Nobody cares as much about your vehicle as you do. In fact, parking on the street often reveals just how little other people care. A lot of damage happens to parked cars from other drivers trying to wedge their cars into a tight space in front of or behind your car. Scuffs, scrapes and dents are the result.
Bumper guards are the go-to solution for many people. Once upon a time, that meant gluing a couple of big blocks of black rubber to each bumper, but the aftermarket has come up with newer, and in some cases, more attractive products. We found five well-regarded bumper guards, each of which has a unique feature. Each has its pros and cons in terms of coverage, installation, removal, durability, theft-resistance and, of course, price. Most are within a few dollars of each other and even the priciest on our list isn’t a bank-breaker.
- Bumper Bully Extreme Gold Edition : Best Overall Bumper Guard
- Bumper Badger HD : Best Flip-Out Bumper Guard
- Rhino Guard HD Corner Bumper Guards : Best Stick-On Bumper Guard
- Bump Shox XL Plate Frame : Best Budget Bumper Guard
- BumperSafe : Best Premium Bumper Guard
The Bumper Bully Extreme Gold Edition lives up to its name with an intimidating appearance. Nobody will be able to get away with the “I didn’t see your car” excuse with one of these. It’s a big guard made of soft rubber with red and yellow reflectors, so it announces its presence day and night. It also makes a strong case for itself in durability and theft-resistance by embedding steel threads in the straps that secure it. It has a cutout for vehicles that mount the rear license plate on the bumper instead of in the trunk lid. When the guard is not in use, it’s easily removed and stored in the trunk.
- Soft rubber
- Built-in reflectors
- Straps woven with steel threads
- For rear bumper only
- May leave corners exposed
The Bumper Badger HD has a major upside: You don’t have to remove it to store it. The Bumper Badger HD flips up and inside the trunk or tailgate when not in use. When you park, there’s no need to install again or adjust, just flip it down into place and close the lid. It also features a license plate cutout if your vehicle wears its plate on the rear bumper.
- Straps to inside of trunk/tailgate
- License plate cutout for bumper-mounted plates
- Rigid rubberized plastic
- For rear bumper only
- Some users say straps can interfere with closing the trunk/tailgate
The Rhino Guard HD Corner Bumper Guards are a set-it-and-forget-it solution. There are four rubber guards that adhere to all corners of your vehicle. Easy installation is an upside, as is the fact that if your vehicle already has black trim, the Rhino Guard HD can look like original equipment.
- Always in place
- Easy installation
- Can pass for original equipment trim on many vehicles
- Only covers corners of the bumpers
- Only available in black
- Some owners are concerned about removal issues
Simplicity and a low price are the high points for the Bump Shox XL. It’s a compact bumper guard that lets your front license plate do the work. It’s a large, protruding, thick black foam encased in a rubber license plate frame that absorbs bumps from other vehicles or objects, keeping them away from the bumper itself. It’s easy to install (with longer screws for the plate) and can be easily swapped from vehicle to vehicle.
- Easy installation
- Thick, shock-resistant foam rubber
- Always in place
- For front bumper only
- Protects only the center of the bumper
- Drilling may be required
The BumperSafe offers full bumper coverage (all the way across and wrapping around the sides). It can be used on front or rear bumpers and you can drive with them in place. The manufacturer calls the guard “universal” and points to its adjustability and Velcro straps for a secure fit.
- Full bumper coverage
- Adjustable, with Velcro straps for secure fit
- Can remain in place while driving
- Owners say straps can be cut by thieves
- Must be removed before going through a car wash
- Some users report discoloration of bumpers after removal