop open or close irregularly
- Moisture seems to be leaking into the vehicle
Estimated Car Door Repair: Between a few hundred dollars and up to $1,500+.⁴
You may have suspension damage if:
- You have trouble maintaining control of your vehicle due to bounce
- Your car bottoms out on rough roads, or sways in strong winds
- Your steering wheel violently vibrates when hitting a bump
Estimated Suspension Repair: Between $1,000 and $5,000 on average.⁷
You may have mechanical damage if:
- You have issues with your transmission (the most common type of mechanical damage)
- Your car begins to leak fluid
- You feel issues when accelerating and shifting gears
Estimated Transmission Repair: Between $1,800 and $3,400 on average.⁸
Want to better understand how physical damage coverage may apply? See “What Is Collision Insurance?” and “Comprehensive vs. Collision Insurance”.
Tips for preventing fender benders
Get your rest … Many factors, like age, can impact the amount of sleep a person needs, but on average, experts recommend that adults get seven or more hours a night.⁹
… and keep those eyes on the road. Cellphone use behind the wheel reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37%.¹⁰ So, if your phone has smart features like Do Not Disturb While Driving mode, be sure to enable it!
Mind who’s behind the wheel. Fender benders can happen off your watch, too. Most auto policies follow the car first, then the driver, so be careful who you lend your car to.
It’s important to understand who your policy covers and how it works before anyone else climbs behind the wheel. Before handing over the keys to your ride, you might want to know what would happen, even in minor accidents.
New technology may help put accidents in the rear view … New crash-avoidance technologies like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, blind spot detection and collision warning can help reduce fender benders.¹¹
… and they could save you money. Your car may already be equipped to save you money on auto insurance. If your vehicle has even one of these five safety features – anti-theft device or system, electronic stability control (ESC), passive restraint, forward-collision warning technology or adaptive headlights – you may qualify for discounts.¹²
Get complete car insurance coverage for different types of accidents
A fender bender, though sometimes considered a minor collision, can still be enough to ruin your day, and you’d be surprised how frequently these accidents take place in the U.S.
Even though 49 states and the District of Columbia mandate that all drivers must have auto liability insurance before they can legally drive a motor vehicle, 12.6% of motorists (about one in eight drivers) are uninsured. That can have a serious financial impact for all parties involved when it comes to settling damage.¹³, ¹⁴
Does insurance cover fender benders? In many cases, coverage depends on the type of policy you carry, who was at fault and the extent of the damage. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may also matter if the other driver doesn’t have enough coverage.
Talk to one of our experienced insurance specialists to find out how you can get coverage to help protect yourself and your vehicle from potential fender benders.
Get an auto insurance quote today
FAQs about fender benders
A fender bender is a minor car accident, often at low speed, that usually involves limited visible damage such as dents, scrapes or bumper damage. Even so, hidden issues like alignment or suspension damage can still happen.
The phrase comes from the idea of a light impact that bends a vehicle’s fender or bumper rather than causing major crash damage. Today, it’s commonly used to describe a minor collision.
Insurance may cover a fender bender, but it depends on the situation. Liability coverage may help pay for damage you cause to someone else’s vehicle or property, while collision coverage may help pay for damage to your own car after an impact. Learn more about auto insurance coverage options.
Yes. Regardless of the extent of damage or injuries resulting from an accident, it's always best practice to contact the local authorities when an accident occurs. They can help document what happened, control traffic and address any potential injuries. You may need to call police for a fender bender if someone is injured, traffic is blocked, there’s significant damage or local law requires a report. If you’re unsure, calling the authorities can help document what happened.
That depends on the damage, whether another driver was involved and what your policy covers. Even if you don’t immediately file a claim, it can still be smart to notify your insurer in case hidden damage appears later.
Yes. A fender bender may lead to alignment, suspension, trunk, hood, door or additional damage that isn’t obvious right away. That’s why documenting damage and monitoring how the car drives afterward is important.
¹ Types of Hidden Damage Caused by Fender-Benders, Carwise, 2021.
² How Much Do Car Accidents Cost Each Year?, SaferAmerica, 2022.
³ Damage to Look for After a Rear-End Collision, Universal Technical Institute, 2020.
⁴ What Is the Average Cost to Repair a Car?, Car Insurance Companies, 2020.
⁵ How Much Does an Alignment Cost?, Bankrate, 2022.
⁶ Diagnosing and Replacing Chassis and Ride Control Parts, Know Your Parts, retrieved 2021.
⁷ Suspension Repair Cost – How Much Does It Cost to Replace the Suspension?, Cash Cars Buyer, 2020.
⁸ Complete Transmission Repair Cost Guide, Transmission Repair Cost Guide, 2020.
⁹ How Many Hours of Sleep Are Enough for Good Health?, Mayo Clinic, retrieved 2021.
¹⁰ Cell Phone Use While Driving Statistics and Texting and Driving Facts, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, retrieved 2021.
¹¹ Are Vehicle Safety Features Actually Reducing Car Accidents?, Forbes Advisor, 2020.
¹² Discounts may vary and may not be available in all states.
¹³ Uninsured Motorists, NAIC, 2020.
¹⁴ Facts + Statistics: Uninsured Motorists, Insurance Information Institute, retrieved 2021.
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