Large dents and cracks

　　A large enough crack or dent in your bumper may indicate that the structure has failed. The polymer liner underneath the plastic casing of your Toyota Tacoma's bumper may be damaged, which means one of the vehicle's critical crumple zones no longer functions.

　　Once your Toyota Tacoma bumper is damaged beyond a certain level, your wheels, tires, suspension, headlights and even the engine itself will be at greater risk. In fact, if your bumper has been hit hard, it's usually best to inspect the entire area, as invisible damage is common.

　　Unfortunately, if your auto body expert determines that the crack or dent is severe enough that no amount of PDR or epoxy will restore it—it's time to replace the bumper.

　　Paint severely damaged

　　It's one thing to touch up a few messes on the clear coat, but if the paint is scratched badly enough, you may want to consider replacing your bumper entirely. While it may seem counterintuitive to replace a bumper while the structure is still intact, it's actually a case-by-case scenario.

　　On the one hand, if most of the paint on your Toyota Tacoma bumper is damaged, you may decide to polish and paint the entire bumper to avoid the hassle of a bumper transplant. There are some situations where this makes sense; for example, if you have an older vehicle and replacement parts are difficult to find.

　　A good basic rule of thumb is: Repair the paint, as long as the paint job itself doesn't cost more than the cost of a new bumper.

　　On the other hand, buying a new bumper and having it installed may not be as expensive as you think. It depends on the vehicle and the potential damage, but most given Toyota Tacoma bumper prices range from $800 to $2,000. So when you factor in bumper replacement costs, you may find that it's actually cheaper than repainting the whole thing. So sometimes it's often wiser to get a new bumper.